Kate Somerville Cold Cream for oily skin
Shea Butter
Glycerin
Coconut Oil
Jojoba Oil
Vitamin EAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant action to hydrate without adding excess oil. Coconut oil and aloe vera extract cleanse effectively and soothe the skin, supporting general skincare needs.
- While the formula offers excellent cleansing and hydration, it lacks specific ingredients to target and control oily shine, which is your main goal.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like chamomile and calendula.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this product is a modern, whipped take on traditional cold cream that effectively melts away makeup, including waterproof mascara, while leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated. It is particularly praised by users with dry or sensitive skin for its ability to cleanse without stripping moisture. Some users find the jar packaging less hygienic and the price point high.
Highlights
Hydrating finish Mostly Mentioned
- “Soft skin, non-drying, glowing, moisturized.”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “Melts waterproof mascara, removes heavy makeup, dissolves dirt.”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “Whipped, lightweight, creamy, fluffy.”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “Soothing, no irritation, good for sensitive skin, cooling sensation.”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Fresh floral, spa-like, jasmine and rose, not powdery.”
High price Sometimes Noted
Incomplete removal Rarely Noted
- “Smudged mascara, needed second cleanse, didn't remove everything.”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “Unhygienic, dipping fingers in, messy, prefer pump/tube.”
Residue or film Rarely Noted
- “Requires washcloth to remove, feels heavy, leaves film.”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Scent too strong, potential irritant for some.”
Sources: lovi.care, nordstrom.com, influenster.com, gopicky.com, newbeauty.com, refinery29.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kate Somerville Cold Cream work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate without adding excess oil, but it lacks ingredients to control oily shine. A product of this type needs ingredients that effectively manage oiliness and impurities while promoting a clear complexion to be a great fit for oily skin.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin by providing hydration without adding excess oil, while coconut oil and aloe vera extract help clean and calm the skin safely. A cleanser for this skin type needs ingredients that target and control oily shine while keeping the skin clear and balanced.
What does Shea Butter do for oily skin?
Shea butter may feel too heavy for oily skin and is unlikely to be the best fit without careful testing. This skin type needs light, non-greasy moisturizers and ingredients that balance oil production without clogging pores.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routine to wash and hydrate your skin without adding extra oil. It is safe for oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation, but a cleanser of this type for oily skin also needs specific ingredients to target and control oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it cleans and hydrates safely without harsh ingredients that cause irritation. To properly fit oily skin, this type of product also needs specific ingredients that help control and target oily shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It cleans and hydrates oily skin safely without irritation, though oily skin of this type needs specific ingredients to target and control shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and uses gentle, soothing agents like chamomile and calendula. However, since it is a rich cream containing heavy oils and butters, oily skin generally needs lightweight cleansers with salicylic acid or niacinamide to help control excess shine.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as its gentle ingredients are well tolerated on thin areas and larger skin surfaces. Studies show that skin thickness varies significantly across the body, making mild formulas helpful for delicate regions.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Overnight virgin coconut oil application provides a skin protective effect against damage and increased TEWL from frequent alcohol-based hand sanitizer usage in 60 volunteers, resulting in a 25% increase in perceived moisture content compared to the control group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Topical 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, 2024
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Esters, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Disodium Edta
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?
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