Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser for sensitive skin
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Copper Gluconate
Zinc Gluconate
Dimethyl Mea Dmae
Aha Complex
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin due to Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Lauryl Glucoside effectively removing impurities, though it lacks specific ingredients to target your redness and irritation concerns.
- Citric Acid provides mild exfoliation suitable for normal skin, but the formula could benefit from additional hydrating components for a more balanced feel.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, minimizing the risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently praise this gel cleanser for its ability to thoroughly remove makeup and oil without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier, making it a favorite for those with normal to dry skin. Many report softer, brighter, and more radiant skin after use, though a notable minority of users express dissatisfaction with the product's strong fragrance and the recent packaging change from a glass bottle to a plastic tube.
Highlights
Gentle and non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “never dry or tight”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “doesn't strip moisture”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
Effective makeup remover Often Mentioned
- “removes all makeup”
- “takes off mascara”
- “cleans thoroughly”
- “melts away dirt”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “firming effect”
- “helps with fine lines”
- “youthful glow”
- “great for mature skin”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks brighter”
- “smoother complexion”
- “pores look smaller”
- “improves tone”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “hate the new tube”
- “cap breaks easily”
- “leaks in travel”
- “hard to control amount”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like perfume”
- “strong floral scent”
- “fragrance is awful”
- “scent is overpowering”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “burns my eyes”
- “stings if near eyes”
- “irritates eyes”
- “have to be careful”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “very pricey”
- “expensive for a cleanser”
- “wait for a sale”
- “cost is high”
Sources: lovi.care, nordstrom.com, dermstore.com, perriconemd.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser work for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is an average fit because while it cleans without harsh ingredients, it lacks specific components to target redness and irritation and could use extra hydrating ingredients for a more balanced feel. Cleansers for sensitive skin need soothing ingredients that calm redness and irritation, along with moisturizing agents to keep skin comfortable.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a safe fit for sensitive skin because it contains no harsh ingredients, minimizing the risk of irritation. To work best for this skin, a cleanser of this type needs soothing ingredients like amino acids and aloe, along with hydrating components for a more balanced feel.
What does Alpha Lipoic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Alpha lipoic acid may not be the best fit for sensitive skin on its own, as it can sometimes cause irritation or skin disorders. A product for sensitive skin needs soothing, calming ingredients and gentle antioxidants that protect without causing redness or discomfort.
What does Copper Gluconate do for sensitive skin?
Copper gluconate helps calm and soothe sensitive skin while supporting a healthy skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to keep skin feeling soft and balanced.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is used both morning and night as a basic cleansing step in your daily routine. It is safe for sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, though a product of this type for sensitive skin ultimately needs extra calming and hydrating ingredients to soothe redness and irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine, but sensitive skin needs a cleanser that includes extra hydrating components and soothing ingredients to help calm redness and irritation when using retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is safe for your sensitive skin because it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, minimizing the risk of irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin since it contains no heavy oils or pore-clogging ingredients. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle cleansing agents along with soothing and hydrating components to keep skin calm and balanced.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the thin skin around the eyes may require extra caution since the formula lacks specific soothing and hydrating ingredients to target redness and irritation. Body and eye care products of this type often need added moisturizing components and gentle, barrier-protecting ingredients to keep sensitive areas balanced and comfortable.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
Formulating sodium laureth sulphate with sodium laureth carboxylate and lauryl glucoside prevented significant decreases in cutaneous capacitance and reduced erythema and dryness in healthy volunteers compared to unsupplemented sodium laureth sulphate.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Topical application of 1-1.5% glycolic acid suppresses UVB-induced inflammation by modulating NF-κB signaling pathways in human keratinocytes and mouse dorsal skin.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2017Topical 30% P407 gel loaded with ALA cubosomes reduced facial lines, nearly resolved fine lines in the periorbital and upper lip areas, and improved skin color and texture without irritation or peeling in volunteers.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2014Application of 5% cubosomal alpha lipoic acid gel twice daily for 6 months significantly improved global aesthetic scores and increased epidermal thickness compared to placebo in 20 aging female faces.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Treatment with a cream containing 5% alpha-lipoic acid for 12 weeks reduces skin roughness by an average of 50.8% compared to 40.7% with placebo in women with photoaged facial skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2003Zinc gluconate induced alpha2, alpha3, alphaV, and alpha6 integrins, copper gluconate induced alpha2, alpha6, and beta1, and manganese gluconate induced most studied integrins in cultured keratinocytes.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013Daily application of 3% DMAE facial gel for 16 weeks safely and efficaciously mitigates forehead lines and periorbital fine wrinkles, improves lip shape and fullness and overall aging skin appearance, and increases skin firmness compared to placebo.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2005A gel containing 3% 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) increased skin firmness, demonstrated by increased shear wave velocity in 30 volunteers compared to a formulation without DMAE.
Skin Research and Technology, 2002A DMAE-based formulation increased dermal and collagen fiber thickness in hairless mice and enhanced stratum corneum water content in human forearm skin compared to control formulations, without significantly modifying mechanical properties.
Die Pharmazie, 2009
Why other cleansers fit sensitive skin better
Topical 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, 2020Cosmetic 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, 2016
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Ppg-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco Isostearamide, Dimethyl Mea Dmae, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Thioctic Acid Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Benzophenone-4, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.