Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Olive Leaf Extract
Plantago Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Niacinamide
Camellia Seed OilHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin, this cleanser effectively removes impurities with Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil and Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, while niacinamide helps regulate oil production.
- Glycerin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract provide general cleansing and hydration, though more targeted ingredients would be beneficial for your primary concern of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and poses no irritation risk for oily skin.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
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
What makes Grown Alchemist Hydra-Restore Cream Cleanser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin because camellia seed oil and grape seed oil lift away impurities while niacinamide helps balance oil production. It is unlikely to irritate your skin since it contains no harsh ingredients.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Scientific Reports, 2023
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because camellia seed oil and grape seed oil lift away dirt and oil while niacinamide helps keep oil production balanced. Olive leaf extract and aloe vera also help keep skin calm without causing irritation.
Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017Scientific Reports, 2023
What does Olive Leaf Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Olive leaf extract helps hydrate the skin and keeps it feeling smooth while supporting skin barrier health. For oily and acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil production without clogging pores.
What does Plantago Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Plantago extract helps calm irritated skin and provides antioxidant benefits that may support clearer skin for oily and acne-prone types. Because this type of product is an average fit for your skin, it needs added ingredients like lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing agents to properly care for acne-prone areas.
Molecules, 2025Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 2021
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes first in the morning routine and second in the evening routine after a makeup remover. It gently removes impurities while helping regulate oil production, and is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on your oily acne-prone skin, followed by your retinol treatment. Using this gentle cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with retinoids, and it helps wash away impurities without stripping your skin.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin and can be used twice daily in your morning and evening routines. It safely removes impurities and helps regulate oil without harsh ingredients or irritation risk.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and poses no irritation risk. Niacinamide also helps regulate oil production while you cleanse.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula has a great safety profile for the thin skin found there and across the body. The mild plant oils and extracts wash away dirt comfortably without causing irritation.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017
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, 2017A 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, 2018Liquid 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, 2023Topical 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, 2026Topical 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Topical 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
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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