Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam for dry skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Caffeine
Acetyl GlucosamineCaution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 exfoliation for your dry or flaky skin due to salicylic acid, which helps shed dead skin cells, but this ingredient can also have a drying effect on your dry skin.
- The formulation lacks deeply hydrating or emollient ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to counteract the drying potential of salicylic acid, making it unsuitable for your dry skin type.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 5.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin consistently praise this foam for effectively clearing breakouts and reducing redness without leaving a residue. Users with dry or sensitive skin frequently report that the formula is too stripping, leading to tightness and flaking if not paired with a strong moisturizer.
Highlights
Effective acne treatment Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared my cystic acne”
- “reduced redness significantly”
- “stopped new breakouts”
- “best for hormonal acne”
Gentle on oily skin Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “leaves face feeling soft”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “clean but not tight”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “made my skin flake”
- “face felt very tight”
- “too harsh for sensitive skin”
- “dried out my cheeks”
Convenient pump Sometimes Noted
- “love the foam pump”
- “easy to use in shower”
- “one pump is enough”
- “dispenses perfect amount”
Deep cleaning, oil control Sometimes Noted
- “removes all excess oil”
- “pores look smaller”
- “face feels squeaky clean”
- “great for greasy T-zone”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like bandages”
- “strong chemical odor”
- “scent is off-putting”
- “smells medicinal”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “leaked in my bag”
- “dispenser broke quickly”
- “cap doesn't stay on”
Watery consistency Rarely Noted
- “liquid is too runny”
- “pours out like water”
- “hard to keep in hand”
- “expected a thicker gel”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, macys.com, ulta.com, bluemercury.com, my-navy-exchange.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because salicylic acid can have a drying effect on dry skin, and the formula lacks deeply hydrating or softening ingredients to counteract it. Cleansers that fit dry skin better need ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to provide essential moisture and protect the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin?
Salicylic acid makes this cleanser a poor fit because it can have a drying effect on dry skin. Because the formula lacks deeply hydrating or softening ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid, a cleanser for dry skin needs those rich and protective ingredients to maintain moisture and prevent dryness.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry skin?
Salicylic acid is generally not a good fit for dry skin, as it is meant to clear out pores and remove dead skin rather than hydrate. Because dry skin needs soothing and moisture rather than exfoliation, a product for dry skin needs nourishing ingredients like urea to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes into both your morning and evening routine, followed by a hydrating toner and moisturizer to keep your skin soft and smooth. Because salicylic acid can have a drying effect, this skin type needs a cleanser with deeply hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Using this cleanser with retinol is likely to leave your dry skin very irritated, because its salicylic acid may dry out your skin further. If you still use them together, a cleanser of this type needs to be followed by rich, soothing moisturizers with ceramides or hyaluronic acid to protect your skin barrier.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser may have a drying effect on your dry skin because salicylic acid can be too harsh and lacks deeply hydrating ingredients to counteract it. Dry skin needs a mild cleanser paired with rich, deeply hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to keep it soft and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, but the salicylic acid in it can cause flaking or a drying effect on dry skin. A product for this skin needs rich, deeply hydrating ingredients or smoothing moisturizers to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser may be too drying for the thin skin around the eyes because it contains salicylic acid and lacks deeply hydrating ingredients. To care for dry skin in sensitive areas or on the body, a product of this type needs rich, moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to keep skin soft and smooth.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A 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, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001A skincare regimen containing Macrocystis pyrifera ferment consisting of a cleansing foam, a serum, and a moisturizer decreases the visible effects of inflammation and aging while promoting healing and improving patient satisfaction.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Macrocystis pyrifera ferment-containing creams decrease visible inflammation and signs of aging while enhancing barrier resilience and recovery.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Aqueous extracts from Macrocystis pyrifera and Durvillaea antarctica exhibited antiviral activity against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2, and topical formulations significantly reduced the severity and duration of HSV-1 skin lesions in an animal model compared to mock treatment and acyclovir.
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021Topical 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical cosmetic products containing hyaluronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine, and gamma-amino butyric acid improved skin hydration by 24.28% to 33.60%, elasticity by 11.98%, and skin lightening by 5.26% over 2 months in 20 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sucrose, Disodium Phosphate, Arginine Cocoate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Caffeine, Algae Extract, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Sea Whip Extract, Peg Ppg-18 18 Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Lactobacillus Ferment, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Capryloyl Glycine, 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Chloroxylenol, Salicylic Acid
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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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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