iS Clinical Cleansing Complex for dry sensitive skin
Willow Bark Extract
Asiaticoside
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl AcetateAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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 excellent cleansing for your dry and sensitive skin due to high concentrations of Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine, which effectively cleanse pores, while Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract provides soothing benefits.
- Glycerin offers humectant action to support hydration, but the formula lacks sufficient emollient ingredients to fully address your dry or flaky skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
- Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this gel cleanser is widely celebrated for balancing deep cleansing with gentle hydration, making it particularly effective for acne-prone or sensitive skin. Users consistently report that it refines texture and minimizes pores without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “leaves face soft”
- “no squeaky clean feeling”
Clears acne/pores Often Mentioned
- “keeps acne at bay”
- “cleared my clogged pores”
- “helped with hormonal breakouts”
- “minimized pore appearance”
Versatile multitasker Sometimes Noted
- “great for shaving”
- “removes light makeup”
- “use as a mask”
- “good post-procedure”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “hard to justify price”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “overpriced basic cleanser”
- “luxury price tag”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “a little drying”
- “left skin feeling tight”
- “caused slight flaking”
- “too strong for dry winter skin”
Makeup removal issues Rarely Noted
- “need to double cleanse”
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “struggles with waterproof makeup”
- “left residue”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does iS Clinical Cleansing Complex work for dry sensitive skin?
iS Clinical Cleansing Complex works moderately well for dry sensitive skin by cleaning pores effectively while offering soothing and hydrating benefits through ingredients like glycerin and chamomile. However, because it lacks enough softening and moisturizing ingredients, a cleanser for this skin type needs extra rich oils and hydrating agents to fully relieve dryness and flakiness.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine effectively cleanse pores while Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract provides soothing benefits, and glycerin helps support hydration. A cleanser for dry and sensitive skin needs rich moisturizing oils and softening ingredients to fully address dry or flaky skin concerns.
What does Willow Bark Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Willow bark extract helps calm dry, sensitive skin by reducing redness and irritation without causing discomfort. It also supports deep hydration and smoother skin while soothing flare-ups safely.
What does Asiaticoside do for dry sensitive skin?
Asiaticoside helps calm dry sensitive skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works to keep the skin feeling comfortable and hydrated.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step before applying toners, moisturizers, and treatments. A cleanser of this type works well for dry skin when it is followed by rich moisturizing creams and soft, nourishing ingredients that fully address flakiness.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine when using retinol, applying it before your treatment and following up with a good moisturizer to keep your skin soft and comfortable. This cleanser cleans pores well and has soothing ingredients, but dry or flaky skin of this type needs a cleanser with richer softening ingredients to fully address dryness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. A consistent daily routine with a gentle cleanser helps improve dryness and keeps skin comfortable without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, as it effectively cleanses pores while containing soothing components and no harsh ingredients. A cleanser for this skin also needs rich softening ingredients to fully care for dry or flaky areas.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should be careful around your eyes because the skin there is very thin. This product is safe for your skin overall, but a cleanser for dry and sensitive skin needs more softening ingredients to fully address dryness and flakiness.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998A 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, 2019Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other cleansers fit dry sensitive skin better
Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Peg-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Willow Bark Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, 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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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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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