Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil for acne-prone skin
Squalane
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Rosemary Leaf Extract
Lavender Oil
Oat Kernel Oil
Average
- AverageCombination 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 suitability for your combination skin as squalane and sunflower seed oil provide emollient action, though these may not be sufficient for all areas of your skin.
- The cleansing oil effectively dissolves makeup and impurities due to caprylic capric triglyceride and squalane, providing general cleansing and hydration benefits for your acne-prone skin.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry, sensitive, and combination skin frequently praise this oil for effectively dissolving makeup and sunscreen without stripping the moisture barrier. Most report a soft, hydrated finish and reduced redness. A subset of users with sensitive eyes experienced stinging and difficulty removing waterproof mascara.
Highlights
Hydrating finish Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “non-stripping”
- “cushiony feel”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “Melts sunscreen/foundation”
- “dissolves impurities”
- “removes matte lipstick”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Glides easily”
- “not heavy/gloopy”
- “emulsifies well”
Clean rinse Sometimes Noted
- “No greasy residue”
- “rinses completely”
- “no film left”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “Soothes sensitive skin”
- “no tightness”
- “spa-like experience”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Stings eyes”
- “burns sensitive eyes”
- “causes blurry vision”
Mascara removal Sometimes Noted
- “Waterproof mascara remains”
- “requires double cleanse”
- “doesn't fully remove eye makeup”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Leaky pump”
- “messy bottle”
- “not travel-friendly”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “Expensive”
- “pricey for cleanser”
- “high cost per ounce”
Scent dislike Rarely Noted
- “Strong herbal smell”
- “dislike citrus notes”
- “fragrance sensitivity”
Sources: lovi.care, biossance.com, sephora.co.uk, influenster.com, reddit.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil work for acne-prone skin?
This cleansing oil works moderately well for acne-prone skin, effectively dissolving makeup and impurities without harsh ingredients that cause irritation. However, because it is an oil-based formula, it may not adequately address all acne concerns and could potentially exacerbate breakouts in oilier areas. A makeup remover for this skin needs nourishing oils and plant extracts that provide soothing properties and blemish benefits while performing cleansing extremely well without any risk of unsuitability.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Caprylic capric triglyceride and squalane help dissolve makeup and impurities while keeping your skin soft and hydrated. To truly support acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs soothing plant extracts and nourishing oils that calm blemishes without causing irritation or heaviness.
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
What does Evening Primrose Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Evening primrose oil is unlikely to cure acne on its own, but it may help calm dryness and irritation when you are using strong drying treatments. It helps support skin barrier function and moisture retention in dry skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your regular cleanser. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and balancing oils to keep your skin clear and comfortable.
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 treatment, but this skin type needs a product with strong soothing ingredients and oil-balancing benefits to fully calm breakouts and control shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and weekly routine to dissolve makeup and impurities on your acne-prone skin. Because it offers only moderate suitability, this skin type needs extra cleansing and balancing ingredients to properly manage oil and breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleansing oil is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as it has a safe formula with no harsh or irritating ingredients. However, it offers only an average fit, so acne-prone skin needs a product that provides stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing benefits.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
Squalane 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, 2025Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019Topical application of rosemary essential oil-loaded lipid nanoparticles in gel vehicles significantly increased skin hydration compared to gels containing free oil, and increased elasticity to a lesser extent, in ten healthy volunteers.
Pharmaceutics, 2017Topical application of a cream containing the NHE1 activator rosmarinic acid decreased skin surface pH and transepidermal water loss while increasing skin hydration in 50-60-year-old adult females compared to vehicle cream and no treatment.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022An alcoholic extract of rosemary leaves, Rosm1, demonstrates strong antioxidant activity and inhibits oxidative alterations to skin surface lipids when evaluated in vitro and in vivo.
International Journal of Tissue Reactions, 2000Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016
Ingredients
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Squalane, C13-15 Alkane, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquioleate, Triethylhexanoin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Oat Kernel Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Limonene, Linalool
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.