Drunk Elephant Slaai™ Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser for oily skin
Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil
Strawberry Seed Oil
Sclerocarya Birrea Oil
Bamboo Booster
Charcoal Powder
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- Offers moderate suitability for oily skin as ingredients like Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil provide emollient action, though they may not offer sufficient seboregulation for your oily shine concerns.
- The cleanser effectively removes makeup with ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride, providing general hydration and cleansing benefits that are supportive for your skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Helianthus Annuus Wax Seed.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3×/week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. It prepares your skin by melting away excess oil and makeup.
- Gently press a small amount onto your dry skin using your fingertips. Massage softly and avoid harsh rubbing to protect your pores.
- Apply this product on dry skin to effectively break down heavy makeup and surface oil. Massage it gently before washing it off with water.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.
People Say
★3.8Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry and sensitive skin frequently praise this balm for its effective waterproof makeup removal and moisturizing properties, leaving skin soft and dewy. Users with oily or acne-prone skin often report that the thick texture can leave a greasy residue and may cause breakouts. Some users also noted issues with the waxy texture and the bamboo booster.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara”
- “dissolves heavy foundation”
- “removes every trace”
Moisturizing and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “dewy glow”
- “not tight”
Gentle, clean formula Sometimes Noted
- “fragrance-free”
- “no essential oils”
- “doesn't sting eyes”
Smart packaging design Sometimes Noted
- “magnetic spoon attachment”
- “spatula stays clean”
- “convenient lid storage”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “cystic acne flare-ups”
- “clogged pores”
- “small bumps appeared”
Greasy residue Sometimes Noted
- “leaves oily film”
- “hard to rinse”
- “vision blurriness”
Bamboo booster issues Rarely Noted
- “too gritty/harsh”
- “tiny quantity”
- “difficult to mix”
Thick, waxy texture Rarely Noted
- “feels like candle wax”
- “difficult to spread”
- “heavy on skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.my, thecut.com, reallyree.com, alexaskin.com, mybeautythesis.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin by effectively removing makeup and providing gentle cleansing without irritation. However, because it contains rich oils that do not control oily shine, an ideal makeup remover for this skin needs oil-controlling ingredients to keep shine in check.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
This cleanser works for your oily skin because it contains soothing ingredients like Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Helianthus Annuus Wax Seed, which help keep your skin calm. However, a product of this type needs ingredients that control oil and manage shine to be a truly great fit for oily skin.
What does Kiwi Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Kiwi Seed Oil helps hydrate oily skin without feeling heavy or greasy, leaving your face feeling soft and smooth. Because it is rich in lightweight fatty acids, it is unlikely to clog pores and helps keep the skin calm.
What does Strawberry Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Strawberry Seed Oil helps keep oily skin feeling soft and balanced without feeling heavy. It is light and absorbs quickly, so it is unlikely to clog pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly step before your cleanser, enzyme powder, and cleansing mask. A product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients that help balance oil and shine while keeping skin soft.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser and retinol because it safely melts away makeup without harsh ingredients. Oily skin also needs ingredients that control shine and balance oil production.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine when taking off makeup. Oily skin typically needs a cleanser with ingredients that help control excess shine and oil.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser may cause breakouts for oily skin, as some reviewers report and its oils may leave a greasy residue. To help prevent clogged pores, an oily skin type needs a cleanser with lighter ingredients that control excess oil and shine without heavy oils.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of Sclerocarya birrea nut oil is non-irritant, exhibits significant moisturising and hydrating effects on lipid-dry skin, and shows occlusive properties on normal skin in healthy caucasian adult female volunteers.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015Topical 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, 2023Safflower seed oil and its active compound acacetin inhibit UVB-induced MMP-1 expression and regulate JNK1/2 and c-jun phosphorylation in HaCaT cells and human dermal fibroblasts, indicating potential as anti-wrinkle agents.
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2020Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Bambusa vulgaris leaves accelerate cutaneous wound healing and inhibit carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2016Soap-and-water wash and superactive charcoal paste applied topically at various times after T-2 toxin exposure effectively reduced skin lesion severity in swine compared to untreated controls.
Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1989
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Wax Seed Sunflower Wax Seed, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Oil Fruit, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Strawberry Seed Extract, Cranberry Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Watermelon Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract, Charcoal Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Potassium Sorbate
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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