Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil for sensitive skin
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Isopropyl Palmitate
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Retinyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl AcetateHigh
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin with sensitivity, as Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil and Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil effectively dissolve impurities while providing emollient benefits to support redness and irritation.
- The formula offers general skincare benefits that are supportive for your skin concerns, though it could be enhanced with stronger humectant ingredients for more optimal hydration.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3x/week before building up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow with your usual moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid any harsh rubbing to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the makeup remover on dry skin to ensure better tolerance for sensitive areas. This helps reduce any potential irritation or redness.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the direct eye area to ensure safe application.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis grapeseed-oil based cleanser is widely praised by users with sensitive and acne-prone skin for its gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively dissolves makeup without causing irritation. While most users find it leaves skin soft and hydrated, a minority report issues with a lingering oily residue or an unpleasant "cooking oil" scent.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “Melted away foundation and my base”
- “Removes EVERYTHING with massaging”
- “Dissolves long wear lipstick”
Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't sting eyes or break me out”
- “Perfect for sensitive skin”
- “No irritation or breakouts”
Non-stripping, hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels beautifully soft”
- “Instantly hydrated”
- “No tight feeling”
Great value Sometimes Noted
- “Cheapest and best oil cleanser”
- “Bottle lasts ages”
- “Great option at this price point”
Oily residue Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves a weird grimy residue”
- “Hard to rinse off completely”
- “Leaves a thin oil film”
Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused texture on my cheeks”
- “Broke me out horribly”
- “Clogged my pores”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Would prefer a pump”
- “Messy when pouring out”
- “Leaky cap”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like chip fat”
- “Noticed a cooking oil-like smell”
- “Smell is really off putting”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, superdrug.com, reddit.com, simpleskincare.com, pickyskincare.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil a great fit for sensitive skin?
Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil is a great fit for sensitive skin because it gently dissolves makeup while sunflower seed oil and grape seed oil help calm redness and irritation. Its safety profile is excellent, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that might cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil and Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil make this cleanser a great fit by dissolving impurities while helping to calm redness and irritation. The formula is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients.
What does Grapeseed Oil do for sensitive skin?
Grapeseed oil is unlikely to suit sensitive skin because oils high in oleic acid and low in linoleic acid may cause additional structural damage and irritation. Sensitive skin needs lightweight, soothing ingredients rich in linoleic acid to help repair the skin barrier without causing extra inflammation.
What does Isopropyl Palmitate do for sensitive skin?
Isopropyl Palmitate helps make dry skin feel soft and smooth by locking in moisture. However, it may clog pores or cause irritation for sensitive skin, so you might want to test a small patch first.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil goes in the evening routine as your makeup remover before cleansing, or as a weekly pre-cleanse step. The formula has an excellent safety profile for sensitive skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with niacinamide, applying it first to remove makeup before following with your niacinamide treatment on clean, dry skin. This product has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients, making it very unlikely to cause irritation when paired with other active ingredients.
How often should I use it?
Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil is a great fit for your sensitive skin and can be used in your evening routine to gently remove makeup before cleansing. Its gentle plant oils help dissolve impurities while keeping your skin calm and comfortable without irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser has a low likelihood of causing breakouts for sensitive skin, and it is unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain exfoliating active ingredients. The formula features gentle oils that dissolve impurities while supporting redness, though some users may notice an oily residue after rinsing.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025A vitamin A palmitate and antioxidant-containing oil-based moisturizer improved fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, tone, texture, dryness, firmness, and clarity across various body sites compared to a no-treatment group over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Retinyl palmitate ethosomal hydrogel reduced non-inflammatory and total acne lesion counts significantly better than marketed tretinoin while improving tolerability with minimal skin irritation in patients with acne vulgaris.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021Grapeseed oil-loaded dermocosmetic nanoemulgel applied on the cheeks of healthy volunteers significantly reduced skin melanin, erythema, sebum production, and pores while increasing moisture and elasticity compared to a placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical treatment with cranberry oil and grape oil improved wound healing in rats, with cranberry oil showing an 88.1% wound area reduction and grape oil showing 84.6% compared to 74.1% in controls and 78.4% in the mupirocin standard group on day 13.
Phytotherapy Research, 2011An ionic liquid-based grapeseed oil emulsion increased transdermal penetration by 4.63-fold and improved skin hydration, firmness, elasticity, and facial wrinkles after 28 days of continuous use compared to ordinary emulsion.
Pharmaceuticals, 2024Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Topical 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
Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Phenoxyethanol, Bht, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate
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
How does it fit your skin?
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