Dr. Sam's Flawless Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Allantoin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Disodium Edta
Citric AcidAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 your combination skin, as Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate and poloxamer 188 help dissolve impurities and oils without causing irritation. Allantoin and tocopheryl acetate provide soothing and antioxidant effects, offering some benefit for acne and blemishes.
- The formula is highly suitable for combination skin, with tocopheryl acetate and allantoin working to balance the skin and reduce inflammation.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsMost users appreciate that it leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated. A significant portion of users find the non-foaming texture satisfying, though some users prefer a cleanser that lathers. It is also noted that the cleanser may struggle with waterproof eye makeup and can cause eye stinging for some.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves my skin soft and hydrated”
- “never feels stripped or dry”
- “skin feels calm after washing”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “melts away my SPF”
- “removes all my foundation”
- “cleanses thoroughly in one step”
- “great for the one-minute massage”
Fragrance-free formula Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation or stinging”
- “great for fragrance sensitivity”
- “simple, clean ingredients”
Luxurious jelly texture Sometimes Noted
- “lovely thick gel texture”
- “glides over the skin”
- “feels like a spa treatment”
- “luxurious and smooth application”
Does not foam Sometimes Noted
- “miss the squeaky clean feeling”
- “feels a bit slimy”
- “hard to get used to no foam”
- “feels like washing with lotion”
Eye makeup struggle Sometimes Noted
- “stings my eyes badly”
- “doesn't remove waterproof mascara”
- “need a separate eye makeup remover”
- “cloudy vision after using”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “pricey for a face wash”
- “expensive with shipping”
- “good but not budget friendly”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused closed comedones”
- “gave me small bumps”
- “skin didn't agree with it”
- “caused redness after use”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, drsambunting.com, reddit.com, skinsort.com, mywomenstuff.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dr. Sam's Flawless Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?
Dr. Sam's Flawless Cleanser works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, gently dissolving impurities and oils while calming blemishes with allantoin and tocopheryl acetate. To fit this skin better, a cleanser of this type needs a balanced mix of hydrating and soothing ingredients like aloe and glycerin that retain moisture and prevent over-drying while cleansing.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Allantoin and tocopheryl acetate make this cleanser a good fit because they help calm acne-prone skin and soothe irritation. An acne cleanser for this skin type also needs soothing extracts, hydrating ingredients like aloe and glycerin, and gentle cleansing agents to maintain skin balance and moisture retention without over-drying.
What does Allantoin do for acne-prone skin?
Allantoin helps calm redness and supports the skin barrier, making it a soothing addition to routines for acne-prone skin. It is often paired with ingredients that clear pores and reduce oil to keep acne-prone skin balanced and comfortable.
What does Aloe Vera do for acne-prone skin?
Aloe vera helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness, swelling, and the number of blemishes. It works well to soothe irritated areas while keeping the skin smooth and comfortable.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
Dr. Sam's Flawless Cleanser goes in both your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step. It gently washes away oils and impurities without irritation, though acne-prone skin often does better with a cleanser that includes blemish-fighting active ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing it off, and then following with your retinol treatment once your face is completely dry. This gentle cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation, making it a safe choice to use alongside retinoids.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser daily both morning and night as part of your routine. Using a gentle cleanser regularly helps wash away impurities and oils while keeping your skin calm.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Dr. Sam's Flawless Cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts since it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients, but because it is only an average fit for acne-prone skin, this skin type typically needs cleansers with stronger blemish-fighting and oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients are very safe for delicate areas. A product for acne-prone skin on the body and eye area needs soothing ingredients like allantoin and vitamin E to calm blemishes without causing irritation.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Dermatological 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, 2021Vitamin 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, 1998Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025A 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, 2013Topical 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, 2016A 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, 2020An 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, 2018A 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 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, 2025Topical 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, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Daily 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, 2021Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Ingredients
Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Bht, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Poloxamer 188, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Water
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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