🇩🇪Germany

Votary Cleansing Oil - Rose Geranium & Apricot for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Votary Cleansing Oil - Rose Geranium & Apricot

Average

  • 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 makeup removal and cleansing benefits for your combination skin, as sunflower seed oil and apricot kernel oil help dissolve impurities while providing emollient action.
  • While these oils offer supportive hydration, they may not provide sufficient seboregulation for your oily shine.
  • The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing apricot kernel oil and chamomile oil.

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

★4.8Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

Users frequently describe this cleanser as a luxurious, spa-like experience that effectively removes makeup and grime without stripping the skin. It is highly praised for leaving dry, dull, or sensitive skin feeling plump, hydrated, and soft, with many users noting the calming benefits of the hot cloth method.

Highlights

  • Hydrating and soft Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels clean and fresh without any tightness”
    • “leaves my skin glowing and hydrated”
    • “nourished feeling”
    • “my dry skin feels so good”
  • Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
    • “whisks away every trace of the day”
    • “takes everything off in one cleanse”
    • “lifts off even the most stubborn mascara”
    • “melted away the day”
  • Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
    • “smells incredible”
    • “treat for the senses”
    • “heavenly cleanser”
    • “light herbal scent helps ease tension”
  • Calming ritual Sometimes Noted
    • “moment of calm”
    • “enjoyable and relaxing experience”
    • “spa-like cleansing”
    • “beauty ritual”
  • Nice texture Sometimes Noted
    • “beautifully light”
    • “lovely easy slip”
    • “silky texture”
    • “sinks effortlessly into complexion”
  • Expensive product Sometimes Noted
    • “luxurious price tag”
    • “investment purchase”
    • “ain't cheap”
    • “purchase it as a treat when I can afford it”
  • Cloth maintenance Rarely Noted
    • “need to wash cloths frequently”
    • “using a cloth twice a day is too much”
    • “prefer rinse-off cleansers”
  • Glass packaging Rarely Noted
    • “heavy glass bottle”
    • “worried about dropping it”
    • “not travel friendly”
  • Scent not preferred Rarely Noted
    • “not crazy about the smell”
    • “slightly earthy smell”
    • “scent is not for everyone”

Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, votary.co.uk, thegroomingclinic.com, amazingy.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Votary Rose Geranium & Apricot Cleansing Oil work for combination skin?

This cleansing oil works moderately well for combination skin by dissolving makeup and impurities while keeping the skin soft and calm, but it may not control oily shine well enough. A makeup remover for this skin needs soothing, nourishing ingredients that hydrate dry areas while managing oil without causing irritation.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?

Sunflower seed oil and apricot kernel oil make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin by dissolving impurities while keeping the skin soft and hydrated. Because this product is only an average fit, a makeup remover for this skin needs soothing plant oils and hydrating ingredients that manage oily shine without leaving heavy oils behind.

What does Geranium do for combination skin?

Geranium essential oil helps protect combination skin from daily damage with its antioxidant activity and supports overall skin health. For this skin type, a product of this type needs a balanced formula that hydrates dry areas while keeping oily zones feeling fresh and smooth.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023

What does Apricot Kernel Oil do for combination skin?

Apricot Kernel Oil helps nourish dry areas while keeping oily spots balanced, leaving your skin soft and smooth. Plant oils like this one are unlikely to cause irritation and aid in skin barrier repair, making them great for mixed skin types.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017International Journal of Toxicology, 2007

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This makeup remover goes in your evening routine as the first step before your cleanser. Combination skin of this type needs a product that balances oil control with hydration while effectively dissolving impurities.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser, but combination skin also needs ingredients that help balance oil to properly manage shine.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your nighttime routine to dissolve impurities and makeup. While it is safe and gentle for your combination skin, it may not provide enough oil control for your shine, so combination skin of this type needs balancing ingredients that help regulate oil production.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on your combination skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing chamomile and apricot kernel oils. However, since it lacks oil-controlling benefits, combination skin dealing with breakouts or oily shine needs a formula that balances oil production and keeps pores clear.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, citronellol, geraniol, and linalool).

What the research says

  • Topical treatment with Geranium thunbergii extract lotion improved skin elasticity and reduced skin wrinkling scores compared to placebo in healthy Japanese women by inhibiting HYBID-mediated hyaluronan degradation and down-regulating HYBID expression.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Geranium and Calendula essential oil-loaded ethanolic lipid vesicular creams exhibited notable antioxidant capacity, sun protection factor values of 10.26 and 18.54, and collagenase and elastase inhibition capacity compared to nonvesicular creams.

    BioMed Research International, 2021

  • Clay 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, 2012

  • Topical 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, 2024

  • Topical 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, 2025

  • Daily 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, 2010

  • The 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

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower Geranium Oil Flower, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

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