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K-SECRET Seoul 1988 Cleansing Oil for oily skin

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

K-SECRET Seoul 1988 Cleansing Oil

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin as Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil and Olea Europaea Oil Fruit provide emollient action, but may not offer sufficient seboregulation for your oily shine.
  • The cleansing oil effectively dissolves makeup and impurities due to Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, while Centella Asiatica Extract offers general soothing benefits.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin 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 3×/week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. It prepares your skin by melting away excess oil and makeup.
  • Gently press a small amount onto your dry skin using your fingertips. Massage softly and avoid harsh rubbing to protect your pores.
  • Apply this product on dry skin to effectively break down heavy makeup and surface oil. Massage it gently before washing it off with water.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.

People Say

★4.9Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, users with normal to dry skin highly recommend this oil for its nourishing consistency that effectively dissolves makeup and blackheads without stripping moisture. It is praised for its soothing Pine Cica complex and gentle nature, though a small minority find the texture too heavy or the natural oil scent unappealing.

Highlights

  • Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
    • “dissolves stubborn makeup”
    • “melts away blackheads”
    • “removes sunscreen effectively”
  • Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip moisture”
    • “skin feels soft”
    • “no tight feeling”
  • Smooth gliding texture Sometimes Noted
    • “glides on smoothly”
    • “cushiony feel”
    • “easy to massage”
  • Soothing for redness Sometimes Noted
    • “calms irritated skin”
    • “good for sensitive skin”
    • “reduces redness”
  • Pore clogging potential Rarely Noted
    • “might clog pores”
    • “not fungal acne safe”
    • “caused closed comedones”
  • Slow emulsification Rarely Noted
    • “takes time to turn milky”
    • “needs more water to emulsify”
    • “hard to rinse”
  • Thick consistency Rarely Noted
    • “slightly thicker than most”
    • “feels heavy on skin”
    • “too thick for oily skin”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like cooking oil”
    • “strong oil fragrance”
    • “scent is average”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does K-Secret Seoul 1988 Cleansing Oil work for oily skin?

K-Secret Seoul 1988 Cleansing Oil works moderately well for oily skin by dissolving makeup and impurities while keeping your skin calm, but it may not control oily shine enough. A product of this type needs oil-controlling ingredients to properly balance oily skin.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

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

Centella Asiatica Extract and Madecassoside help calm oily skin and keep it comfortable without irritation. Because this cleanser relies on richer oils, an average fit for oily skin needs lighter, oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

What does Pine Cica do for oily skin?

Pine Cica helps calm oily skin and keeps it feeling soft without feeling heavy or blocked. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and soothing plant extracts to balance moisture while keeping the skin clear.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

What does Madecassoside do for oily skin?

Madecassoside helps soothe oily skin by calming redness and keeping it balanced without feeling heavy. It may also help reduce breakouts and improve the skin barrier, which keeps moisture locked in properly.

Molecules, 2023Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine as the first step before your regular cleanser. It helps dissolve makeup and impurities well, but oily skin of this type needs ingredients that help balance excess oil.

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

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser, well before applying retinol. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to its soothing ingredients, but an oily skin type of average fit also needs strong oil control ingredients to truly balance greasy shine.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine, applying it once a day to dissolve makeup and impurities. This product works for your oily skin, but to better manage your oily shine, this skin type needs oil-balancing ingredients that help control excess oil.

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

This cleansing oil is unlikely to clog your pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has an excellent safety profile with soothing ingredients and a negligible pore-clogging risk. However, because it relies on heavy oils to soften skin, oily skin may still need lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients and sebum-regulating components to properly manage excess shine.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020

  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023

  • Topical application of a water-in-oil emulsion containing 2% Muscat hamburg grape seed extract significantly improved melanin, elasticity, and sebum content compared to a placebo in human volunteers over 8 weeks, with no reported skin hypersensitivity.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015

  • Chitosan-based hydrogels loaded with asiaticoside-rich Centella asiatica extract achieved controlled drug release, skin permeability, antimicrobial activity, and synergistic wound healing effects in an in vitro model.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023

  • Centella asiatica extract significantly decreased markers of cell death, oxidative stress, cellular senescence, and apoptosis in hydrogen peroxide-induced human epidermal keratinocytes compared to cells treated with hydrogen peroxide alone.

    Biology, 2025

  • A topical spray containing Centella asiatica extract was non-irritating and achieved complete wound healing after 14 days in an excision wound rat model.

    Acta Pharmaceutica, 2016

  • 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

  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008

  • Grapeseed oil-loaded dermocosmetic nanoemulgel applied on the cheeks of healthy volunteers significantly reduced skin melanin, erythema, sebum production, and pores while increasing moisture and elasticity compared to a placebo.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • Topical treatment with cranberry oil and grape oil improved wound healing in rats, with cranberry oil showing an 88.1% wound area reduction and grape oil showing 84.6% compared to 74.1% in controls and 78.4% in the mupirocin standard group on day 13.

    Phytotherapy Research, 2011

  • An ionic liquid-based grapeseed oil emulsion increased transdermal penetration by 4.63-fold and improved skin hydration, firmness, elasticity, and facial wrinkles after 28 days of continuous use compared to ordinary emulsion.

    Pharmaceuticals, 2024

Ingredients

Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycoproteins, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid

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 6 Nov 2026

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

How does it fit your skin?

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