Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil for combination skin
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Triethylhexanoin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Glycerin
Caprylyl Glycol
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 for your combination skin, as Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Triethylhexanoin effectively dissolve impurities, while glycerin provides some hydration. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to sufficiently address your oily shine concern.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with tocopheryl acetate and glycerin offering soothing benefits and no harsh ingredients present.
- This product provides general cleansing benefits and is safe for your skin type.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away excess oil.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser to effectively break down heavy makeup and dirt.
- Gently wipe the makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Use the makeup remover on completely dry skin to help dissolve surface oils and impurities best.
- Avoid direct contact with the eyes while using this makeup remover.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin frequently praise this lightweight oil for dissolving stubborn waterproof makeup without clogging pores or leaving a greasy residue. While most find it non-stripping and gentle on sensitive skin, a small subset of users experienced blurred vision when removing eye makeup or minor breakouts after use.
Highlights
Dissolves stubborn makeup Mostly Mentioned
- “Immediately dissolves even tenacious face makeup, oil and impurities.”
- “Melts away waterproof mascara and long-wearing foundation effortlessly.”
- “Removes all traces of lipstick, blush, and eye shadow with ease.”
- “Takes off layers of sunscreen and baking powder without scrubbing.”
Rinses completely clean Often Mentioned
- “Rinses off easily with water, leaving no residue behind.”
- “Turns into a milky emulsion and washes away completely.”
- “Leaves skin feeling super clean and not greasy at all.”
- “No oily film left on the skin after rinsing.”
Gentle & non-drying Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves my skin feeling soft, never tight or dry.”
- “Super gentle on the skin, doesn't strip moisture.”
- “Great for sensitive skin, causes no irritation or redness.”
- “Feels hydrating compared to other harsh cleansers.”
Ideal for acne-prone skin Sometimes Noted
- “Works very well with my oily acne-prone skin.”
- “Does not clog pores or cause breakouts.”
- “Non-comedogenic and lightweight, perfect for congestion-prone skin.”
- “Helps clear up my skin by removing all impurities.”
Causes blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves a cloudy film over my eyes for a few minutes.”
- “Makes my vision blurry if it gets into my eyes.”
- “Stings slightly and causes temporary cloudiness.”
- “Hard to keep out of eyes when removing mascara.”
Chemical/plastic scent Rarely Noted
- “Has a faint chemical smell despite being fragrance-free.”
- “Smells a bit like plastic or old oil.”
- “Not a pleasant scent, though it fades quickly.”
- “Smells synthetic compared to other oils.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump dispenses too much product at once.”
- “Bottle leaks if not kept perfectly upright during travel.”
- “The lock on the pump is finicky and hard to use.”
- “Wish it came in a larger size for the price.”
Thin/watery consistency Rarely Noted
- “Texture is very thin and runny compared to the balm.”
- “Runs through fingers easily, leading to product waste.”
- “Wish it was slightly thicker so it didn't drip as much.”
- “Feels a bit too watery for a deep massage.”
Sources: lovi.care, clinique.com, sephora.sg, ulta.com, makeupalley.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Take The Day Off work for combination skin?
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil is an average fit for combination skin because while it safely removes makeup and provides some hydration, it lacks specialized ingredients to handle oily shine. A makeup remover for this skin needs soothing, nourishing ingredients like squalane or plant oils that hydrate dry areas without adding extra oil.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep your skin hydrated, while tocopheryl acetate provides soothing benefits for a comfortable feel. However, because this cleanser lacks specialized ingredients to manage oily shine, a product for combination skin needs soothing plant oils and hydrating ingredients like squalane or hyaluronic acid for a more balanced result.
What does Cetyl Ethylhexanoate do for combination skin?
Cetyl ethylhexanoate helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by acting as a lightweight skin conditioner that balances dry and oily areas. It is unlikely to feel heavy, though combination skin still needs formulas that hydrate without clogging pores.
What does Triethylhexanoin do for combination skin?
Triethylhexanoin helps keep combination skin feeling soft and smooth without making oily areas greasy or dry patches rough. It gives creams a light feel that makes them easy to spread evenly across the face.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly step before cleansing. It is generally safe for your skin type, though a product for combination skin also needs specialized ingredients to control oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser and treatment, but this type needs extra ingredients to better balance oily shine for combination skin.
How often should I use it?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your PM routine to dissolve impurities. This product works for combination skin, but to better handle oily shine, this skin needs a makeup remover with specialized oil-controlling ingredients.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your combination skin, as it has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to control oily shine, a cleanser for this skin needs balancing and purifying ingredients to properly manage excess oil.
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, 2017Vitamin 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, 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 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, 2025Topical 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, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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
Ingredients
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Triethylhexanoin, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polybutene, Peg-8 Diisostearate, Peg-12 Diisostearate, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Laurate, Bht
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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