Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood for combination skin
Rosewood Oil
Jojoba Seed Oil
Macadamia Seed Oil
Salvia Officinalis Oil
Vanilla Fruit Extract
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
- This cleansing balm offers excellent makeup removal for your combination skin, as Hydrogenated Polydecene and Jojoba Seed Oil effectively dissolve impurities without causing irritation. While Glycerin and Jojoba Seed Oil provide general hydration, they are not specifically targeted to address your oily shine concerns.
- The presence of Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil offers emollient benefits, contributing to moderate suitability for your combination skin type.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like rosewood oil.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this luxurious balm is highly praised for its spa-like scent and rich texture that effectively removes makeup while leaving dry and dull skin feeling soft, hydrated, and radiant. Some users find the scent strong and the price point high.
Highlights
Divine Spa-Like Scent Mostly Mentioned
- “smells absolutely incredible”
- “divine thanks to Marula Oil”
- “like a well deserved me time”
- “ambiance of tranquility”
Luxurious Texture Often Mentioned
- “honey-like balm”
- “transforms into a silky milk”
- “rich and heavy consistency”
- “lush and lavish sensory experience”
Non-Stripping Hydration Often Mentioned
- “never made my skin feel dry”
- “leaves face feeling nourished”
- “skin is glowing and dewy”
- “epitome of hydration”
High Price / Low Value Often Mentioned
- “price is quite steep”
- “burning through my tub”
- “not good value”
- “amount is too small”
Effective Makeup Removal Sometimes Noted
- “melts away makeup”
- “removes face makeup really well”
- “takes off eye and face makeup”
- “cleanses squeaky clean”
Indulgent Ritual Sometimes Noted
- “invitation to indulge”
- “treat myself”
- “relaxing skincare ritual”
- “blissful purifying spa experience”
Difficult to Rinse Sometimes Noted
- “nightmare to remove”
- “leaves a coating”
- “sits there as a white milky substance”
- “hard to wash off”
Packaging Issues Rarely Noted
- “inconvenient... use a spatula”
- “heavy glass jar”
- “pain when travelling”
- “hassle to unscrew”
Potential Irritation Rarely Noted
- “tingling sensation”
- “eyes sting”
- “irritate someone's skin”
- “strong scent”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, allbeauty.com, mecca.com, notino.co.uk, escentual.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm with Rosewood work for combination skin?
This cleansing balm works reasonably well for your combination skin by dissolving makeup and impurities without irritation, though it does not target your oily shine concerns. A product of this type needs soothing and nourishing ingredients that provide gentle cleansing and balanced hydration for both dry and oily areas without clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Hydrogenated polydecene and jojoba seed oil make this cleanser a good fit by effectively dissolving makeup without irritation, while glycerin and jojoba seed oil provide general hydration. To better fit combination skin, this type of product needs targeted ingredients that help control oily shine while keeping dry areas hydrated.
What does Rosewood Oil do for combination skin?
Rosewood oil helps balance combination skin by bringing moisture to dry patches while keeping oiliness under control in the T-zone. It leaves your face feeling soft and smooth without feeling heavy or greasy.
What does Jojoba Seed Oil do for combination skin?
Jojoba seed oil helps balance combination skin by calming redness and keeping the skin soft without feeling heavy. It is unlikely to clog pores and helps protect the skin barrier while adding light moisture.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser. Combination skin needs a cleanser that dissolves impurities while helping balance 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, making sure to follow it with your retinol treatment and a moisturizer. Combination skin also needs ingredients that help balance oily shine while keeping the skin hydrated.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine to melt away makeup and impurities without irritation. Combination skin needs a cleanser that dissolves impurities while helping to manage oily shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a safe profile with soothing ingredients and no harsh components. Combination skin needs a cleanser that balances oil control while keeping skin soft, using lightweight hydrators and clarifying ingredients to manage shine.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (linalool and benzyl salicylate) and drying alcohol (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, 2017Topical application of Sclerocarya birrea nut oil is non-irritant, exhibits significant moisturising and hydrating effects on lipid-dry skin, and shows occlusive properties on normal skin in healthy caucasian adult female volunteers.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015Linalool treatment at 30 μM prevented UVB-induced oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage, and the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in human dermal fibroblast cells compared to UVB exposure alone.
PloS One, 2017Cinnamomi cortex extract and its components epicatechin and linalool enhanced circadian amplitude, reduced oxidative stress, and upregulated skin barrier-related and ceramide synthesis genes in HaCaT keratinocytes compared to untreated controls.
Scientific Reports, 2025Clay 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, 2025Volatile compounds including 1,8-cineole, borneol, camphor, and thujone reduce PMA/I-stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 release by more than 50% in human gingival fibroblasts, proving more effective than rosmarinic acid.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2013Gelatin/vanillin/Fe3+/AGP-AgNPs hydrogels promoted wound contraction, reduced inflammation, upregulated dermal growth factors, and minimized skin irritation in rats and rabbits compared to untreated controls.
ACS Omega, 2025L-arginine-loaded chitosan/PVA/vanillin hydrogels achieved 95% wound healing after 24 hours and demonstrated sustained drug release for over 7 days alongside strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
RSC Advances, 2024Vanillin exhibited cytocompatibility, protected human keratinocytes and fibroblast cells against ROS-induced cell death with >80% survival, and increased cell migration in vitro.
Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 2023
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Oleic Linoleic Linolenic Polyglycerides, Glycerin, Hydroxystearic Linolenic Oleic Polyglycerides, Sorbitan Oleate, Peg-10 Laurate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Behenate Eicosadioate, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate Eicosadioate, Decyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-10 Hydroxystearate Stearate Eicosadioate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Rosewood Oil Wood, Cananga Odorata Oil Flower, Salvia Officinalis Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Water, Beta-Carotene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Behenyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dextrin Palmitate, Hexylene Glycol, Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Phenoxyethanol
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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