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Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cleansing Balm for combination skin

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for combination skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 makeup removal and hydration for your combination skin, as Triethylhexanoin and Glycerin effectively dissolve makeup while providing essential moisture. Ingredients like Rosa Damascena Flower Water and Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract contribute to a soothing experience, making it gentle for your skin.
  • While Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate offer good hydration, they do not specifically target your oily shine concerns, indicating a general rather than specialized approach to your skincare needs.
  • The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing botanicals.

How to apply

  • Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away excess oil.
  • Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser to effectively break down heavy makeup and dirt.
  • Gently wipe the makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad, avoiding harsh rubbing.
  • Use the makeup remover on completely dry skin to help dissolve surface oils and impurities best.
  • Avoid direct contact with the eyes while using this makeup remover.

People Say

★4.0Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

This luxurious cleansing balm is widely praised by users with dry and sensitive skin for its silky, hydrating formula that leaves the complexion feeling soft and soothed without stripping natural oils. While it excels at gently removing daily makeup and calming redness, some users find it struggles with heavy waterproof mascara and note that the high price point makes it a significant investment.

Highlights

  • Hydrating and soothing Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft, non-stripping, calms redness, great for sensitive skin”
  • High price point Mostly Mentioned
    • “very expensive, luxury splurge, pricey for cleanser, wallet-damaging”
  • Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
  • Luxurious silky texture Often Mentioned
    • “creamy consistency, glides like butter, feels like spa treatment, melts into skin”
  • Pleasant rose scent Often Mentioned
    • “authentic rose smell, spa-like fragrance, relaxing aroma, not overpowering”
  • Effective daily cleansing Sometimes Noted
    • “dissolves face makeup, cleans pores well, rinses clean, no greasy residue”
  • Struggles with waterproof makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves mascara residue, requires separate eye remover, doesn't remove heavy liner, stings eyes slightly”
  • High consumption rate Rarely Noted
    • “tube finishes quickly, need generous amount, not cost-effective, small jar size”
  • Not a traditional balm Rarely Noted
    • “texture is creamy, not an oil-balm, doesn't melt down same way, unexpected consistency”

Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, dermstore.com, bloomingdales.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cleansing Balm work for combination skin?

This cleansing balm works reasonably well for combination skin, offering gentle makeup removal and moderate moisture without causing irritation. However, because it does not target oily shine specifically, a product of this type needs soothing and nourishing ingredients that provide balanced hydration and gentle cleansing without making oily areas worse.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?

Triethylhexanoin and glycerin help make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin by dissolving makeup and providing essential moisture. Additionally, ingredients like Rosa Damascena flower water and Rosa Centifolia flower extract help soothe the skin gently without irritation. Makeup removers that fit this skin type best need soothing plant oils and ingredients that hydrate well while helping balance both dry areas and oily shine.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Rose Extract do for combination skin?

Rose extract helps hydrate the skin and calm irritation by supporting moisture levels and reducing inflammation. It is unlikely to cause issues and works well to keep dry and oily areas balanced.

BioFactors, 2023Journal of Inflammation, 2011

What does Rose Flower Water do for combination skin?

Rose Flower Water helps calm combination skin and keeps it feeling soft and smooth by soothing irritation and balancing the skin. It is unlikely to cause issues and may help keep the skin clear.

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2017

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

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also as the first step of your weekly routine. It offers moderate makeup removal and hydration, but combination skin needs a product that also specifically targets oily shine concerns with balancing or clarifying ingredients.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser when using retinol, as it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin. A product of this type needs ingredients that balance oily shine and control oil alongside hydration for your skin.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your nighttime routine. It is safe for your skin, though a product for combination skin also needs ingredients that help balance oily shine.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your combination skin, as it has a very safe formula free of harsh ingredients and includes soothing botanicals. However, because it does not target oily shine concerns, combination skin also needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that help balance oil.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

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

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, 2017
  • Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
  • Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.

    Molecules, 2020
  • Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.

    BioFactors, 2023
  • Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.

    Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020
  • Tamanu oil emulsion induced cell proliferation, glycosaminoglycan and collagen production, wound healing activity, and modulated gene expression in human skin cells compared to untreated cells.

    Planta Medica, 2016
  • Tamanu oil bigels demonstrated wound-healing and scar-reduction potential with good binding affinity to the TGF-beta1 receptor and better healing properties than a commercial formulation in rats, without causing dermal irritation in rabbits.

    Pharmaceuticals, 2024
  • Topical application of tamanu oil accelerated the formation of macrophage-granulation tissues and fibrosis while resulting in less wound contraction compared to normal saline and Centella asiatica in rats with induced wounds.

    Journal of Wound Care, 2021
  • Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.

    Biomaterials Advances, 2022
  • A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.

    Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986
  • Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.

    Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019

Ingredients

Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Trehalose, Triethylhexanoin, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Oil, Peg Ppg Polybutylene Glycol-8 5 3 Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Polyester-7, Cetearyl Olivate, Ci 77891 Titanium Dioxide, Sorbitan Olivate, Stearyl Heptanoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Mica, Stearyl Caprylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Silica, Carbomer, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Rubus Idaeus Cell Leaf Culture, Chlorphenesin, Citronellol, Geraniol

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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