I’ll admit it. There are some products I wouldn’t try if they weren’t handed to me by PRs. ZO Skin Health Hydrating Cleanser by Zein Obagi, MD, is one of them. It’s not because the formula is so bad, I wouldn’t touch it with a five foot pole. In fact, this stuff is not bad at all. It’s not because it doesn’t work. It does.
It’s because of the price. I know $50.00 isn’t super expensive. Heck, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend that much on an antioxidant serum or glycolic acid exfoliant. I know they deliver and help my skin stay healthy, so it’s a good investment. But, a cleanser stays on my skin for a minute or so. There’s no point in putting anything but cleansing agents in there. All other goodies just end up down the drain… But if you don’t mind spending more on an ordinary cleanser, this gets the job done. Here’s how:
Key Ingredients In ZO Skin Health Effects Hydrating Cleanser: What Makes It Work?
SURFACTANTS TO CLEANSE SKIN
Don’t let their names scare you off. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, and Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate are three mild surfactants. That’s jargon for “ingredients that help water mix with oils and dirt,” so they can be rinsed off down the drain. They’re powerful enough to do the cleansing job, yet gentle enough not to irritate your skin in the process. Phew!
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant. That’s a fancy way of saying it draws moisture from the air into the skin, keeping it supple and hydrated. The best part? It’s so powerful, it holds up to 1000 times its weight in water. Impressive, isn’t it? Here, it keeps your skin soft and hydrated while the cleansing agents do their job.
Related: The Complete Guide To Hyaluronic Acid In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Water: Just the base. Basically the thing that holds everything else together.
- Glycerin: A moisture magnet. Pulls water into your skin so it doesn’t feel dry after.
- Glyceryl Stearate: Makes everything blend nicely and feel smooth going on.
- PEG-100 Stearate: Helps the formula stay creamy and stops it from separating.
- Stearic Acid: A fatty acid that makes your skin feel soft and the formula feel rich.
- Glycol Distearate: The thing that gives products that pearly look. Also adds a silky feel.
- Palmitic Acid: Another fatty acid that helps moisturize and protect your skin.
- Cetyl Alcohol: Not the bad kind of alcohol. This one actually helps soften skin and gives a nice texture.
- Acrylates Copolymer: Makes the product feel smoother and helps it stay put while you use it.
- Panthenol: Also called provitamin B5. Soothes and hydrates – good if your skin’s feeling cranky.
- Sodium PCA: Grabs onto water and keeps your skin hydrated. Naturally found in your skin already.
- Urea: Softens rough patches and pulls in moisture. A real multitasker.
- Trehalose: A sugar that helps your skin handle stress and hold onto moisture.
- Polyquaternium-51: Sounds intense, but it’s just something that helps mimic your skin barrier and lock in hydration.
- Triacetin: Helps keep skin soft and smooth. Also stops the formula from drying out too fast.
- Fragrance: Just here to make it smell nice. Can be irritating if your skin’s fussy though.
- Limonene: A citrusy scent. Smells good, but can be annoying if your skin’s sensitive.
- Linalool: Another smell-good ingredient from flowers. Same deal – nice but not always skin-friendly.
- Sodium Hydroxide: Balances the pH so the product doesn’t mess with your skin barrier.
- Allantoin: Super soothing. Calms down redness or irritation.
- Ethylhexylglycerin: Helps preserve the formula and gives a bit of skin-conditioning on the side.
- Phenoxyethanol: The main preservative. Keeps the product from growing weird stuff.
- Red 33: A dye to make the product look pretty. Doesn’t do anything for your skin.
- Yellow 6: Another dye. Just here for color.
Texture
This feels like a creamy lotion, not one of those foamy, sudsy cleansers. It’s thick-ish but spreads super easily, kind of like a soft moisturizer. Doesn’t lather much (or at all), but it still gives you that clean feeling – just without your face screaming for moisture after. If you’ve got dry or sensitive skin, it’ll probably feel like a win. If you’re oily, you might find it a bit too rich, especially in summer.
Fragrance
Yep, it’s scented. Not punch-you-in-the-face perfumey, but you can definitely smell it. It’s got that fancy-clinic, almost herbal-clean kind of vibe. Not terrible, not amazing. If fragrance bugs your skin, this might be a dealbreaker. If not, it’s whatever – the smell doesn’t hang around after you rinse.
Packaging
White tube, very ZO. Nothing groundbreaking, but it looks expensive sitting on your shelf. Flip cap, squeeze it out, no drama. It’s solid, doesn’t leak, and works fine in the shower. Honestly? For the price, some people might expect a little more, but function-wise it’s fine.
How To Use It
Super simple:
- Wet your face
- Squeeze out like a pea-sized blob (you don’t need much)
- Massage it in for 30 seconds or so
- Rinse with warm water
That’s it. You can use it morning and night. If you wear a lot of makeup or sunscreen, use something oil-based first – this isn’t going to melt everything off. But it’s great as a second cleanse or a chill morning wash.
Performance & Personal Opinion
ZO Skin Health Effects Hydrating Cleanser does what it says on the tin. It easily takes off dirt, impurities, and even some makeup. I say some because it struggles a bit with waterproof makeup, which is why I prefer to use it in the mornings.
It’s also more suitable for dry than oily skin. That’s because ZO Skin Health Oeffects Hydrating Cleanser is every bit as hydrating as the name implies. If you have dry skin, I think you’ll like it a lot because its creamy texture cleanses skin without stripping the natural oils that keep it naturally moisturized.
So, yeah, it’s pretty good. And fairly basic. And terribly overpriced. I love to use it, I just don’t think I’m getting all my money’s worth. But if you’re struggling to find a cleanser that doesn’t dry out your skin, then maybe the premium price won’t bother you as much. Everything is relative.
Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
What I Like About ZO Skin Health Effects Hydrating Cleanser
- Super gentle and doesn’t dry your skin out
- Creamy texture that feels nice going on
- Actually hydrating (not just a marketing word here)
- Skin feels clean but still soft afterward
- Works well as a morning cleanser or second cleanse
- Doesn’t break me out or irritate my skin
What I Don’t Like About ZO Skin Health Effects Hydrating Cleanser
- It’s expensive for what it is – like, really
- Doesn’t fully remove makeup (especially waterproof stuff)
- The fragrance might bother sensitive skin
- Not ideal for oily or acne-prone skin – can feel a little too rich
- Kind of basic for the price point – no wow factor in the formula
Who Should Use This?
- Dry or sensitive skin girlies who are over cleansers that strip
- Anyone looking for a low-foam, creamy cleanser that feels more like skincare than soap
- People who already double cleanse and need something gentle for round two
- Folks who don’t mind splurging a little for comfort (even if the formula isn’t groundbreaking)
- Not great if you’ve got oily, breakout-prone skin, or if you’re looking for that squeaky-clean feeling. Also maybe skip if fragrance is a no-go for your face.
Does ZO Skin Health Effects Hydrating Cleanser Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Dual action cleanser for normal to dry skin that cleanses and hydrates the skin, minimizing dryness and irritation for sensitive skin. | True. |
| Helps retain moisture during the cleansing process. | True. |
| Rids the skin of dirt, oil, and makeup without leaving a greasy residue. | True. |
| Calms and soothes the skin. | No, it can’t do this. |
Price & Availability
$50.00 at Face The Future, dermatologists, and pharmacists
Do You Need It?
It’s not a must-have, but it’s a nice-to-have, if you don’t mind the little splurge.
Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG100 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylates Copolymer, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Urea, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Triacetin, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene, Linalool, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Red 33 (CI17200), Yellow 6 (CI 15985)
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
