Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil for oily acne-prone skin
Squalane
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Rosemary Leaf Extract
Lavender Oil
Oat Kernel Oil
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin as squalane and Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil provide emollient action, though they may not offer sufficient seboregulation for your concerns with oiliness and breakouts.
- While the caprylic capric triglyceride and squalane effectively dissolve makeup and impurities, the oil-based formula may not be sufficiently targeted to address your acne and blemishes.
- The product is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Squalane and Oat Kernel Oil.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away impurities. Start by using it 3×/week before working up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow it with your usual cleansing steps to ensure all residue is thoroughly washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using soft cotton pads. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent irritating your blemishes and active breakouts.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to effectively break down excess oil and makeup. Clean away thoroughly before moving on to the next skincare steps .
- Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
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 oily acne-prone skin?
This cleansing oil works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as its ingredients effectively dissolve makeup while being gentle and safe. However, it may not control excess oil or breakouts, meaning oily skin needs a lightweight makeup remover with oil-controlling ingredients and soothing agents to help clear blemishes.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006Molecules, 2025
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane and oat kernel oil make this cleanser safe for your oily skin by providing gentle soothing benefits, though a product for this skin type needs oil control and blemish-clearing ingredients to be a better fit.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2026Molecules, 2025
What does Squalane do for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep oily skin soft and smooth, but oxidized squalene can trigger inflammation in acne-prone skin. Because of this, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
What does Evening Primrose Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Evening primrose oil is unlikely to be the best match for oily acne-prone skin on its own, as heavier oils can sometimes clog pores. Oily acne-prone skin typically needs lighter, balancing ingredients that clear pores and control excess shine without feeling heavy.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and as the first step of your weekly routine. It is safe for oily acne-prone skin, but a product of this type for your skin needs targeted ingredients to control oiliness and breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser as part of your routine for oily acne-prone skin. A product of this type for your skin needs ingredients that control oil and target breakouts while keeping pores clear.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine to wash away makeup and impurities. Oily acne-prone skin needs a makeup remover that also helps control excess oil and targets breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This oil cleanser dissolves makeup well, but the oil-based formula may not be sufficiently targeted to address your acne and blemishes. Oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with ingredients that help control oil and target breakouts.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
Peroxidated 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, 2006Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Avenanthramide C (AVN C) protected against UVB-induced photoaging in human keratinocyte cells and a 3D reconstructed human skin model by reducing oxidative stress, suppressing inflammatory mediators through MAPK pathways, and inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2026Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 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
Why other pre-cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013
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.
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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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.