CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm for oily acne-prone skin
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
Jojoba Seed Oil
Tocopherol
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other pre-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 suitability for your oily skin as Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil provides some emollient action, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control.
- The formula effectively removes makeup and impurities with ethylhexyl palmitate and peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, though it does not contain specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin 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 to clear away impurities. Start by using it 3×/week before working up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow it with your usual cleansing steps to ensure all residue is thoroughly washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using soft cotton pads. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent irritating your blemishes and active breakouts.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to effectively break down excess oil and makeup. Clean away thoroughly before moving on to the next skincare steps .
- Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 8.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this balm is highly recommended by users with sensitive and dry skin for its effective makeup removal without stripping moisture. While most users find it excellent for all types of makeup, a significant number of reviews mention the small product size relative to its price and a plastic-like smell despite the product being fragrance-free.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “does not dry out face”
- “feels moisturizing”
Small size, poor value Mostly Mentioned
- “Tiny jar (1.3 oz)”
- “expensive for amount”
- “finishes too quickly”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “Dissolves waterproof mascara”
- “melts long-wear foundation”
- “removes stubborn residue”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “No stinging”
- “non-irritating formula”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Melts quickly into oil”
- “silky consistency”
- “spreads easily”
Causes blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “Cloudy eyes after use”
- “filmy vision”
- “oil gets in eyes”
Leaves oily residue Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves greasy film”
- “requires double cleansing”
- “hard to rinse off completely”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like plastic”
- “chemical odor”
- “lard-like scent”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, dermstore.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser balm works okay for oily acne-prone skin because it removes makeup well without irritating, though it lacks oil control or breakout-fighting ingredients. A better match for this skin needs soothing hydrators and ingredients that target excess oil and blemishes.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Jojoba seed oil helps make this cleanser a decent fit by offering some softening action, while ceramides help protect your skin barrier. However, because it lacks oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid, an oily acne-prone skin type needs a cleanser with ingredients that clear excess oil and target breakouts.
What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help keep oily acne-prone skin calm and smooth by strengthening the skin barrier and locking in moisture. Since acne-prone skin often has lower levels of these natural lipids, adding ceramides helps reduce irritation, redness, and moisture loss. A product for this skin type needs barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and gentle hydrators to prevent dryness and balance oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
What does Ceramide AP do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ceramide AP helps restore the skin barrier, which is often weakened and deficient in ceramides when dealing with acne. Because acne-prone skin needs a strong barrier and balanced oil levels to prevent breakouts, this ingredient works best alongside lightweight, non-greasy hydrators and oil-controlling extracts.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and as part of your weekly routine. To better fit oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and blemishes.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover before your cleanser in the evening before applying retinol, as it is unlikely to irritate your skin. A product of this type for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help control oil and target breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening whenever you wear makeup, as it works well for oily acne-prone skin while lacking targeted ingredients for breakouts. To get better results for this skin type, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target acne.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is safe for your oily skin and is unlikely to cause irritation, but it leaves an oily residue and does not contain salicylic acid or other ingredients to target acne and breakouts. To fit oily acne-prone skin well, a makeup remover of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid for oil control.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Clay 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, 2024
Why other pre-cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyethylene, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Simmondsia Chinensis Jojoba Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Peg-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.