EltaMD Skin Recovery Amino Acid Foaming Cleanser

What is EltaMD Skin Recovery Amino Acid Foaming Cleanser?

EltaMD Skin Recovery Amino Acid Foaming Cleanser is a pH-balanced foaming cleanser for sensitive and compromised skin. EltaMD builds it on a patented complex of 3 amino acids, which it calls AAComplex, and states the formula is oil-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free and dye-free.

Who it suits

It suits skin that is reactive, tight or recovering. It is pH-balanced, oil-free, fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, and EltaMD reports it calms skin and reduces the look of facial redness. EltaMD says it lifts away sunscreen, makeup, pollution, excess oil and impurities without causing irritation.

What the 3 amino acids are

EltaMD names a patented complex of 3 amino acids and does not say which three. Taurine sits at position 5 of the ingredient list, arginine at 10 and glycine at 20. Separately, EltaMD describes a cleansing system of amino-acid surfactants, lactylate and alkyl polyglycosides, so sodium cocoyl apple amino acids belongs there rather than to the complex. Bisabolol and ginger root extract sit further down the list.

What EltaMD reports, and under what conditions

EltaMD reports the cleanser significantly strengthens the skin barrier and reduces skin water loss after 7 days. The conditions it prints: tested and visually evaluated by a dermatologist on 32 female subjects aged 24-56 in a 2-week study using product twice daily. Separately, 93% agreed it did not leave their skin feeling tight or dry, under conditions EltaMD prints as Kantar May 2023, Sample size: 160 women aged 18-35.

Where it sits on our shelf

EltaMD sells a separate Foaming Facial Cleanser. This one is the cleanser from its Skin Recovery line.

For the rest of what we carry from the brand, start on the EltaMD range we carry.

Or compare it against the other gentle face cleansers we stock.

Product specification

How to Use

EltaMD's directions: in the morning and evening, massage 1 to 2 pumps of the instant, rich foam directly to damp skin, then rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry. EltaMD's own order is to follow with Skin Recovery Essence Toner, then Skin Recovery Serum, then a moisturizer, with SPF in the morning.

Is this the replacement for the EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser?

It is the cleanser EltaMD now sells in that position, and it is a different formula. The older one ran on an enzyme and amino acid blend. This one runs on a patented complex of 3 amino acids plus an amino-acid surfactant system, and EltaMD positions it for sensitive and compromised skin rather than for everyday deep cleansing.

How many amino acids are in it?

Three, by EltaMD's own count, printed twice on its page as a patented complex of 3 amino acids. The brand does not say which three. Taurine sits at position 5 of the ingredient list, arginine at 10 and glycine at 20. Our suggestion is to read those as the likely ones rather than as settled.

Will it strip the skin?

EltaMD reports the opposite, and prints the conditions beside the figure. 93% agreed it did not leave their skin feeling tight or dry, under Kantar May 2023, Sample size: 160 women aged 18-35. That is an agreement figure rather than a measurement, which is worth knowing when you read it.

Full ingredient list: Water, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Taurine, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Arginine, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Coconut Acid, Glycine, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Bromelain, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Citrate, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Maltodextrin.

Transcribed from EltaMD's own ingredient panel. EltaMD publishes no percentage for any ingredient. It names a patented complex of 3 amino acids without saying which three; taurine, arginine and glycine all appear above.

Morning and evening, as the first step, which is EltaMD's own instruction. EltaMD says it lifts away sunscreen, which is what makes the evening wash matter on a day you wore SPF. EltaMD publishes no warning, no caution and no patch test instruction for this cleanser, which is not the same as saying none applies. Introduce it the way you would any new product on reactive skin.