🇦🇺Australia

Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm for mature skin

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

Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm
  • Charcoal
  • Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
  • Ethylhexyl Palmitate
  • Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
  • Tocopherol

Average

  • AverageNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 benefits for wrinkles and fine lines as Tocopherol provides antioxidant support for your normal skin, while Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil effectively dissolve makeup and impurities.
  • The formula is well-suited for normal skin due to the emollient and antioxidant actions of Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Tocopherol, though it could benefit from additional humectants for enhanced hydration.
  • The product has a good safety profile with no risks of irritation for your normal skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this makeup remover as part of your PM routine every evening. Start 3x/week and move to daily use as your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. It acts as the very first step to melt away makeup.
  • Gently massage a small amount of the makeup remover over dry skin to dissolve makeup, then rinse with warm water. Avoid any harsh rubbing around your eyes.
  • Apply this makeup remover directly onto dry skin to effectively break down stubborn makeup and impurities. There is no need to dampen your face beforehand.
  • Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid direct contact with your eyes while cleansing.

People Say

★4.1Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This balm is widely praised as a powerful first cleanse for oily and acne-prone skin, effectively dissolving stubborn makeup while using Japanese charcoal to detoxify pores. Users frequently note a messy trade-off, as the black formula can stain sinks and washcloths, and some find it slightly more drying than the original cult-classic version.

Highlights

  • Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
    • “melts makeup effortlessly”
    • “removed waterproof mascara”
    • “dissolves tenacious eye makeup”
    • “takes off 98% of makeup”
  • Messy application Mostly Mentioned
    • “stained my hands”
    • “messy in the sink”
    • “leaves black residue on towel”
    • “looks like smudged mascara”
  • Deep pore cleansing Often Mentioned
    • “pores feel clean”
    • “helps with blackheads”
    • “detoxifies skin”
    • “unclogs pores”
  • Rinses clean Often Mentioned
    • “no oily residue”
    • “rinses off completely”
    • “emulsifies quickly”
    • “leaves skin soft not greasy”
  • Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
    • “love that it is fragrance free”
    • “no scent”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “doesn't irritate”
  • Drying effect Sometimes Noted
    • “more drying than original”
    • “skin felt tight”
    • “stripped my skin”
    • “not for dry skin”
  • Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
    • “burned my eyes”
    • “cloudy vision”
    • “irritated my eyes”
    • “stings if it gets in eyes”
  • Price Rarely Noted
    • “pricey for a cleanser”
    • “expensive”
    • “small jar for the price”
    • “waste of money”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, clinique.com, adorebeauty.com.au, nykaa.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm work for mature skin?

Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm is an average fit for mature skin, dissolving makeup well while offering moderate antioxidant benefits for lines and wrinkles. It is unlikely to cause irritation, but this skin type needs additional hydrating ingredients and moisture-balancing components to get the best results.

Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

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

Tocopherol helps smooth fine lines, while Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Ethylhexyl Palmitate effectively dissolve makeup and impurities without irritation. However, mature skin of this type needs additional hydrating ingredients and moisture-attracting humectants to keep skin soft and plump.

Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

What does Activated Charcoal do for mature skin?

Activated charcoal is unlikely to provide anti-aging benefits for mature skin because these products lack clinical evidence to support such claims.

Clinics in Dermatology, 2020

What does Safflower Seed Oil do for mature skin?

Safflower seed oil helps protect mature skin by fighting UV-induced aging effects and reducing the breakdown of collagen. This type of oil is unlikely to irritate and is best paired with nourishing barrier-repair ingredients to keep skin smooth and firm.

Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2020International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017

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

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also in your weekly routine before cleansing. Mature skin of this type needs additional hydrating ingredients to help keep skin soft and smooth.

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

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but this type of product works best for mature skin when it also includes extra hydrating ingredients to keep the skin plump and smooth.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this makeup remover in the evening to gently dissolve makeup and impurities. This type of product for mature skin also needs extra moisture-attracting ingredients to keep your skin smooth and hydrated.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on mature skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients. However, because it can sometimes feel a bit drying, mature skin generally needs extra moisturizers and water-attracting ingredients to stay smooth and hydrated.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Safflower 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, 2020

  • Soap-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

  • Safflower oil body-human epidermal growth factor microgel emulsions mixed with xanthan gum enhance transdermal absorption, regulate inflammation, accelerate angiogenesis, and promote re-epithelialization and remodeling in full-layer skin wounds in rats.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022

  • Topical 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, 2023

  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021

  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Synthetic Wax, Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Charcoal Powder, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Phenoxyethanol

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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