🇦🇺Australia

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water for oily acne-prone skin

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

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products 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 benefits for your oily skin, as niacinamide helps regulate sebum and glycerin provides hydration, though it does not specifically target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The cleansing action is effective due to hexylene glycol and glycerin, which remove impurities without stripping the skin, supporting overall skin health.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risk of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and panthenol.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it daily to help manage your oily skin.
  • Apply this micellar water as your first step before your cleanser and the rest of your routine.
  • Pour some micellar water onto a cotton pad and gently wipe it across your face. Avoid harsh rubbing.
  • Apply the micellar water on dry skin to effectively remove excess oil and impurities.
  • Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive and dry skin frequently praise this product for its gentle, non-irritating formula that effectively removes daily grime without stripping moisture. While it is highly rated for preventing breakouts and soothing redness, some long-time users note a decline in quality due to a formula change, and others find it struggles with heavy, waterproof makeup.

Highlights

  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love.”
    • “My face hasn't felt this pure and cleansed in years... no fancy smells or dye.”
    • “Perfect for sensitive skin... feels like water.”
  • Effective daily cleanser Often Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed.”
    • “Sucks up oil, dirt, and makeup like a mini Pac-Man.”
    • “Great for small clean ups when you have a goof up.”
  • Non-drying / Hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight.”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and cared for.”
    • “Keeps my face balanced — not too dry and not too oily.”
  • Struggles with waterproof makeup Often Mentioned
    • “Did not remove my mascara very well at all.”
    • “Takes several rounds of soaked cotton pads to get rid of heavy makeup.”
    • “Doesn't work well on waterproof and long-wearing makeup.”
  • Convenient / No rinse Sometimes Noted
    • “No need to rinse... perfect for traveling or lazy nights.”
    • “Quickly removes makeup without rinsing.”
    • “Answer to the inner lazy girl in all of us.”
  • Formula change complaints Sometimes Noted
    • “New bottle ingredients do not match... lower amounts of beneficial ingredients.”
    • “Since it's been 'cheapened' I will not purchase.”
    • “Plant antioxidant is now last in the list.”
  • Leaves residue / Film Rarely Noted
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin.”
    • “Leaves a soapy taste on lips if used there.”
    • “Can feel sticky if you don't rinse it off.”
  • Packaging / Leaking issues Rarely Noted
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling.”
    • “Cap can break easily if dropped.”
    • “Hard to control flow, sometimes too much comes out.”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, boots.com, makeupalley.com, skinsafe-products.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Simple Micellar Cleansing Water work for oily acne-prone skin?

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as niacinamide helps control oil and glycerin provides hydration without causing irritation. However, it does not specifically target breakouts and blemishes. A micellar water for this skin needs powerful ingredients that actively fight acne and blemishes while keeping the skin clear and balanced.

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

Niacinamide and glycerin make this cleanser a decent fit for oily skin because niacinamide helps balance oil while glycerin hydrates without clogging pores. However, to truly care for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs powerful ingredients that actively target blemishes and breakouts along with oil control.

What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

This micellar water goes first in your evening routine to remove makeup and impurities before cleansing. For oily acne-prone skin, this product works okay, but an ideal product needs ingredients that specifically target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it first on clean skin before your retinol treatment. It removes impurities without stripping your face, while soothing ingredients like niacinamide and panthenol help keep your skin calm while using retinol.

Cutis, 2006American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

How often should I use it?

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water can be used daily to remove makeup and impurities without stripping your skin. Oily acne-prone skin also needs products with blemish-fighting ingredients to properly target breakouts.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging, but because it does not specifically target acne, it may not prevent breakouts on oily skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs products with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components to keep pores clear.

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

  • 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

Why other products fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Dmdm Hydantoin, Tetrasodium Edta, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

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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Prices checked 2 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Australia.

How does it fit your skin?

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