Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash for mature skin
Salicylic Acid
Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Rhizome Licorice Root Extract RhizomeLow
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for mature skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 wrinkles and fine lines due to salicylic acid and melaleuca alternifolia tree oil, which promote cell turnover and decongest pores, but lacks sufficient emollient and humectant ingredients for optimal hydration for your normal skin.
- The formula is safe for your normal skin, as it is free from harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser as part of both your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily since your skin is normal and not sensitive.
- Apply this first in your routine before using your toner, moisturizer, and SPF.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water. Avoid rubbing your skin too hard.
- Apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin for the best fresh feeling. Make sure your face is clean of heavy makeup first.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area while washing. Do a quick patch test before your very first use to be safe.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 3.6k+ reviewsThis foaming wash is widely praised for effectively clearing hormonal and teenage acne on both the face and body without stripping the skin of moisture. While most users find it gentle and refreshing, a minority experience dryness or irritation, and some note a "purging" phase before seeing results. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “helped keep oil under control”
- “3 pimples went away overnight”
- “cleared my hormonal acne”
- “great for teenage acne”
Gentle and non-drying Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “face feels clean not dry”
- “balanced cleanser”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “brightened my skin”
- “skin looks healthier”
- “less oily throughout the day”
- “smooths texture”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells nice and fresh”
- “love the scent”
- “smells like orange peel”
- “refreshing botanical smell”
Versatile for body Sometimes Noted
- “helped tremendously with body acne”
- “use on face, back, neck”
- “cleared my back breakouts”
- “great for chest acne”
Price point Sometimes Noted
- “pricey but worth it”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “good but costly”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “makes your skin really dry”
- “left my face feeling tight”
- “too drying for me”
- “caused flaky skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “do not travel with this it leaks”
- “bottle cap does not pop open”
- “packaging arrived damaged”
- “leaked in my bag”
Purging period Rarely Noted
- “skin may experience purging”
- “caused initial breakout”
- “had to wait for purge to end”
- “worse before better”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “turning red around nose”
- “caused burning sensation”
- “irritated my sensitive skin”
- “skin became inflamed”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, adorebeauty.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash a weak match for mature skin?
This cleanser is a weak match because it lacks enough softening and moisture-attracting ingredients to properly hydrate normal mature skin. A cleanser for this skin type needs gentle cleansers, zero allergens, and a balanced mix of soothing and deeply hydrating ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for mature skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for mature skin because it lacks sufficient soft and moisturizing ingredients for optimal hydration. A cleanser for this skin needs nourishing plant extracts and rich hydrating ingredients to keep the skin comfortable.
What does Salicylic Acid do for mature skin?
Salicylic acid helps smooth and firm mature skin by boosting collagen and elasticity while reducing roughness and wrinkles. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used correctly, but this skin type also needs extra hydrating ingredients to stay soft and plump.
What does Tea Tree Oil do for mature skin?
Tea tree oil may help reduce signs of aging on mature skin by lowering inflammatory and oxidative stress. However, because it is primarily known for treating acne and is very strong, mature skin also needs gentle, nourishing ingredients like hydrating plant oils and soothing ceramides to stay soft and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Frontiers in Medicine, 2025
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This cleanser goes as the first cleansing step in both your morning and evening routines for mature skin. While it offers moderate exfoliation for lines and wrinkles using salicylic acid, it lacks enough hydrating ingredients like soft moisturizers and rich nourishing components for this skin type.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, provided you follow it with a rich moisturizer to prevent dryness. Mature skin needs a cleanser that includes soothing plant extracts and plenty of hydrating ingredients to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser may be used daily as part of a regular cleansing routine, though it lacks the rich softening and hydrating ingredients that mature skin needs to stay comfortably smooth and plump.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin because salicylic acid and tea tree oil help keep pores clear. However, a product of this type needs richer hydrating ingredients and skin-softening moisturizers to keep mature skin smooth and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is generally safe to use on the body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin around the eyes where the eyelids are thinnest and more sensitive. While the formula is gentle and unlikely to irritate, this type of product for mature skin needs extra moisture-rich ingredients to keep normal 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
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Cryotherapy 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 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, 2018Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007A novel D-limonene and Gelucire 44/12 based microemulsion formulated with Labrasol and Labrafil M 1944 CS showed high stability, optical transparency, nanometric globule size, and a safe in vivo skin profile on mice ear skin.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2021Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Topical application of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica flavonoid-rich fractions individually and in combination significantly increased the wound healing rate and reduced oxidative stress compared to wound and Nolaver-treated groups.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Acrylates Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate-20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Rhizome Licorice Root Extract Rhizome, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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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