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Kate Somerville Cold Cream for acne-prone skin

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

Kate Somerville Cold Cream

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant action, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
  • The product provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing due to aloe barbadensis leaf juice and chamomilla recutita flower extract, which are supportive but not targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
  • This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, this product is a modern, whipped take on traditional cold cream that effectively melts away makeup, including waterproof mascara, while leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated. It is particularly praised by users with dry or sensitive skin for its ability to cleanse without stripping moisture. Some users find the jar packaging less hygienic and the price point high.

Highlights

  • Hydrating finish Mostly Mentioned
    • “Soft skin, non-drying, glowing, moisturized.”
  • Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
    • “Melts waterproof mascara, removes heavy makeup, dissolves dirt.”
  • Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
    • “Whipped, lightweight, creamy, fluffy.”
  • Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
    • “Soothing, no irritation, good for sensitive skin, cooling sensation.”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Fresh floral, spa-like, jasmine and rose, not powdery.”
  • High price Sometimes Noted
  • Incomplete removal Rarely Noted
    • “Smudged mascara, needed second cleanse, didn't remove everything.”
  • Jar packaging Rarely Noted
    • “Unhygienic, dipping fingers in, messy, prefer pump/tube.”
  • Residue or film Rarely Noted
    • “Requires washcloth to remove, feels heavy, leaves film.”
  • Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
    • “Scent too strong, potential irritant for some.”

Sources: lovi.care, nordstrom.com, influenster.com, gopicky.com, newbeauty.com, refinery29.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Kate Somerville Cold Cream work for acne-prone skin?

Kate Somerville Cold Cream works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts and oil control. A cleanser for this skin needs a gentle yet powerful formulation that addresses acne and blemishes while effectively balancing and cleansing.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help keep your skin hydrated, while aloe and chamomile soothe it. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts, a cleanser for acne-prone skin needs gentle oil-controlling agents and powerful blemish-fighting ingredients to work best.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical Pharmacology, 2018

What does Shea Butter do for acne-prone skin?

Shea butter can feel quite heavy on acne-prone skin, as it is very rich and may clog pores and lead to breakouts. If you have acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that hydrate without trapping oil.

What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits into your morning routine and your evening makeup removal routine. Acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that gently washes away impurities while helping keep breakouts under control.

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

You can use this cleanser in your routine with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before using your retinol treatment. A cleanser for acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help control oil and target breakouts to work best for this skin type.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This cleanser type works for acne-prone skin when it includes targeted ingredients for oil control and blemishes.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

Kate Somerville Cold Cream is unlikely to cause irritation for your acne-prone skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components, though its heavy oils and butters offer an average fit. This type of skin needs a cleanser with targeted oil control and blemish-fighting ingredients to properly manage breakouts.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is not specifically formulated for the thin skin around your eyes. A cleanser for the eye area needs to be gentle and lightweight to avoid irritation, while body cleansers often benefit from richer, deeply nourishing ingredients to handle thicker skin.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

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, 2017

  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018

  • 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, 2012

  • A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.

    Lasers in Medical Science, 2025

  • A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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

  • Overnight virgin coconut oil application provides a skin protective effect against damage and increased TEWL from frequent alcohol-based hand sanitizer usage in 60 volunteers, resulting in a 25% increase in perceived moisture content compared to the control group.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical 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, 2024

  • Topical 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, 2025

  • Nanolipidgel formulations with argan or jojoba oil and humectants demonstrate good sensory attributes, instrumental properties, and moisturizing efficacy for cosmetic application.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014

  • Topical 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, 2025

  • Dermatological 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, 2021

  • Topical 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 cleansers fit acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Disodium Edta

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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QR code: get the Lovi app
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