Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil for mature skin
Squalane
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Tocopherol
High
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even 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 excellent makeup removal for your normal skin due to Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride effectively dissolving impurities, though it provides only supportive hydration from Squalane and Tocopherol, not targeting your primary concern of wrinkles and fine lines.
- The formula is moderately suitable for normal skin with emollient ingredients like Evening Primrose Oil, but it lacks sufficient humectants for optimal hydration.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no irritation risks from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Evening Primrose Oil and Lavender Oil.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis lightweight cleansing oil is widely praised for its ability to emulsify into a milk that effectively dissolves stubborn makeup without stripping the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated. While most users with dry or combination skin enjoy the spa-like lavender scent and non-greasy finish, a minority experience eye irritation (blurriness) or breakouts.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “dissolves stubborn mascara”
- “removes all traces of foundation”
- “melts away dirt and makeup”
- “takes off waterproof makeup easily”
Hydrating & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and replenished”
- “doesn't over-dry my face”
- “skin feels hydrated after rinsing”
- “no tight feeling”
Pleasant sensory experience Often Mentioned
- “smells like a spa”
- “relaxing lavender scent”
- “soothing aroma for bedtime”
- “smells divine”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight oil texture”
- “emulsifies to a gentle milk”
- “rinses clean without residue”
- “not heavy or greasy”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “blurs my vision for minutes”
- “stings my eyes”
- “cloudy vision after use”
- “irritates sensitive eyes”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “a bit pricey”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “pricey splurge”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Scent dislike Rarely Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “smells rancid to me”
- “weird botanical odor”
- “overpowering lavender”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused tiny bumps”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, boots.com, lookfantastic.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil a great fit for mature skin?
This cleansing oil is a great fit because it removes makeup well while keeping the skin calm and comfortable using soothing evening primrose oil and lavender oil. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on mature skin, though it only offers basic hydration rather than targeting wrinkles and fine lines.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for mature skin?
This cleanser is a good fit because ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride effectively dissolve impurities, while evening primrose oil and squalane help keep dry, mature skin feeling soft and calm.
What does Squalane do for mature skin?
Squalane helps keep mature skin feeling soft and smooth by boosting moisture and protecting the skin barrier. It also provides antioxidant support that helps improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles over time.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2010
What does Evening Primrose Oil do for mature skin?
Evening primrose oil helps strengthen the outer skin barrier and keeps mature skin feeling soft and moisturized. When delivered properly, it may improve skin recovery and maintain essential lipid levels.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly step before cleansing. It is safe for your skin and helps dissolve impurities, but mature skin also needs ingredients that target wrinkles and fine lines.
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 treatment, making it a good fit since it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation. Following a gentle cleansing oil with your usual retinol treatment helps keep your skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine as the first step to take off makeup. It is safe for daily use on mature skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin, as it has a safe formula with a low risk of skin reactions. However, it may cause moderate eye irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, citronellol, geraniol, and limonene).
What the research says
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, 2023Electrospun 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, 2022Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025A 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, 1986Topical 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, 2019Topical application of 10% evening primrose oil (EPO) and Lioxasol creams resulted in increased cell proliferative activity in the skin of female pigs compared to untreated skin, with EPO producing a more pronounced increase in basal layer labelling index and Lioxasol causing a more immediate increase in papillary dermis labelled cells.
Cell Proliferation, 1997Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Topical 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, 2025Dermatological 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, 2021Topical 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, Zea Mays Corn Germ Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Oenothera Biennis Evening Primrose Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Squalane, Coriandrum Sativum Coriander Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Lavender Oil, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Geranium Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Rosemary Oil Leaf, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Glycine Soja Soybean Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
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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