Shu Uemura cleansing oil for combination skin
Mineral Oil
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
SqualaneCaution
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for combination skin; the pre-cleansers alongside 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 suitability for your combination skin as Camellia Japonica Seed Oil and Squalane provide emollient action, but the presence of Mineral Oil and Ethylhexyl Palmitate poses a risk of clogging pores and worsening oily shine.
- The formulation provides general skincare benefits and moderate makeup removal, but these functions are largely irrelevant or indirectly detrimental to your specific concerns.
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 1.9k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleansing oil is highly praised for its luxurious texture that effectively melts away makeup and impurities, making it ideal for dry, normal, and aging skin types seeking a soft, hydrated, and plump outcome. Some users with acne-prone or sensitive skin report issues with its heavy fragrance and potential to cause breakouts due to comedogenic ingredients.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “dissolves makeup very quickly, washes off cleanly”
- “removes all traces of makeup, mascara included”
- “very effective at removing all makeup, including eye makeup”
- “breaks down even waterproof makeup within 30 seconds”
Softens and hydrates Often Mentioned
- “leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated”
- “leaves the skin feeling plump and soft”
- “my skin feels ultra smooth and plushy”
- “moisturizes continually even after use”
Expensive price tag Often Mentioned
- “Quite a large initial outlay”
- “This thing is pretty expensive”
- “The price is the only thing keeping it from being an unreserved recommendation”
- “priciest amongst Shu's cleansing oil variants”
No greasy residue Sometimes Noted
- “rinses clean away and doesn't leave behind any oily or greasy feel”
- “rinses cleanly without residue”
- “doesn't leave any heavy, greasy residue”
- “washes off cleanly”
Strong floral fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “has a really heavy floral smell”
- “fairly strong scent which my nose was a bit sensitive to”
- “non-starter for fragrance-sensitive”
- “pretty strong floral scent that is left even after it's rinsed off”
May cause breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused some milia”
- “acne-prone users can break out”
- “Really want to love this but it broke me out”
- “thick consistency may clog pores”
Sources: lovi.care, shuuemura-usa.com, sephora.sg, reddit.com, thebeautylookbook.com, musingsofamuse.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with shu uemura cleansing oil for combination skin?
Lovi advises caution because mineral oil and ethylhexyl palmitate may clog pores and worsen oily shine on your combination skin. A makeup remover for this skin needs soothing and nourishing ingredients that pose no risk of irritation, effectively cleanse while providing excellent hydration, and contain no allergens.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for combination skin?
Mineral Oil and Ethylhexyl Palmitate make this cleanser a poor fit for your combination skin because they carry a risk of clogging your pores and worsening oily shine. A makeup remover for this skin type needs soothing and nourishing ingredients that pose no risk of irritation, effectively cleanse while providing excellent hydration, and contain no allergens.
What does Mineral Oil do for combination skin?
Mineral oil helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture and supporting the skin barrier. Because it sits on the surface without penetrating deeply, a product of this type for combination skin needs a lightweight texture and balancing ingredients to avoid feeling too heavy in oily areas while hydrating dry patches.
What does Camellia Seed Oil do for combination skin?
Camellia seed oil helps keep combination skin hydrated and soft by locking in moisture without causing irritation. It is unlikely to clog pores and may help balance skin oils while supporting a smooth skin barrier.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This makeup remover is used in the evening before your cleanser as part of your PM and weekly routines. Because it may clog pores and worsen oily shine on combination skin, this skin type needs lighter makeup removers with ingredients that clear pores without heavy oils.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You should exercise caution when using this makeup remover with retinol on combination skin, as certain ingredients may clog pores and worsen oily shine. For this skin type, a makeup remover needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that clear away makeup without adding extra oil or causing breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This makeup remover is a poor match for your combination skin, as some ingredients may clog pores and worsen oily shine. Combination skin needs a lightweight makeup remover that cleans gently without heavy oils.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
Yes, this cleanser may clog pores and cause breakouts on combination skin because ingredients like Mineral Oil and Ethylhexyl Palmitate pose a risk of worsening oily shine. A makeup remover for this skin needs lighter, non-clogging oils or refreshing cleansers that clean without heavy oils.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Camellia japonica oil activated the human COL1A2 promoter, induced type I procollagen synthesis, inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity, and reduced trans-epidermal water loss without inducing adverse reactions in human skin.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Peroxidated squalene induces an early activation of NF-kappaB, an increase in PPARalpha levels, and an upregulation of IL-6 production in HaCaT keratinocytes, which is subsequently counteracted by PPARalpha activation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Liquid crystalline emulsions formulated with camellia seed oil and four different surfactant combinations reduced transepidermal water loss and increased skin hydration without causing skin irritation, with the formulation containing Lecinol S-10 and Tween 80 demonstrating the best clinical results.
Scientific Reports, 2023Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Ingredients
Mineral Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Squalane, Tocopherol
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.