🇬🇧United Kingdom

e.l.f. Pure Skin Cleanser for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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

  • Highly suitable for your combination skin, this cleanser features niacinamide to help regulate oil production in your oily areas and sodium hyaluronate to provide humectant action for your drier zones.
  • Glycerin and oat kernel flour offer additional hydration and soothing benefits, complementing the formula's ability to balance your skin.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like glycerin and niacinamide, ensuring minimal irritation risk for your combination skin.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
  • Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
  • For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
  • 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 4.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this fragrance-free, non-foaming cleanser is highly praised for its soothing, barrier-supportive ingredients, making it an excellent choice for sensitive and dry skin types. While it leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated, users frequently recommend it as a morning cleanser or the second step in a double-cleansing routine, as it struggles to remove heavy makeup independently.

Highlights

  • Very gentle formula Mostly Mentioned
    • “Doesn't irritate sensitive skin”
    • “Feels soothing”
    • “No stinging sensation”
  • Excellent value Often Mentioned
    • “Great price point”
    • “Affordable daily staple”
    • “Inexpensive but effective”
  • Non-stripping/Hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “Skin feels soft after”
    • “Not tight or dry”
    • “Maintains moisture”
  • Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
    • “Doesn't remove foundation”
    • “Need oil cleanser first”
    • “Struggles with mascara”
  • Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
    • “No harsh scent”
    • “Perfect for fragrance sensitivity”
    • “Clean, neutral smell”
  • Non-foaming texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Feels strange at first”
    • “Miss the lather”
    • “Hard to tell if cleaning”
  • Not for heavy-duty Sometimes Noted
    • “Not enough for sunscreen”
    • “Leaves residue on heavy days”
    • “Requires double cleansing”

Sources: lovi.care, asos.com, dermapproved.com, elfcosmetics.com, oliveunicornbeauty.com, theaestheticedge.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes e.l.f. Pure Skin Cleanser a great fit for combination skin?

This cleanser is a great fit because niacinamide helps balance oil in your oily areas while sodium hyaluronate brings much-needed moisture to your drier zones. Glycerin and oat kernel flour add extra hydration and soothing relief, and the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Niacinamide helps regulate oil in your oily areas while sodium hyaluronate brings moisture to your drier zones. Glycerin and oat kernel flour provide extra soothing and hydration to help keep your skin balanced.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Oat Milk do for combination skin?

Oat milk helps calm and soothe combination skin by reducing redness and irritation without feeling heavy. It provides gentle moisture to dry areas while helping balance oilier zones, though a weak fit for combination skin generally needs lightweight hydrators and balancing ingredients like niacinamide or green tea.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2010Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2007

What does Allantoin do for combination skin?

Allantoin helps calm sensitive areas, keep skin smooth, and support healing in combination skin. It works by regulating the skin's response and helping it recover.

Acta Cirurgica Brasileira, 2010

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

This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first or second step to help balance your combination skin without irritation. A daily skincare routine featuring a mild cleanser helps improve skin condition while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. Using a gentle, barrier-restoring cleanser like this helps minimize dryness and irritation when using strong active ingredients.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin because it helps balance oil in your shiny areas while keeping your dry zones comfortable. You can safely use it twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, as its gentle ingredients ensure very little risk of irritation.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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

This cleanser is a great fit and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it has an exceptionally safe formula without harsh ingredients. Its gentle ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin help keep oil balanced and skin calm with minimal risk of irritation.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because its gentle formula and soothing ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide ensure minimal irritation risk. Since the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, its mild safety profile helps cleanse this delicate area comfortably.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017
  • Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • 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
  • 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
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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
  • Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.

    Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water Matricaria Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Allantoin, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Tromethamine

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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