Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for oily acne-prone skin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Tocopherol
Caution
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for oily acne-prone skin; the pre-cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 for your oily skin, as ethylhexyl palmitate and carthamus tinctorius seed oil help dissolve makeup, but these ingredients also carry a moderate risk of worsening your acne and oiliness due to their comedogenic potential.
- The formula provides general cleansing benefits suitable for oily skin, though it lacks significant seboregulating ingredients to actively manage oil production.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away impurities. Start by using it 3×/week before working up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow it with your usual cleansing steps to ensure all residue is thoroughly washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using soft cotton pads. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent irritating your blemishes and active breakouts.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to effectively break down excess oil and makeup. Clean away thoroughly before moving on to the next skincare steps .
- Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 9.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleansing balm is highly effective at removing all types of makeup and sunscreen, leaving skin feeling soft and nourished. It is frequently praised for its gentle, fragrance-free formula, making it suitable for sensitive and dry skin types. Some users report temporary blurry vision after use, and a moderate number find the price point high. A small number of users experienced breakouts or disliked the packaging and scent.
Highlights
Melts makeup Mostly Mentioned
- “Melts waterproof mascara”
- “Dissolves long-wear foundation”
- “Removes glitter easily”
- “Breaks down sunscreen”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “No strong scent”
- “Good for sensitive noses”
- “No perfume irritation”
- “Clean ingredient list”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “No stinging eyes”
- “Safe for sensitive skin”
- “Doesn't irritate contacts”
Non-drying finish Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Face feels nourished”
- “No tight feeling”
- “Hydrating for dry patches”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “Silky balm-to-oil”
- “Spreads easily”
- “Little goes a long way”
- “Satisfying melt”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive for cleanser”
- “Pricey for the amount”
- “Not budget-friendly”
- “Costly daily staple”
Temporary blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “Blurry vision after use”
- “Cloudy film on eyes”
- “Oily film on contacts”
- “Foggy sight for minutes”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused cystic acne”
- “Clogged my pores”
- “Triggered breakouts”
- “Too heavy for oily skin”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “Unhygienic tub”
- “Hate dipping fingers”
- “Hard to open lid”
- “Messy to scoop”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like old oil”
- “Scent like plastic/wax”
- “Smells like dirty socks”
- “Odd chemical smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, clinique.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Clinique Take The Day Off for oily acne-prone skin?
Lovi advises caution because ethylhexyl palmitate and carthamus tinctorius seed oil carry a moderate risk of worsening your acne and oiliness. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-clogging cleansers with ingredients that control excess oil and clear breakouts without heavy oils or butters.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Ethylhexyl palmitate and carthamus tinctorius seed oil make this cleanser a poor fit because they carry a moderate risk of worsening your acne and oiliness. Oily acne-prone skin needs a makeup remover that poses no risk of clogging pores, effectively addresses hydration without breakouts, and contains soothing ingredients like aloe or chamomile or oil-controlling agents.
What does Ethylhexyl Palmitate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is an isopropyl ester that may clog pores and is likely to trigger breakouts on oily, acne-prone skin. Because of this risk, products for this skin type need non-clogging ingredients that keep pores clear without causing irritation.
What does Safflower Seed Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Safflower seed oil is a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin because it lacks the specific protective benefits and specialized ingredients needed to keep pores clear and calm breakouts.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly first step before your cleanser, enzyme powder, and cleansing mask. Because it carries a moderate risk of worsening your acne and oiliness, oily acne-prone skin needs a makeup remover with lighter oils and pore-clearing ingredients instead.
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 your retinol treatment. Oily and acne-prone skin of this type needs lightweight cleansers with oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid to help manage breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This makeup remover is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin because its ingredients carry a moderate risk of worsening your acne and oiliness. A makeup remover for this skin needs oil-balancing and blemish-clearing ingredients to actively manage oil production and keep breakouts away.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Ethylhexyl palmitate and carthamus tinctorius seed oil help dissolve makeup, but they also carry a moderate risk of worsening your acne and oiliness due to their comedogenic potential. A product of this type needs non-comedogenic oils and seboregulating ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to manage breakouts and oil production on this skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Safflower oil body-human epidermal growth factor microgel emulsions mixed with xanthan gum enhance transdermal absorption, regulate inflammation, accelerate angiogenesis, and promote re-epithelialization and remodeling in full-layer skin wounds in rats.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022Topical 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, 2023Topical 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
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol
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
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