Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for dry skin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Tocopherol
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin due to Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, which provide emollient action to smooth intercellular lipids and support the skin barrier.
- Offers moderate makeup removal and general cleansing benefits with Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, supportive for dry or flaky skin but not specialized for it.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover in your PM routine every evening to gently clean your face. Always pair with a gentle cleanser afterward.
- Apply this makeup remover as a pre-cleanser step before using your regular cleanser and moisturizer.
- Gently wipe a small amount of makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid any harsh rubbing on dry or flaky skin.
- Apply the makeup remover directly onto dry skin to easily dissolve makeup without stripping your natural moisture. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before first use. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 9.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleansing balm is highly effective at removing all types of makeup and sunscreen, leaving skin feeling soft and nourished. It is frequently praised for its gentle, fragrance-free formula, making it suitable for sensitive and dry skin types. Some users report temporary blurry vision after use, and a moderate number find the price point high. A small number of users experienced breakouts or disliked the packaging and scent.
Highlights
Melts makeup Mostly Mentioned
- “Melts waterproof mascara”
- “Dissolves long-wear foundation”
- “Removes glitter easily”
- “Breaks down sunscreen”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “No strong scent”
- “Good for sensitive noses”
- “No perfume irritation”
- “Clean ingredient list”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “No stinging eyes”
- “Safe for sensitive skin”
- “Doesn't irritate contacts”
Non-drying finish Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Face feels nourished”
- “No tight feeling”
- “Hydrating for dry patches”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “Silky balm-to-oil”
- “Spreads easily”
- “Little goes a long way”
- “Satisfying melt”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive for cleanser”
- “Pricey for the amount”
- “Not budget-friendly”
- “Costly daily staple”
Temporary blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “Blurry vision after use”
- “Cloudy film on eyes”
- “Oily film on contacts”
- “Foggy sight for minutes”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused cystic acne”
- “Clogged my pores”
- “Triggered breakouts”
- “Too heavy for oily skin”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “Unhygienic tub”
- “Hate dipping fingers”
- “Hard to open lid”
- “Messy to scoop”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like old oil”
- “Scent like plastic/wax”
- “Smells like dirty socks”
- “Odd chemical smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, clinique.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm work for dry skin?
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm works for dry skin, though other products fit it better. It helps smooth and support the skin barrier, but a cleanser for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and deep nourishing oils.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride help make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin by smoothing the skin and supporting the moisture barrier. Because this is an average fit, a makeup remover for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like multiple types of hyaluronic acid and rich nourishing oils to keep moisture high and prevent tightness.
What does Ethylhexyl Palmitate do for dry skin?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate helps keep dry skin soft by improving how hydrated and smooth the outer skin layer feels. It works to support the skin barrier so moisture stays locked in longer.
What does Safflower Seed Oil do for dry skin?
Safflower seed oil helps keep dry skin soft and smooth by protecting against the visible signs of sun aging and dryness. It supports the skin barrier so it is unlikely to feel rough, though dry skin generally benefits from richer plant oils that add deep moisture and repair the outer layer.
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2020Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly step before your cleanser and nourishing mask. Because it is an average fit for dry skin, a product of this type needs softening oils and barrier-supporting ingredients to smooth your skin and keep it comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser and treatment, such as retinol. It is unlikely to irritate dry skin, though this skin type benefits from products that feature specialized barrier-supporting and deeply moisturizing ingredients.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and weekly routine. It is safe for dry skin, but dry skin needs a cleanser that offers specialized extra moisture and deep barrier care to prevent tightness.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin because its safety profile is excellent and it lacks harsh ingredients, though a small number of reviewers do report breakouts. A product for dry skin needs rich, nourishing oils like Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride to smooth intercellular lipids and support the skin barrier.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Safflower oil body-human epidermal growth factor microgel emulsions mixed with xanthan gum enhance transdermal absorption, regulate inflammation, accelerate angiogenesis, and promote re-epithelialization and remodeling in full-layer skin wounds in rats.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Topical 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, 2025Dermatological 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, 2021Topical 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, 2024
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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