Pond's Cold Cream for oily skin
Mineral Oil
Beeswax
Cetyl Alcohol
Ceresin
Triethanolamine
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 your oily skin as mineral oil and beeswax provide emollient action, though it lacks targeted ingredients for effective seboregulation to address oily shine.
- The formula provides general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, which are mostly supportive rather than directly addressing your oily shine concerns.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing ingredients like beeswax.
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
★4.2Overall rating based on 13.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry or sensitive skin frequently praise this product for its ability to melt away stubborn waterproof makeup while leaving the skin feeling deeply moisturized and soft. Users with oily or acne-prone skin often caution that the rich, mineral oil-based formula can leave a greasy residue that requires a second cleanse to prevent clogged pores.
Highlights
Deeply moisturizing Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin baby soft”
- “No tight feeling”
- “Great for dry patches”
Effective makeup remover Mostly Mentioned
- “Melts waterproof mascara”
- “Removes stubborn eyeliner”
- “Dissolves stage makeup”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “Tub lasts forever”
- “Unbeatable price”
- “Budget-friendly staple”
Greasy residue Often Mentioned
- “Leaves oily film”
- “Hard to rinse off”
- “Vision gets blurry”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't burn eyes”
- “Calms my redness”
- “Safe for sensitive skin”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like grandma”
- “Scent is overpowering”
- “Too much perfume”
Pore clogging Rarely Noted
- “Caused cystic acne”
- “Clogged my pores”
- “Too heavy for me”
Unhygienic packaging Rarely Noted
- “Hate the jar”
- “Breeding ground for bacteria”
- “Need a spatula”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, influenster.com, byrdie.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Pond's Cold Cream work for oily skin?
Pond's Cold Cream works moderately well for oily skin because its mineral oil and beeswax offer gentle cleansing and hydration without causing irritation, though it lacks oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine. Makeup removers for oily skin need targeted shine-control ingredients and lighter oils that balance the complexion without adding excess weight or clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Mineral oil and beeswax make this cream a moderate fit for oily skin because they soften and soothe the skin without causing irritation. However, a product of this type needs oil-controlling ingredients to properly target oily shine and keep pores clear.
What does Mineral Oil do for oily skin?
Mineral oil helps trap moisture in dry skin, but it is unlikely to be a good fit for oily skin because it can feel too heavy. Oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free hydrators and ingredients that help balance shine.
What does Beeswax do for oily skin?
Beeswax creates a protective barrier on the skin, but for oily skin, it may feel too heavy because it traps moisture and oils. Oily skin generally needs lightweight, oil-free ingredients that hydrate without clogging pores.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cream goes in the evening routine as a makeup remover before cleansing. It works for oily skin by offering gentle cleansing and hydration, but oily skin also needs targeted ingredients for controlling shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your routine before applying retinol, but an oily skin type needs a product that includes targeted ingredients for controlling oil and shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine whenever you wear makeup, as it works well for your oily skin without causing irritation. Oily skin of this type needs a makeup remover that includes oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage excess shine.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Pond's Cold Cream is unlikely to cause severe breakouts for oily skin, as its safe formula has a low risk of pore clogging. However, it may leave a heavy, greasy residue that needs a thorough rinse to keep pores clear. Oily skin works best with cleansers containing ingredients that specifically control extra shine and balance oil production.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A soap-free cleansing lotion containing cetyl alcohol and sodium cocoyl apple amino acids reduced skin surface impurities and improved skin hydration, barrier function, and skin tone in 27 healthy adult subjects over 30 days.
Cureus, 2025Both US- and Tanzanian-sourced beeswax-pine resin mixtures produced equivalent short-term skin irritation compared to a hydrocolloid active comparator in 35 healthy volunteers over 7 days.
Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing, 2026Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Topical application of a honey, olive oil, and beeswax mixture three times daily for up to 4 weeks resulted in clinical responses in 86% of patients with pityriasis versicolor, 78% with tinea cruris, and 75% with tinea corporis.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2004A prototype body cream containing bee venom, propolis, honey, beeswax, and royal jelly demonstrated stability for 90 days, high antioxidant capacity of 85.45%, lack of cytotoxicity with over 70% cell viability, and no irritation or allergic reaction in dermatological analysis, while improving skin parameters in a panel test.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022MUD1 protected human dermal fibroblasts against AAPH-induced oxidative stress by increasing cell viability, reducing oxidative damage, improving mitochondrial functionality, and enhancing wound healing capacities.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018Topical 2% tea lotion significantly decreased inflammatory lesions and was superior to 5% zinc sulphate solution in patients with acne vulgaris.
Saudi Medical Journal, 2008Topical 2% tea lotion significantly reduced the mean lesion count of papules and pustules in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to a control solution over 2 months.
Saudi Medical Journal, 2006
Ingredients
Mineral Oil, Water, Ceresin, Beeswax, Triethanolamine, Behenic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteth-20, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Methyl Paraben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
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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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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