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Votary Cleansing Oil - Rose Geranium & Apricot for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Votary Cleansing Oil - Rose Geranium & Apricot

Low

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A weak match for oily skin; the pre-cleansers alongside 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 excellent makeup removal for your oily skin due to sunflower seed oil and apricot kernel oil effectively dissolving impurities, though it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to manage oily shine.
  • Chamomile oil provides soothing benefits, but the presence of multiple emollient oils may not be ideal for managing excess oil.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing chamomile oil.

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

★4.8Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

Users frequently describe this cleanser as a luxurious, spa-like experience that effectively removes makeup and grime without stripping the skin. It is highly praised for leaving dry, dull, or sensitive skin feeling plump, hydrated, and soft, with many users noting the calming benefits of the hot cloth method.

Highlights

  • Hydrating and soft Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels clean and fresh without any tightness”
    • “leaves my skin glowing and hydrated”
    • “nourished feeling”
    • “my dry skin feels so good”
  • Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
    • “whisks away every trace of the day”
    • “takes everything off in one cleanse”
    • “lifts off even the most stubborn mascara”
    • “melted away the day”
  • Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
    • “smells incredible”
    • “treat for the senses”
    • “heavenly cleanser”
    • “light herbal scent helps ease tension”
  • Calming ritual Sometimes Noted
    • “moment of calm”
    • “enjoyable and relaxing experience”
    • “spa-like cleansing”
    • “beauty ritual”
  • Nice texture Sometimes Noted
    • “beautifully light”
    • “lovely easy slip”
    • “silky texture”
    • “sinks effortlessly into complexion”
  • Expensive product Sometimes Noted
    • “luxurious price tag”
    • “investment purchase”
    • “ain't cheap”
    • “purchase it as a treat when I can afford it”
  • Cloth maintenance Rarely Noted
    • “need to wash cloths frequently”
    • “using a cloth twice a day is too much”
    • “prefer rinse-off cleansers”
  • Glass packaging Rarely Noted
    • “heavy glass bottle”
    • “worried about dropping it”
    • “not travel friendly”
  • Scent not preferred Rarely Noted
    • “not crazy about the smell”
    • “slightly earthy smell”
    • “scent is not for everyone”

Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, votary.co.uk, thegroomingclinic.com, amazingy.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Votary Rose Geranium & Apricot Cleansing Oil a weak match for oily skin?

This cleansing oil is a weak match because it relies on rich, nourishing oils that can lead to excess shine instead of controlling oil. Oily skin needs a cleanser with oil-balancing ingredients that clear away impurities without adding heavy oils.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin?

This cleanser relies on rich, nourishing oils like apricot kernel oil and sunflower seed oil that do not control oily shine. Oily skin needs a cleanser with oil-balancing ingredients that clear away impurities without adding extra richness.

What does Geranium do for oily skin?

Geranium helps balance oily skin by controlling extra shine and keeping your face feeling fresh. It works well to calm the skin and keep things clear without feeling heavy.

What does Apricot Kernel Oil do for oily skin?

Apricot Kernel Oil is generally too heavy for oily skin because it can clog pores and make skin feel greasy. Oily skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients and oil-balancing extracts that help keep pores clear without adding extra shine.

Journal of Oleo Science, 2019

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, as a first step to take off makeup. Oily skin of this type needs a formula with oil-controlling ingredients to help manage excess shine.

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 it is unlikely to irritate your skin since it has no harsh ingredients. Oily skin used with retinol needs oil-balancing and pore-clearing ingredients to manage excess shine and impurities effectively.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine to take off makeup. Oily skin needs a product of this type that also includes ingredients to balance oil and manage shine.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to cause purging, but the multiple rich oils may lead to clogged pores and breakouts on oily skin. A product of this type for this skin needs balancing ingredients that help control excess oil while removing makeup.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, citronellol, geraniol, and linalool).

What the research says

  • Topical treatment with Geranium thunbergii extract lotion improved skin elasticity and reduced skin wrinkling scores compared to placebo in healthy Japanese women by inhibiting HYBID-mediated hyaluronan degradation and down-regulating HYBID expression.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Geranium and Calendula essential oil-loaded ethanolic lipid vesicular creams exhibited notable antioxidant capacity, sun protection factor values of 10.26 and 18.54, and collagenase and elastase inhibition capacity compared to nonvesicular creams.

    BioMed Research International, 2021

  • Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.

    Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

  • Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.

    Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024

  • Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.

    Biomolecules, 2025

  • Daily application of 3% German chamomile oil for 4 weeks significantly reduced serum IgE levels, serum histamine levels, and scratching frequency in DNCB-sensitized mice compared with control groups.

    Journal of Veterinary Science, 2010

  • The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Ingredients

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower Geranium Oil Flower, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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