MAC Cleanse Off Oil for acne-prone skin
Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit
Squalane
Jojoba Seed Oil
Tocopherol
Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil FlowerAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 suitability for your combination skin, as Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Olea Europaea Oil Fruit effectively dissolve makeup, while Squalane and Olea Europaea Oil Fruit provide emollient action that may not sufficiently regulate oil in your oilier areas.
- While it provides general cleansing and hydration, it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower and Lavandula Angustifolia Oil.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away dirt and oil. Start 3x/week and work up to daily use if your combination skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before cleansing and using the rest of your skin products. This ensures all makeup and impurities are fully washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing the skin too harshly to prevent irritation.
- Apply the makeup remover on dry skin to easily dissolve makeup and clear out blemishes. There is no need to dampen your face beforehand.
- Do a patch test before first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid the delicate eye area while applying.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThis cleansing oil is highly effective at removing stubborn waterproof makeup, leaving skin feeling moisturized and balanced, which is particularly appreciated by those with sensitive and oily skin. A notable concern is that the product has reportedly been discontinued, and some users have experienced temporary blurry vision after use.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes every single trace of eye makeup”
- “melts away makeup without harsh scrubbing”
- “cuts through waterproof mascara”
Non-drying and gentle Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft and fresh”
- “doesn't strip my face of moisture”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
Rinses clean Often Mentioned
- “Rinses clean with no greasy feel”
- “leaves no residue”
- “emulsifies well with water”
Temporary blurry vision Often Mentioned
- “Makes my eyes all foggy”
- “clouded up my eyes”
- “vision blurry for a couple of minutes”
Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
- “Bottle lasts forever”
- “a little goes a long way”
- “lasts me for 10-11 months”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “On the expensive side”
- “price is a bit wicked”
- “steep price for a cleanser”
Product discontinued Sometimes Noted
- “Discontinued a while back”
- “currently unavailable”
- “Hyper Real replacement is awful”
Occasional breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Made me breakout”
- “caused whiteheads”
- “ingredients are disappointing for my skin”
Sources: lovi.care, cozycot.com, macys.com, temptalia.com, nordstrom.com, hwahae.co.kr, and more
Questions and answers
How well does MAC Cleanse Off Oil work for acne-prone skin?
MAC Cleanse Off Oil works as an average fit for acne-prone skin because while it safely removes makeup and soothes skin with chamomile oil, it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to properly manage breakouts. Makeup removers for this skin need soothing plant extracts and blemish-fighting ingredients that cleanse deeply without leaving heavy oils that can clog pores.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Olive fruit oil, squalane, and jojoba seed oil help dissolve makeup and provide soft moisture, while chamomile flower oil helps calm the skin. However, since it lacks ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts, this skin type needs a cleanser with blemish-clearing ingredients and balanced oils that clean without clogging.
What does Olive Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Olive oil is generally a poor fit for acne-prone skin because it can clog pores and potentially trigger breakouts. Acne-prone skin needs lightweight, balancing ingredients and oils high in linoleic acid that help keep pores clear and calm without feeling heavy.
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine, as the first step before your cleanser, and also in your weekly routine. To better fit acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to help address breakouts.
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. Because this type of product has oils that may not help balance oilier areas and lacks ingredients like salicylic acid to clear breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a makeup remover with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components.
How often should I use it?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening to take off makeup before cleansing. Acne-prone skin works best with products that include targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to help clear breakouts.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover works for acne-prone skin, but it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to address breakouts. A product of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid to properly care for acne-prone skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
Squalane 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, 2025Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Topical 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, 2024Daily application of 3% German chamomile oil for 4 weeks significantly reduced serum IgE levels, serum histamine levels, and scratching frequency in DNCB-sensitized mice compared with control groups.
Journal of Veterinary Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Why other pre-cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Squalane, Jojoba Seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Rice Germ Oil, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil Flower, Citrus Aurantium Amara Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Water, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit Rose Oil Fruit, Limonene
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
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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