La Roche-Posay TOLERIANE PURIFYING FOAMING CLEANSER for dry skin
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Ceramide Np
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other cleansers 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 cleansing benefits for your dry skin, as sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and cocamidopropyl betaine effectively remove impurities while glycerin and ceramide np provide essential hydration and barrier support.
- While the formula is generally supportive for dry skin, it does not offer specialized ingredients to directly address flakiness.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh or irritating ingredients.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 54.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle yet effective daily cleansing, suitable for normal to oily and sensitive skin. It successfully removes makeup and excess oil without stripping the skin, leaving it feeling clean and balanced. Many users report improved skin clarity and reduced pore visibility over time.
Highlights
Gentle & Non-Stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “doesn't feel squeaky”
- “gentle but effective”
Effective Cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes all makeup”
- “cleanses dirt and oil”
- “pores look smaller”
Skin Balancing Sometimes Noted
- “keeps oil at bay”
- “less oily throughout the day”
- “helped clear my skin”
Texture & Lather Sometimes Noted
- “foams nicely”
- “light and foamy”
- “a little goes a long way”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “completely dried out skin”
- “flaky texture”
- “too drying for me”
Irritation/Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused redness”
- “burning sensation”
- “gave me little bumps”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump broken”
- “mold in pump”
- “leaking bottle”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like ammonia”
- “medicinal smell”
- “smells like chemicals”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, target.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser work for dry skin?
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser works moderately well for dry skin, effectively removing impurities while glycerin and ceramide NP help provide essential hydration and barrier support. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly address flakiness. A cleanser for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and richer ceramides to maintain optimal moisture.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and ceramide NP help make this cleanser a good fit by providing essential hydration and barrier support for dry skin. To fit dry skin even better, a cleanser of this type needs extra hydrating ingredients like essential ceramides and sodium hyaluronate.
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
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, used after a makeup remover at night and followed by a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen during the day. It cleans effectively while keeping your skin safe, but because dry skin needs products that also target flakiness, it works best when paired with rich hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, but dry skin needs a cleanser that also brings extra ingredients to soothe flakiness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Mild cleansers help improve skin condition and keep dry skin comfortable without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry skin. Reviewers rarely report irritation or breakouts, and the formula is generally safe and supportive.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes, as it has a safe profile with no harsh or irritating ingredients. Because the skin around the eyes and on parts of the body can be very thin, a gentle formula like this is unlikely to cause irritation while cleansing.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008A 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, 2017A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022The 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, 2012Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, 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
How does it fit your skin?
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