Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original for acne-prone skin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract
Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract Leaf
Angelica Archangelica Root ExtractAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other pre-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 makeup removal for your combination skin, as Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Cetyl Ethylhexanoate effectively dissolve impurities, while Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract and Tocopheryl Acetate provide antioxidant and barrier support.
- The formula provides general cleansing and hydration, which is beneficial but does not specifically target your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your acne-prone skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away dirt and oil. Start 3x/week and work up to daily use if your combination skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before cleansing and using the rest of your skin products. This ensures all makeup and impurities are fully washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing the skin too harshly to prevent irritation.
- Apply the makeup remover on dry skin to easily dissolve makeup and clear out blemishes. There is no need to dampen your face beforehand.
- Do a patch test before first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid the delicate eye area while applying.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 4.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cult-favorite cleansing balm is widely praised for its unique sherbet-like texture that melts into an oil to effortlessly dissolve stubborn waterproof makeup without stripping the skin. While highly effective for most, users with acne-prone or sensitive skin report mixed results, with some experiencing clogged pores or irritation from the fragrance and mineral oil content.
Highlights
Melts makeup Mostly Mentioned
- “Dissolves waterproof mascara instantly”
- “Melts away layers of sunscreen”
- “Removes heavy stage makeup effortlessly”
Non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels baby soft”
- “No tight feeling after rinsing”
- “Leaves face feeling hydrated and plump”
Unique texture Often Mentioned
- “Satisfying sherbet texture”
- “Glides on without dripping”
- “Turns into a smooth oil immediately”
Pleasant experience Sometimes Noted
- “Love the included spatula”
- “Smells like light acerola cherry”
- “Hygienic packaging design”
Causes blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “Gave me cloudy eyes”
- “Vision was blurry for minutes”
- “Leaves a film on my contacts”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused deep cystic acne”
- “Clogged my pores immediately”
- “Broke me out in whiteheads”
Fragrance sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Fragrance irritated my skin”
- “Smell is too perfume-y”
- “Stung my sensitive cheeks”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “Leaves a greasy film”
- “Hard to rinse off completely”
- “Must use a foam cleanser after”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, sokoglam.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Banila Co Clean It Zero work for acne-prone skin?
This cleansing balm works reasonably well for your acne-prone skin, though it does not specifically target blemishes and breakouts. A makeup remover for this skin needs nourishing oils, soothing plant extracts, and ingredients that help clear breakouts without irritation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008Scientific Reports, 2025
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works for your acne-prone skin because it contains Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract and Tocopheryl Acetate, which help keep your skin calm and hydrated. It is unlikely to cause irritation, but a product of this type needs soothing plant extracts and targeted ingredients that actively address breakouts to be a top fit for your skin.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008Scientific Reports, 2025
What does Ethylhexyl Palmitate do for acne-prone skin?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is an isopropyl ester that may clog pores and trigger breakouts in acne-prone skin. It tends to behave as a heavy offender for blemishes, so oily or blemish-prone skin often needs lighter ingredients that keep pores clear.
What does Tocopheryl Acetate do for acne-prone skin?
Tocopheryl Acetate is unlikely to clog pores on acne-prone skin and helps keep it calm. It supports overall skin health with a very safe profile in dermatological products.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also as the first step of your weekly routine for acne-prone skin. It is safe and gentle for your skin type, but to properly care for acne and breakouts, a product of this type needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing benefits.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser and retinol treatment. The gentle formula is unlikely to irritate your acne-prone skin, though acne-prone skin needs products with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to work best.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and during weekly care. It has a good safety profile and is unlikely to irritate your acne-prone skin, though this type of skin needs ingredients that specifically target blemishes and breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, but some reviewers mention a low risk of breakouts. Because it provides general cleansing rather than targeting blemishes directly, acne-prone skin needs a product with ingredients that actively help clear breakouts and balance oil.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Lithospermum erythrorhizon root extract emulsions increase skin humidity up to 11.77% and decrease transepidermal water loss up to 7.68% in 30 healthy Asian females in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Coptis, shikonin, or curcumin at a 5% concentration in cosmetics can be applied safely without inducing contact allergic and photosensitive reactions in human subjects.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2021Topical 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, 2024Exosome-like vesicles derived from Lithospermum erythrorhizon callus enhanced wound closure and cell viability in normal human dermal fibroblasts in vitro, and accelerated re-epithelialization and reduced inflammation in LPS-induced wounds in mice over 14 days.
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2024Shikonin and its derivatives inhibit human tumor necrosis factor alpha promoter activation, mRNA expression, and protein production in a gene gun-transfected mouse skin system by interfering with the basal transcription machinery.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2004Treatment with root extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon inhibited UVB-induced decreases in cell viability, inflammatory cytokine production, caspase-3 activity, and p53 phosphorylation in normal human epidermal keratinocytes.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2007Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Bambusa vulgaris leaves accelerate cutaneous wound healing and inhibit carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2016An Angelica sinensis extract containing 1% ligustilide demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-senescence, matrix-supportive, and antimicrobial effects in human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2026Screening of forty herb extracts using melan-a cells showed that hexane and dichloromethane extracts of Angelica sinensis, alongside compounds 4-ethylresorcinol, 4-ethylphenol, and 1-tetradecanol, exhibited strong hypopigmentary effects by attenuating melanin synthesis.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2010Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-complexed Angelica sinensis essential oil-loaded microneedles demonstrated antibacterial activity against P. acnes, reduced acne lesion size and IL-1β levels, and suppressed 5α-reductase and FAS expression.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2026
Why other pre-cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
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
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-10 Isostearate, Synthetic Wax, Onsen-Sui, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract Leaf, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Angelica Archangelica Root Extract, Acerola Fruit Extract, Polydiethyleneglycol Adipate Ipdi Copolymer, Acrylates Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates Methoxy Peg-15 Methacrylate Copolymer
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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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
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
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