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Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

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

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it 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

  • Offers moderate cleansing for your oily skin, as caprylic capric triglyceride and theobroma cacao seed butter help dissolve impurities, but lacks targeted ingredients for acne and oil control.
  • While it provides general hydration and soothing benefits from ingredients like panthenol and chamomile extract, these do not directly address your primary concerns of blemishes and breakouts.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
  • Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.8Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cream cleanser is highly praised for its rich texture that effectively removes makeup and leaves dry, sensitive skin feeling hydrated and polished. Some users with acne-prone or reactive skin reported breakouts and irritation, possibly due to the cocoa butter or eucalyptus fragrance.

Highlights

  • Effective makeup remover Mostly Mentioned
    • “Melts waterproof mascara”
    • “Removes heavy makeup”
    • “Dissolves daily grime”
  • Softens and hydrates Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves skin soft”
    • “Non-drying formula”
    • “Polishes skin smooth”
  • Spa-like experience Often Mentioned
    • “Smells like a spa”
    • “Luxurious daily ritual”
    • “Relaxing eucalyptus scent”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
    • “Soothing and non-stripping”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “Expensive for cleanser”
    • “Pricey daily staple”
    • “Not budget friendly”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Clogged my pores”
    • “Cocoa butter acne”
    • “Spots the next day”
  • Cloth maintenance Rarely Noted
    • “Cloth dries hard”
    • “High maintenance washing”
    • “Cloths get stained”
  • Scent irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Eucalyptus stings eyes”
    • “Fragrance caused redness”
    • “Too strong smell”

Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, lizearle.com, lookfantastic.com, johnlewis.com, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish work for oily acne-prone skin?

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin by dissolving impurities and providing soothing benefits, but it lacks targeted ingredients for controlling oil and breakouts. Cleansers that fit this skin type better need gentle cleansers, oil-controlling ingredients, and exfoliation.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Life, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Caprylic capric triglyceride and theobroma cacao seed butter help dissolve impurities, while panthenol and chamomile extract provide general hydration and soothing benefits. However, to truly fit oily acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs targeted ingredients for acne and oil control.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Life, 2023

What does Cocoa Butter do for oily acne-prone skin?

Cocoa butter is heavy and may clog pores on oily, acne-prone skin, leading to breakouts. Studies show it is unlikely to help with skin concerns like stretch marks, so this skin type needs lightweight, non-pore-clogging hydrators and ingredients that help clear blemishes.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2016BJOG, 2008

What does Eucalyptus Essential Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?

Eucalyptus Essential Oil helps clear up oily and acne-prone skin by calming redness and fighting the bacteria that cause breakouts. It is unlikely to feel heavy, but it should always be diluted with a carrier oil before applying to prevent irritation.

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

This cleanser fits into your morning and evening routine as the main face-washing step. Because this product works well enough for oily skin but lacks targeted blemish control, an oily acne-prone routine needs a cleanser with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to clear pores and manage breakouts.

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

You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, but an oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with oil-controlling ingredients and blemish-fighting agents like salicylic acid.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines. Cleansing twice a day helps remove impurities while keeping your skin calm, though oily and blemish-prone skin needs added ingredients that specifically control oil and target breakouts.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to cause purging, but it may occasionally cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because it relies on heavy butters that lack targeted oil and blemish control. To better suit breakout-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or oil-balancing agents to help keep pores clear.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as skin in these areas is often thinner and benefits from gentle cleansing and soothing ingredients like panthenol and chamomile extract. When used on the body, it helps clean the skin while keeping it soft and comfortable.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

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, 2023

  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

  • An ointment containing larch turpentine, eucalyptus oil, and turpentine oil improved discomfort scores (7.3 vs. 4.7) and increased complete healing (67% vs. 46%) compared to placebo in outpatients with painful skin abscesses over 10 days.

    Complementary Medicine Research, 2023

  • Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.

    International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016

  • Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.

    Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015

  • German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.

    Ostomy/wound Management, 2011

  • Topical application of rosemary essential oil-loaded lipid nanoparticles in gel vehicles significantly increased skin hydration compared to gels containing free oil, and increased elasticity to a lesser extent, in ten healthy volunteers.

    Pharmaceutics, 2017

  • Topical application of a cream containing the NHE1 activator rosmarinic acid decreased skin surface pH and transepidermal water loss while increasing skin hydration in 50-60-year-old adult females compared to vehicle cream and no treatment.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022

  • An alcoholic extract of rosemary leaves, Rosm1, demonstrates strong antioxidant activity and inhibits oxidative alterations to skin surface lipids when evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

    International Journal of Tissue Reactions, 2000

  • Topical application of a honey, olive oil, and beeswax mixture three times daily for up to 4 weeks resulted in clinical responses in 86% of patients with pityriasis versicolor, 78% with tinea cruris, and 75% with tinea corporis.

    Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2004

  • A prototype body cream containing bee venom, propolis, honey, beeswax, and royal jelly demonstrated stability for 90 days, high antioxidant capacity of 85.45%, lack of cytotoxicity with over 70% cell viability, and no irritation or allergic reaction in dermatological analysis, while improving skin parameters in a panel test.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • MUD1 protected human dermal fibroblasts against AAPH-induced oxidative stress by increasing cell viability, reducing oxidative damage, improving mitochondrial functionality, and enhancing wound healing capacities.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Alba Cera Beeswax Cera, Glycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sorbitol, Limonene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide

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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QR code: get the Lovi app
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