Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser for oily skin
Olive Leaf Extract
Plantago Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Niacinamide
Camellia Seed OilAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
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 suitability for your oily skin as camellia seed oil and grape seed oil provide emollient action to cleanse without stripping. However, the formula lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to optimally address your oily shine concerns.
- The product provides general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, which you will notice, but these are not targeted for your specific oily skin needs.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsThis cleanser is widely praised by users with dry, sensitive, and mature skin for its ability to cleanse without stripping natural oils, leaving the face feeling soft, hydrated, and soothed. A minority of users with oily or acne-prone skin found it too rich or ineffective at removing heavy makeup, and some experienced sensitivity to the botanical ingredients.
Highlights
Gentle on sensitivity Often Mentioned
- “calms my skin down”
- “no redness or tightness”
- “gentle yet effective”
Hydrating & Non-Stripping Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip at all”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “perfect for dry skin”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “silkiest cleanser”
- “creamy and nourishing”
- “feels like a treat”
Soothing scent Often Mentioned
- “smell is divine”
- “relaxing spa scent”
- “lovely herbal smell”
Makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “need a second cleanse”
- “struggles with heavy makeup”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “tube cracks easily”
- “messy packaging”
- “product wastes at end”
Price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for what it is”
- “pricey to replenish”
- “luxury price tag”
Polarizing scent Rarely Noted
- “smells medicinal”
- “strong chemical smell”
- “smells like metal”
Sources: lovi.care, grownalchemist.com, cultbeauty.com, dermstore.com, heydayskincare.com, carolinehirons.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, as its plant oils clean without stripping while causing no irritation, though it lacks targeted ingredients to control oily shine. An oily skin type needs a cleanser with oil-controlling ingredients that promote a clear complexion and manage excess shine without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Camellia seed oil and grape seed oil help cleanse your oily skin without stripping away its natural moisture. To be a better fit, a cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that actively balance oil and promote a clear complexion without causing irritation.
What does Olive Leaf Extract do for oily skin?
Olive leaf extract helps balance oily skin by reducing unwanted shine and supporting a clear, calm complexion. It is unlikely to clog pores and may help keep the skin feeling fresh throughout the day.
What does Plantago Extract do for oily skin?
Plantago Extract helps balance oily skin by reducing unwanted shine and supporting a clear, calm complexion. This type of skin needs lightweight ingredients that soothe irritation and control excess oil without clogging pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first or second cleansing step. Oily skin of this type needs cleansers with oil-balancing and shine-controlling ingredients to properly manage excess oil.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, applying it first to gently wash your face before your retinol treatment. A cleanser for oily skin also needs oil-controlling ingredients to help manage daily shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin, though an oily skin type also needs ingredients that balance oil production.
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 has a good safety profile with no harsh ingredients. However, to truly manage oily shine, an oily skin type needs a cleanser with oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or zinc.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as it has a good safety profile with no harsh ingredients that might cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes and on certain body areas is very thin compared to other regions, gentle formulas like this are less likely to cause trouble.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol plant, linalool plant, limonene plant, benzyl salicylate plant, and farnesol plant).
What the research says
Tea seed oil makeup remover successfully removed foundation and eyeliner without causing skin irritation in 20 human volunteers, with the 60% formulation showing superior foundation removal compared to other formulations and an olive oil benchmark.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Liquid crystalline emulsions formulated with camellia seed oil and four different surfactant combinations reduced transepidermal water loss and increased skin hydration without causing skin irritation, with the formulation containing Lecinol S-10 and Tween 80 demonstrating the best clinical results.
Scientific Reports, 2023Application of olive leaf extract-containing cream twice daily for 2 months significantly decreased transepidermal water loss and increased skin hydration and wrinkles in 36 participants with photoaging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical application of an aucubin-containing cosmetic macroemulsion decreases transepidermal water loss, increases skin hydration, and improves SELS and skin macrorelief parameters in 25 female volunteers compared to a base cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical herbal treatments including lemon balm, olive leaf extract, propolis, and sage-rhubarb cream reduce pain, swelling, lesion size, and healing time in patients with herpes labialis compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025Topical oleuropein formulations reduced erythema, transepidermal water loss, and blood flow by approximately 22%, 35%, and 30% in healthy volunteers with UVB-induced erythema.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008An oil-in-serum formulation containing olive extract standardized in hydroxytyrosol improved skin barrier function and significantly reduced hyperpigmentation in participants with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after 45 days of application.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2026Plantain leaf proteins exhibit a wound-healing effect on vertebrate skin both in vitro and in vivo.
Prikladnaia Biokhimiia I Mikrobiologiia, 2011Plantago lanceolata water extract improves skin wound healing in rats by inducing the transition of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, increasing wound contraction rates, and enhancing tensile strength through greater extracellular matrix protein organization compared to untreated wounds.
The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2015Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata extracts incorporated into 3D-printed polysaccharide dressings enhanced fibroblast wound closure to 64% and 52%, respectively, compared to 29% for the control.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026A 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, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Topical 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 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, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil Camellia Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate Plant, Sorbitan Olivate Plant, Cetyl Alcohol Plant, Glycerin Plant, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract Olive Leaf Extract, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract Plantago Major Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum Polysaccharide Gum, Cananga Odorata Oil Flower Ylang Ylang Oil Flower, Tocopherol Vitamin E Plant, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Zinc Oxide, Pogostemon Cablin Oil Leaf, Fusanus Spicatus Oil Wood Sandalwood Oil Wood, Myroxylon Pereirae Oil Peru Balsam Oil, Niacinamide, Algae Extract Fucus Extract, Benzyl Alcohol Plant, Sodium Phytate Plant, Dehydroacetic Acid, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Linalool Plant, Limonene Plant, Benzyl Salicylate Plant, Farnesol Plant, Benzyl Benzoate Plant
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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