Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel for oily skin
Glycerin
Rosa Damascena Flower Water
Propanediol
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate
Coco-Betaine
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 cleansing for your oily skin due to the presence of Sodium Cocoamphoacetate and Coco-Betaine, which effectively cleanse pores and provide general hydration with glycerin and propanediol.
- While suitable for oily skin, it lacks stronger ingredients specifically for effective oil control.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this cleanser for being an affordable, gentle, and effective option that balances the skin without stripping its natural moisture. While it is widely celebrated by those with sensitive and combination skin for its soothing rosewater formula, a small minority of users with extremely dry skin found it slightly less hydrating than expected.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves my face feeling clean without the drying”
- “didn't leave my face feeling tight”
- “non-stripping but yet a very effective cleanser”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “love how affordable the brand is”
- “great value which I mean we all can expect”
- “can't believe how good this product works and major points”
Effective lather Sometimes Noted
- “lather on this cleanser is impressive”
- “rinses off easily and leaves skin refreshed”
- “gently purifies skin of dirt, oil, and makeup”
Soothing for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “I have VERY sensitive skin, but it doesn't make my skin feel like it's irritated”
- “soothed whenever I used this product”
- “no breakouts or irritation”
Not hydrating enough Rarely Noted
- “skin does feel like I need to go in with a moisturizer”
- “might be too simple for very dry skin”
- “felt a little dry after use”
Scent preferences Rarely Noted
- “mild soapy scent”
- “smell is weird... not off putting but not pleasant”
- “has a soapy feel”
Too basic Rarely Noted
- “simple skincare... if that's what you're looking for”
- “didn't notice a difference”
- “just a basic cleanser”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, beautylish.com, target.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel work for oily skin?
Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel works adequately for oily skin by providing moderate cleansing and hydration, though it lacks stronger ingredients specifically for effective oil control. A cleanser for oily skin needs ingredients like Niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to better manage oily shine and support skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
This cleanser works for oily skin by using sodium cocoamphoacetate and coco-betaine to clean pores while glycerin and propanediol provide general hydration. It is unlikely to irritate, but a cleanser for this skin type needs stronger oil control ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to properly manage shine.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
What does Rose Flower Water do for oily skin?
Rose Flower Water helps calm oily skin and keep it clear by reducing redness and fighting skin bacteria. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to keep your face feeling fresh and smooth.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the main cleansing step, and it is also used in your weekly routine. It gently cleans pores and keeps skin hydrated without irritation, though oily skin of this type needs stronger ingredients for effective oil control.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your routine, typically applying the cleanser first and following with your retinol treatment. This cleanser gently washes your face and helps keep skin hydrated with glycerin and propanediol without causing irritation, making it safe to use alongside active ingredients like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, as it offers safe, moderate cleansing for oily skin. A gentle daily cleanser helps keep skin clean and hydrated without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin because it contains gentle cleansers and is free of harsh ingredients. However, an oily skin type needs stronger ingredients specifically for effective oil control.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around your eyes. Cleansers used for the delicate eye area need to be especially gentle and formulated specifically to protect thin skin from irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.
Molecules, 2020Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.
BioFactors, 2023Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.
Molecules, 2021Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2024Topical 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, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Pineapple Fruit Extract
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
How does it fit your skin?
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