Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion for acne-prone skin
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Squalane
Rosa Damascena Flower Water Rose Flower Water
Butylene GlycolHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even 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 excellent makeup removal for your combination skin, as cyclopentasiloxane and isohexadecane effectively dissolve impurities without being overly occlusive. Aloe barbadensis leaf juice and cucumis sativus fruit extract provide soothing and hydrating benefits, which are beneficial for combination skin.
- The formula is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
- This product provides general cleansing benefits suitable for combination skin.
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 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this lotion for its ability to dissolve long-wear foundation and waterproof makeup without stripping the skin. Most users report a soft, non-greasy finish, though a subset of users with sensitive eyes experience stinging or blurring, and some find the citrus fragrance overpowering.
Highlights
Effective on makeup Often Mentioned
- “Melts away Double Wear foundation instantly”
- “Removes waterproof mascara without scrubbing”
- “Dissolves long-lasting lipstick easily”
- “Takes off stage makeup effortlessly”
Non-drying finish Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth”
- “Doesn't strip my skin like wipes do”
- “Moisturizing enough for dry skin”
- “Face feels hydrated after rinsing”
Gentle lotion texture Sometimes Noted
- “Creamy consistency is soothing”
- “Not oily or greasy like other removers”
- “Glides over skin without pulling”
- “Feels like a spa treatment”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells fresh and clean”
- “Love the crisp citrus fragrance”
- “Scent is refreshing, not chemical”
- “Enjoyable spa-like smell”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Stings my eyes badly”
- “Causes cloudy/foggy vision”
- “Burns if it gets near the lash line”
- “Too harsh for sensitive eyes”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “Too expensive for a makeup remover”
- “Pricey compared to drugstore alternatives”
- “Not worth the money for the amount”
- “Good but I wait for a sale”
Residue or film Rarely Noted
- “Leaves a greasy film behind”
- “Hard to rinse off completely”
- “Felt waxy after washing”
- “Requires a second cleanse to remove residue”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Perfume smell is too overwhelming”
- “Smells like strong men's cologne”
- “Fragrance irritated my sensitive skin”
- “Scent lingers too long”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, boots.com, sephora.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, picky.co, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Estée Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it safely dissolves impurities without heavy pore-clogging layers or harsh ingredients that cause irritation. It also helps soothe and keep your skin calm with gentle ingredients like aloe and cucumber.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2011Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Which ingredients make this makeup remover a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it uses gentle ingredients like cyclopentasiloxane and isohexadecane to dissolve impurities without feeling heavy. It also includes aloe barbadensis leaf juice and cucumis sativus fruit extract, which help soothe and hydrate your skin while keeping irritation at bay.
What does Cucumber Fruit Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Cucumber fruit extract helps calm acne-prone skin by soothing irritation and reducing inflammation. It also provides antioxidant and antibacterial properties that are unlikely to cause cellular toxicity, keeping the skin clear and balanced.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for acne-prone skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice helps calm acne-prone skin and may reduce redness, bumps, and spots when used consistently. Studies show it helps clear breakouts and keeps skin smooth by fighting blemish-causing factors.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2014
Where does this makeup remover go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your regular cleanser. It is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it gently dissolves impurities and has a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can I use this makeup remover with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser and treatment, keeping your skin calm as you apply retinol. The formula is unlikely to irritate acne-prone skin, helping you comfortably maintain your routine.
How often should I use this makeup remover?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine when taking off makeup. Its safe formula dissolves impurities without causing irritation or blocking pores on acne-prone skin.
Can this makeup remover clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your acne-prone skin because the formula has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. It helps dissolve impurities without feeling heavy, while aloe and cucumber provide soothing benefits.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2011Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Is this makeup remover fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024A 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, 2018Cyclomethicone and specific chain length cyclic siloxanes (n = 4-7) are safe in present practices of use and concentration, showing minimal percutaneous absorption, no skin irritation or sensitization, and unlikely significant systemic exposure from cosmetics.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2011Copper Oxide nanoparticles synthesized using cucumber extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, UV protection, and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties with low cellular toxicity and skin-rejuvenating effects when incorporated into skin cream.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021Topical treatment with Holothuria parva extract gel showed significant wound contraction compared to the negative control in full-thickness wounded rats.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2024Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 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, 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, 2025Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.
Molecules, 2020Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.
BioFactors, 2023Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water Rose Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Peg-4 Dilaurate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Lauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyldimonium Chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Dipotassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Edta, Phenoxyethanol
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.