Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Aloe Vera Extracts
Alpine Herbs
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Squalane
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin as Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate provide effective pore cleansing, while Glycerin and Squalane offer essential hydration without exacerbating oiliness.
- The inclusion of Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract and Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract contributes to a soothing effect, though stronger seboregulating ingredients would further enhance its benefits for acne-prone skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no reported irritation risks due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this creamy cleanser for normal to dry skin is praised for leaving complexions soft and hydrated, with a luxurious texture and effective cleansing. A moderate number of users enjoy its pleasant, spa-like scent and find it gentle, though a similar proportion find the fragrance strong. A low number of reviews mention it can be drying, cause eye irritation, or that the price is high.
Highlights
Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and hydrated”
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “face feels comfortable after washing”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “takes off all makeup”
- “skin feels perfectly clean”
- “removes pollution and dirt”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “mousse texture is sumptuous”
- “creamy and smooth”
- “lathers beautifully”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “very gentle”
- “calming effect”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells divine”
- “love the herbal scent”
- “smells like a spa”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is too strong”
- “perfume gave me a headache”
- “smells like old lady perfume”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “left my face tight”
- “dried out my skin”
- “not hydrating as claimed”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings if it gets in eyes”
- “eyes watered”
- “irritated my eyes”
Formula change Rarely Noted
- “miss the old formula”
- “new version isn't as good”
- “changed the scent”
High price Rarely Noted
- “too expensive for a wash”
- “pricey for the amount”
- “luxury price tag”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, clarinsusa.com, sephora.com, johnlewis.com, escentual.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as it cleans pores and hydrates without adding oil, but a product of this type for your skin needs extra ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, ceramides, or probiotics to help control oil and target breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate clean out pores effectively, while Glycerin and Squalane keep your skin hydrated without making it oily. Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract and Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract may also help soothe the skin, though this skin type also needs ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or probiotics to help balance oil and manage breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Aloe Vera Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe vera extract helps calm redness and fights breakout-causing bacteria on oily, acne-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may soothe angry blemishes while keeping the skin feeling soft and refreshed.
What do Alpine Herbs do for oily acne-prone skin?
Alpine Herbs help calm oily and acne-prone skin because their natural plant compounds work to soothe redness and fight irritation. They may also help keep pores clear through gentle plant-based activity that supports a balanced, healthy complexion.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step in your morning routine and the second step in your evening routine after a makeup remover. An average fit for oily acne-prone skin, this product works well for cleansing and hydration, but an ideal cleanser for this skin type also needs stronger oil-balancing ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol treatment as part of your routine. This cleanser cleans pores and provides hydration without making your skin oily, though oily acne-prone skin would benefit more from stronger oil-controlling ingredients.
How often should I use it?
Use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. A daily skincare regimen that includes a mild cleanser helps improve overall skin condition without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin, as it gently cleans pores with sodium cocoyl isethionate and sodium lauroyl isethionate while providing hydration through glycerin and squalane without adding extra oil. It is completely safe for your skin with very low irritation risks, though a product of this type works best for acne-prone skin when it also includes stronger oil-controlling ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser works fine on the body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin right around the eyes. Its gentle ingredients clean without causing irritation, making it safe for general body washing.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical herbal treatments including lemon balm, olive leaf extract, propolis, and sage-rhubarb cream reduce pain, swelling, lesion size, and healing time in patients with herpes labialis compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Emulgels containing Perilla frutescens seed oil, Moringa oleifera seed oil, and mixed seed oil microemulsions exhibit good stability, lack of cytotoxicity in PBMC, and no skin irritation or allergic reactions in human subjects.
Polymers, 2022A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Aqueous standardized leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera showed the highest human dermal fibroblast and human keratinocyte proliferation and migration properties, leading to the development of an alginate-pectin film dressing with optimal physicochemical properties.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2018Topical administration of Moringa oleifera seed extract on excision wounds in male albino rabbits significantly increased the wound healing rate, elevated TGF-β1, VEGF, and Type I collagen relative expression, and reduced inflammatory markers like IL-1β and TNF-α compared to untreated and MEBO-treated groups.
Antioxidants, 2022Moringa oleifera leaf extracts provided significant UV protection with an SPF of 2 at 2% to 4% concentrations and showed no significant irritant potential in cosmetic formulations.
Molecules, 2018Topical application of a cream containing the NHE1 activator rosmarinic acid decreased skin surface pH and transepidermal water loss while increasing skin hydration in 50-60-year-old adult females compared to vehicle cream and no treatment.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Topical treatment with a lemon balm leaf extract formulation reduced eye-corner wrinkles in 20 healthy women compared to placebo by promoting Endo180 production and inhibiting the decline in collagen levels.
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2025Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Squalane, Propanediol, Glycol Distearate, Coconut Acid, Glyceryl Behenate, C14-22 Alcohols, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Isethionate, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Disodium Edta, Maltodextrin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Gentiana Lutea Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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