Votary Cleansing Oil for oily acne-prone skin
Geranium
Apricot Oil
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Allantoin
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin, this cleansing oil effectively removes impurities with Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and Glycerin, while Linoleic Acid supports your skin barrier and balances oiliness.
- The formula offers moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts by providing essential hydration and barrier support.
- This product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away impurities. Start by using it 3×/week before working up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow it with your usual cleansing steps to ensure all residue is thoroughly washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using soft cotton pads. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent irritating your blemishes and active breakouts.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to effectively break down excess oil and makeup. Clean away thoroughly before moving on to the next skincare steps .
- Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers find this cleanser provides a luxurious, spa-like experience that effectively removes makeup and impurities, leaving skin feeling soft, nourished, and radiant. A significant number of reviews highlight its pleasant scent and quality packaging. Some users note the high price and the necessity of using a flannel as drawbacks.
Highlights
Effective cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “Melts makeup, removes waterproof mascara, dissolves grime, deep clean.”
Hydrating finish Mostly Mentioned
- “Soft skin, never tight, nourished, plumped, glowy.”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “Silky, lightweight, glides effortlessly, pleasure to use.”
Spa-like scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells divine, relaxing aroma, uplifting rose geranium, therapeutic.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Expensive, luxury treat, pricey, investment product.”
Quality packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Beautiful glass bottle, fluffy flannel included, chic design, pump dispenser.”
Requires cloth Sometimes Noted
- “Must use flannel, doesn't rinse clean, extra laundry, faff to wash.”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused spots, clogged pores, reaction, not for acne-prone.”
Oily residue Rarely Noted
- “Film if not wiped, greasy feel, heavy for oily skin.”
Scent preference Rarely Noted
- “Strong smell, earthy (Super Seed), herbal, overpowering for some.”
Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, votary.co.uk, wonderlusting.co.uk, manforhimself.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Votary Cleansing Oil a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Votary Cleansing Oil is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it effectively removes impurities with Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and Glycerin, while Linoleic Acid supports your skin barrier and balances oiliness. The formula offers moderate benefits for your breakouts by providing essential hydration and barrier support, and it is safe with no risks of irritation. Glycerin and linoleic acid help improve moisture and skin comfort.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and glycerin help wash away impurities while linoleic acid supports your skin barrier and balances oiliness. Sodium hyaluronate and allantoin add light hydration and keep your skin calm without any risk of irritation.
What does Geranium do for oily acne-prone skin?
Geranium helps balance oil and calm redness for oily, acne-prone skin. It may also soothe angry breakouts so your face feels clearer and more comfortable.
What does Apricot Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Apricot oil is generally too heavy and rich for oily, acne-prone skin, as it tends to clog pores and may trigger breakouts. Skin like this needs lightweight, oil-free ingredients that control shine and clear pores without adding extra oil.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser. It effectively removes impurities while supporting your skin barrier and balancing oiliness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your PM routine before your cleanser, and it helps keep your skin comfortable while using retinol. Using a gentle barrier-supporting product is unlikely to cause irritation and may help your skin tolerate retinol better.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This makeup remover is a great fit for your skin and can be used in your evening routine and weekly care steps. It effectively removes impurities while supporting your skin barrier and balancing oiliness, and is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleansing oil is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it is free of harsh ingredients and uses linoleic acid to help balance oiliness and support your skin barrier. It also provides essential hydration without irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical 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 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, 2019Geranium 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, 2021Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium Pca, Pca, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Palmitic Acid
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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