Simple Micellar Water for oily skin
Niacinamide
Ascorbic Acid
Triple-Purified WaterAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other products 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 niacinamide helps with seboregulation and glycerin provides humectant action, though it may not deliver optimal results in all areas.
- The cleansing action is excellent due to hexylene glycol and glycerin, which effectively remove impurities and makeup, supporting general skincare benefits like hydration.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your micellar water for both AM and PM routines. Start using it daily since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply the micellar water after cleansing and before toner. Follow up with your regular moisturizer or SPF.
- Pour a small amount onto a cotton pad and gently wipe it across your face. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your skin.
- Apply the micellar water on dry skin to easily remove excess oil and shine. Clean skin helps the product work better.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a quick patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is widely praised as a gentle, non-irritating staple for individuals with sensitive or acne-prone skin, effectively removing light makeup and daily grime without stripping moisture. Users frequently note that it struggles to remove heavy, waterproof cosmetics, often requiring multiple applications or a separate oil-based remover.
Highlights
Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red.”
- “Perfect for my reactive, allergy-prone skin.”
- “Zero irritation even when used on eyelids.”
Fragrance-free formula Often Mentioned
- “Love that it has absolutely no scent.”
- “Great to find a product without heavy perfumes.”
- “Smells like nothing, which is exactly what I want.”
- “No chemical smell to trigger my migraines.”
Non-drying / Hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight.”
- “Skin feels balanced and hydrated after use.”
- “Doesn't strip my skin like tap water does.”
- “No dry patches after using this morning and night.”
Struggles with waterproof makeup Often Mentioned
- “Won't budge my waterproof mascara.”
- “Takes a lot of scrubbing to get eyeliner off.”
- “Useless against long-wear foundation.”
- “Leaves raccoon eyes unless I use a separate remover.”
Affordable price point Sometimes Noted
- “Can't beat the price for the quality.”
- “Great value compared to Bioderma.”
- “Cheap enough to use generously every day.”
- “A budget-friendly staple in my routine.”
No sticky residue Sometimes Noted
- “Feels just like water, leaves no film.”
- “I don't even feel the need to rinse it off.”
- “Dries down clean without that tacky feeling.”
- “Leaves skin feeling fresh and breathable.”
High product consumption Sometimes Noted
- “I have to use 4-5 cotton pads to get clean.”
- “Bottle runs out fast because you need so much.”
- “Takes several rounds to remove a full face.”
- “I go through a bottle much faster than other brands.”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead.”
- “Broke me out in cystic acne after a week.”
- “Clogged my pores despite claiming not to.”
- “My skin reacted poorly and got spotty.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “The cap broke off immediately.”
- “Leaks if you don't store it perfectly upright.”
- “Hard to control how much liquid comes out.”
- “Lid is flimsy and snaps easily.”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, boots.com, superdrug.com, iherb.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Simple Water Boost Micellar Water work for oily skin?
Simple Micellar Water works moderately well for oily skin, as niacinamide helps manage oil and glycerin keeps skin hydrated without irritation. An oily skin type needs a lightweight cleanser that targets excess oil and impurities while maintaining a clear, balanced complexion without heavy or clogging ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil, while glycerin adds light moisture without clogging pores. A cleanser for oily skin needs ingredients that control shine and clear impurities effectively.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This micellar water is used in the evening routine as a makeup remover before cleansing, or as a weekly makeup remover step. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin due to the lack of harsh ingredients, though oily skin often needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to help balance oil and keep skin hydrated.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this micellar water with retinol, applying it first to remove makeup and impurities before following with your retinol treatment. This product is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, though an option with stronger oil-balancing and pore-clearing ingredients may fit your skin even better.
How often should I use it?
Simple Micellar Water works well for your oily skin when used as a makeup remover in your evening routine and weekly steps. This product offers moderate suitability because it helps control excess oil and draws in moisture, though an oily skin type also needs targeted oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight hydrators to get the best results.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Simple Micellar Water is unlikely to cause breakouts for your oily skin, as it has a good safety profile with no harsh or prohibited ingredients that typically trigger irritation. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide to help control oil along with gentle cleansing agents.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A hydrogen water mask pack increased skin density by 18.41% compared to 9.93% for a commercial sample in participants after 4 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020Topical application of magnetized saline water serum improved skin hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, sebum content, melanin index, and erythema index, and activated autophagy by increasing Beclin-1 and decreasing mTOR in females wanting to enhance facial and neck skin appearance.
Cureus, 2023Reconstruction of human skin equivalents under reduced relative humidity of 40% increased pyrrolidone carboxylic acid levels to match native tissue, but stratum corneum hydration levels remained lower unless water was topically applied.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008
Ingredients
Water, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.