Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil for dry sensitive skin
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Black Soybean Oil
Jojoba Seed Oil
Shea Butter
Cranberry Seed Oil
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry and sensitive skin, as Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and Cetyl Ethylhexanoate effectively dissolve impurities while Jojoba Seed Oil and Shea Butter provide essential hydration and soothing.
- The formula is well-suited for dry or flaky skin due to the emollient and occlusive properties of Soybean Oil and Shea Butter, which help reduce water loss and smooth the skin's surface.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring a gentle formulation free from harsh ingredients and enriched with soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3×/week daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. It prepares your face for a thorough double-cleansing routine.
- Gently press a small amount onto your skin using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing to protect your sensitive and flaky skin.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to ensure better tolerance and comfort. This prevents any extra irritation for reactive skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your very first use to prevent irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviewsThis cleansing oil is widely praised as a gentle yet effective first-step cleanser that excels at breaking down heavy makeup without stripping the skin of moisture. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account. While it is a "holy grail" for many with dry or sensitive skin due to its nourishing "black" oil ingredients, users with oily or acne-prone skin report mixed results, with some experiencing breakouts or finding the texture too rich.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “Dissolves waterproof mascara instantly”
- “Removes heavy foundation easily”
- “Melts away eyeliner without rubbing.”
Gentle, non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels moisturized after”
- “Doesn't leave face tight”
- “Perfect for sensitive dry skin.”
Emulsifies well Sometimes Noted
- “Turns milky immediately with water”
- “Rinses clean without residue”
- “Emulsifies beautifully.”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Thick but spreads easily”
- “Feels luxurious on skin”
- “Smooth gliding texture.”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “Gave me cystic acne”
- “Caused tiny bumps/whiteheads”
- “Broke me out immediately.”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Made my vision blurry/foggy”
- “Stung my eyes”
- “Cloudy eyes for minutes.”
Blackhead reduction Rarely Noted
- “Pulled out grits/plugs”
- “Helped clear blackheads”
- “Pores look cleaner.”
Fragrance sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Smell was too strong”
- “Fragrance irritated my skin”
- “Prefer the unscented version.”
Leaking packaging Rarely Noted
- “Bottle leaks oil”
- “Pump dispenses too much”
- “Messy bottle design.”
Thick consistency Rarely Noted
- “Too thick for oily skin”
- “Felt heavy on face”
- “Prefer lighter oils.”
Sources: lovi.care, wishtrend.com, sokoglam.com, influenster.com, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is a great fit because its oils and shea butter effectively dissolve makeup while keeping dry and sensitive skin calm and hydrated. The formula helps reduce water loss and smooths the skin's surface with a gentle, safe makeup remover.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Caprylic capric triglyceride and cetyl ethylhexanoate dissolve makeup and impurities, while jojoba seed oil and shea butter provide soothing hydration. Soybean oil and shea butter also help keep dry skin smooth and comfortable by reducing water loss.
What does Black Currant Seed Oil do for dry sensitive skin?
Black Currant Seed Oil helps dry sensitive skin by combining its essential fatty acids with your natural skin lipids to improve the outer barrier. This may enhance protective effects and keep your skin soft and smooth.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 1988Journal of Oleo Science, 2011
What does Black Soybean Oil do for dry sensitive skin?
Black soybean oil helps calm dry and sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier. This type of skin needs soothing ingredients like plant oils and antioxidants to keep it soft and comfortable.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly first step before cleansing. It is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin because it uses jojoba seed oil and shea butter to dissolve makeup while keeping the skin hydrated and calm.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 1988Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
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. It helps dissolve impurities while keeping your skin calm and hydrated, which is well-suited for a retinol routine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and during weekly care. Using a gentle oil-based formula helps lift impurities while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
Yes, this cleanser may cause breakouts for some people with dry sensitive skin, as reviewers occasionally report this issue. The rich oils and butter in the formula help smooth and hydrate dry areas, but their thick nature can sometimes lead to clogged pores.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 1988Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023A 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, 2025Multiple applications of blackcurrant seed oil successfully impregnated the stratum corneum of human dry skin, combining its essential and other fatty acids with endogenous lipids to potentially enhance protective effects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 1988Topical 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, 2024Clay 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 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, 2025Nanolipidgel formulations with argan or jojoba oil and humectants demonstrate good sensory attributes, instrumental properties, and moisturizing efficacy for cosmetic application.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014A 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, 2025
Ingredients
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Isopropyl Myristate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polysorbate 20, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil
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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