MAC Cleanse Off Oil for combination skin
Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit
Squalane
Jojoba Seed Oil
Tocopherol
Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil FlowerAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 ingredients like Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Olea Europaea Oil Fruit effectively dissolve makeup, but the presence of oils such as Squalane may not sufficiently address your oily shine concerns.
- The formula provides general cleansing and hydration benefits, with soothing ingredients like Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower and Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil contributing to a gentle experience.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of calming botanical extracts.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away excess oil.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser to effectively break down heavy makeup and dirt.
- Gently wipe the makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Use the makeup remover on completely dry skin to help dissolve surface oils and impurities best.
- Avoid direct contact with the eyes while using this makeup remover.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThis cleansing oil is highly effective at removing stubborn waterproof makeup, leaving skin feeling moisturized and balanced, which is particularly appreciated by those with sensitive and oily skin. A notable concern is that the product has reportedly been discontinued, and some users have experienced temporary blurry vision after use.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes every single trace of eye makeup”
- “melts away makeup without harsh scrubbing”
- “cuts through waterproof mascara”
Non-drying and gentle Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft and fresh”
- “doesn't strip my face of moisture”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
Rinses clean Often Mentioned
- “Rinses clean with no greasy feel”
- “leaves no residue”
- “emulsifies well with water”
Temporary blurry vision Often Mentioned
- “Makes my eyes all foggy”
- “clouded up my eyes”
- “vision blurry for a couple of minutes”
Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
- “Bottle lasts forever”
- “a little goes a long way”
- “lasts me for 10-11 months”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “On the expensive side”
- “price is a bit wicked”
- “steep price for a cleanser”
Product discontinued Sometimes Noted
- “Discontinued a while back”
- “currently unavailable”
- “Hyper Real replacement is awful”
Occasional breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Made me breakout”
- “caused whiteheads”
- “ingredients are disappointing for my skin”
Sources: lovi.care, cozycot.com, macys.com, temptalia.com, nordstrom.com, hwahae.co.kr, and more
Questions and answers
How well does MAC Cleanse Off Oil work for combination skin?
MAC Cleanse Off Oil works moderately well for combination skin because while it easily melts away makeup and feels gentle, its oils may not help with oily shine. To work best for this skin type, a makeup remover needs soothing and hydrating ingredients that control shine in oily areas while keeping dry spots soft and smooth.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and olive fruit oil help dissolve makeup effectively, while soothing ingredients like chamomile and lavender oils give you a gentle cleansing experience. To work best for combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients that balance oily shine while providing light hydration.
What does Olive Oil do for combination skin?
Olive oil may not be a good fit for combination skin because it can weaken the outer skin barrier and cause mild redness. A product for this skin type needs soothing, barrier-repairing ingredients like sunflower seed oil that improve hydration without disrupting the skin.
What does Squalane do for combination skin?
Squalane helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. It supports the skin barrier and provides lightweight hydration that works well for both dry and oily areas.
Skin Health and Disease, 2024Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser as the first step of your nighttime routine. It works for combination skin, though this skin type needs lighter ingredients that help control oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser and retinol. A product of this type for combination skin needs ingredients that dissolve makeup while helping control oily shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your routine to take off makeup before cleansing. Because it has oils like squalane that may not help with oily shine, combination skin needs a makeup remover that also controls excess oil while clearing away makeup.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your skin, but reviewers mention occasional breakouts because its rich oils may not help with oily shine. Combination skin needs lighter, oil-free hydrators and balancing ingredients that clear pores without adding extra weight.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Regular use of a mild bisabolol-containing shampoo significantly reduced scabbing and erythema and demonstrated excellent skin compatibility in patients after hair transplantation compared to baseline.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical 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, 2024Squalane 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, 2025Clay 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, 2014Topical 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, 2024Daily application of 3% German chamomile oil for 4 weeks significantly reduced serum IgE levels, serum histamine levels, and scratching frequency in DNCB-sensitized mice compared with control groups.
Journal of Veterinary Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Ingredients
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Squalane, Jojoba Seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Rice Germ Oil, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil Flower, Citrus Aurantium Amara Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Water, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit Rose Oil Fruit, Limonene
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.