Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil for sensitive skin

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
Triethylhexanoin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Glycerin
Caprylyl Glycol
High
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 suitability for your normal skin, as Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Triethylhexanoin effectively dissolve makeup and impurities, while Tocopheryl Acetate provides antioxidant and soothing properties to help with redness and irritation.
- Glycerin offers humectant action, moderately supporting your skin's hydration needs.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
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
★4.5Overall 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
What makes Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil a great fit for sensitive skin?
This cleansing oil is a great fit because it effectively dissolves makeup and impurities while using soothing ingredients like Tocopheryl Acetate to help calm redness and irritation. It also includes glycerin to support your skin's hydration needs without harsh ingredients, making it very safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for sensitive skin because Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Triethylhexanoin gently dissolve makeup while Tocopheryl Acetate and glycerin help calm redness and maintain hydration. It has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.
What does Cetyl Ethylhexanoate do for sensitive skin?
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate helps keep sensitive skin feeling soft and smooth by acting as a skin-conditioning agent that locks in moisture. Because it spreads easily and leaves a light feel, it is unlikely to cause heavy irritation when used in gentle formulations.
What does Triethylhexanoin do for sensitive skin?
Triethylhexanoin helps soften and smooth sensitive skin while locking in moisture without feeling heavy. It creates a light protective layer that keeps dry skin comfortable and calm.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your regular cleanser, and you can also use it weekly before cleansing when you wear makeup. It is a great fit for sensitive skin because it gently dissolves makeup while soothing redness and irritation without harsh ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser and retinol treatment. It is a great fit for sensitive skin because it gently dissolves makeup while soothing ingredients like Tocopheryl Acetate help calm redness and irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your routine to gently wash away makeup and impurities. It is very safe for sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause any irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on sensitive skin because it features an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. It helps cleanse makeup while keeping skin calm and comfortable.
Is this cleanser 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, 2017A preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol showed no delayed Type IV dermal sensitivity reactions in 200 subjects when tested as a 15% mixture in carbomer gel and in a cosmetic formulation.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2009Topical 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, 2024The 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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

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.