🇸🇬Singapore

Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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 high suitability for your oily skin as salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid provide excellent pore-cleansing and seboregulation to address oily shine. Betaine and oat kernel extract further soothe and hydrate, complementing the exfoliating action for balanced comfort.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • This cleanser effectively decongests pores and targets oily shine with its beneficial exfoliating acids.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 120.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly effective for users with oily, acne-prone, and combination skin, frequently reducing active acne, controlling sebum, and unclogging pores without stripping moisture. Many users report improved skin texture and fewer breakouts. A significant number of users note the consistency is very runny and the chemical scent is unpleasant.

Highlights

  • Effective acne control Mostly Mentioned
    • “acne cleared up in a week”
    • “reduces active acne significantly”
    • “prevents future breakouts”
    • “best for acne prone skin”
    • “bumps on forehead gone”
  • Runny texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “consistency is like water”
    • “spills easily from tube”
    • “too liquidy to control”
    • “slips through fingers”
    • “wastes product due to flow”
  • Controls oil Often Mentioned
    • “keeps skin oil-free for hours”
    • “reduces sebum around nose”
    • “perfect for oily skin”
    • “controls shine without drying”
    • “face feels fresh and matte”
  • Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't make skin feel tight”
    • “gentle exfoliation”
    • “hydrating after-feel”
    • “mild enough for daily use”
    • “no irritation or redness”
  • Chemical smell Often Mentioned
    • “smells like chemicals”
    • “weird medicinal scent”
    • “smell is annoying”
    • “has a strange odor”
    • “scent takes getting used to”
  • Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “no artificial perfume”
    • “good for fragrance allergy”
    • “simple clean ingredients”
    • “no irritation from scent”
  • Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
    • “cap leaks during travel”
    • “dispenses too much product”
    • “messy cap design”
    • “needs a pump bottle”
    • “leaked in the package”
  • Drying for some Rarely Noted
    • “made skin flaky”
    • “too drying for winter”
    • “felt tight after washing”
    • “dry patches appeared”
    • “stripped my skin barrier”

Sources: lovi.care, nykaa.com, flipkart.com, minimalist.co.in, amazon.in, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Minimalist Salicylic Acid + LHA 2% Face Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?

This cleanser is a great fit because salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid deeply clean pores and control excess oil to tackle oily shine. Oat extract and betaine also help soothe and hydrate your skin to keep it comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?

Salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid make this cleanser a great fit by deeply cleaning pores and managing oily shine. Oat extract and betaine also help by soothing and hydrating your skin for a balanced, comfortable feel.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?

Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

What does Lha Lipo-Hydroxy Acid do for oily skin?

LHA helps clear pores and keeps oily skin balanced by gently exfoliating the surface and reducing excess oil. Using a product of this type regularly may improve breakouts and skin texture over time.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin, where it goes in the morning and evening routine to help clear pores and reduce oily shine. It uses salicylic acid and LHA to gently exfoliate while oat extract and betaine keep your skin comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this exfoliating cleanser with retinol, but to avoid irritation, use them at different times of the day or on alternate days rather than together in the same routine. Using this approach helps manage oily skin and decongest pores safely while keeping your skin calm.

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin, effectively clearing pores and reducing shine with its exfoliating acids. You can use it as part of your daily routine while watching how your skin responds.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cleanser is a great fit because salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid help clear out pores and control oily shine. It also features soothing ingredients like oat extract and allantoin to keep your skin calm and comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

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 thin skin around your eyes to prevent irritation. The body's skin is much thicker than the delicate eye area and can easily handle the exfoliating acids.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

  • Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

  • Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.

    Cutis, 2012

  • A repair cream containing Rhealba oat plantlets extract, l-ALA-l-GLU dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid provided immediate relief and was judged by doctors as good or very good in 96.8% of cases for wound healing in 2,363 patients following dermatological acts.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018

  • Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002

  • Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015

  • Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012

  • Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016

  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020

  • An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propanediol, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Salicylic Acid, Betaine, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Allantoin, Zinc Pca, Sodium Pca, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Buy online

Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Singapore.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play