Medicube Red Cleansing Oil for acne-prone skin
Squalane
Jojoba Seed Oil
Oil Tree Leaf
Macadamia Seed Oil
Juglans Regia Seed Oil
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 benefits for your acne and blemishes due to Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract and Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, which gently exfoliate and clarify pores, while Squalane and Jojoba Seed Oil provide emollient action suitable for combination skin.
- The cleansing oil effectively removes makeup and impurities with Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, though the emollient ingredients may not provide optimal results across all areas of your combination skin.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your acne-prone skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Jojoba Seed Oil and Squalane.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away dirt and oil. Start 3x/week and work up to daily use if your combination skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before cleansing and using the rest of your skin products. This ensures all makeup and impurities are fully washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing the skin too harshly to prevent irritation.
- Apply the makeup remover on dry skin to easily dissolve makeup and clear out blemishes. There is no need to dampen your face beforehand.
- Do a patch test before first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid the delicate eye area while applying.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this cleansing oil is highly recommended for users with acne-prone and sensitive skin due to its gentle, non-comedogenic formula that effectively removes makeup without causing irritation. Many appreciate its lightweight, water-like texture. Some users find the consistency too runny and messy, and opinions vary on its ability to remove deep blackheads compared to heavier cleansing oils.
Highlights
Acne-safe, gentle Often Mentioned
- “Doesn't cause breakouts”
- “only oil that doesn't irritate”
- “safe for acne-prone”
- “calmed my skin”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Water-like consistency”
- “not heavy or greasy”
- “absorbs beautifully”
- “feels refreshing”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “Melts makeup instantly”
- “removes mascara well”
- “dissolves sunscreen easily”
- “cleanses effectively”
Non-stripping Sometimes Noted
- “No deep dryness”
- “skin feels hydrated”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “gentle finish”
Runny consistency Sometimes Noted
- “Drips down arms”
- “too watery”
- “messy application”
- “hard to control”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “Leaves oil film”
- “needs second cleanse”
- “doesn't rinse clean”
- “slightly oily finish”
Medicinal scent Rarely Noted
- “Strong tea tree smell”
- “smells like medicine”
- “scent is overpowering”
- “herbal odor”
Mild cleansing Rarely Noted
- “Didn't remove blackheads”
- “pores still clogged”
- “too mild for deep clean”
- “residue left behind”
Sources: lovi.care, gopicky.com, hwahae.co.kr, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medicube Red Cleansing Oil work for acne-prone skin?
Medicube Red Cleansing Oil works moderately well for acne-prone skin, clearing away makeup while offering gentle clarifying benefits and a safe, non-irritating feel. To fit acne-prone skin best, a makeup remover of this type needs targeted soothing plant extracts and nourishing oils that thoroughly cleanse without heavy emollients that might trigger breakouts.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract and Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf help clear pores, while Squalane and Jojoba Seed Oil keep your skin soft without causing irritation. Makeup removers that fit acne-prone skin best need ingredients that deeply calm blemishes and balance dry and oily areas without heavy oils that may trigger breakouts.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
What does Jojoba Seed Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Jojoba seed oil helps calm acne-prone skin and reduces breakouts over time. It may also help lower inflammation and clear up lesions.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and in your weekly routine as the first step. An acne-prone skin routine works best with gentle purifying plant extracts that clear pores, along with light moisturizing oils that keep the skin soft.
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 acne-prone skin often needs a lightweight, non-greasy formula with salicylic acid or gentle hydrators to fully clear pores without feeling heavy.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
How often should I use it?
Medicube Red Cleansing Oil may be used in your evening routine to remove makeup and impurities, starting once a week or a few times a week as tolerated. Acne-prone skin needs a makeup remover that gently clarifies pores with ingredients like tea tree oil while keeping the skin calm and smooth.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Medicube Red Cleansing Oil is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing agents like jojoba seed oil and squalane. However, it offers only an average fit for this skin type, meaning acne-prone skin generally needs lighter cleansers with stronger clarifying and pore-clearing ingredients to prevent clogged pores more effectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Lactobacillus-fermented Chamaecyparis obtusa reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 65.3% compared to 38.2% with tea tree oil in 34 patients over 8 weeks, demonstrating superior efficacy, faster onset, and safety.
Dermatology, 2014Clay 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 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, 2025Topical 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 herbal treatments including lemon balm, olive leaf extract, propolis, and sage-rhubarb cream reduce pain, swelling, lesion size, and healing time in patients with herpes labialis compared with placebo or acyclovir.
Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2025Topical oleuropein formulations reduced erythema, transepidermal water loss, and blood flow by approximately 22%, 35%, and 30% in healthy volunteers with UVB-induced erythema.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008An oil-in-serum formulation containing olive extract standardized in hydroxytyrosol improved skin barrier function and significantly reduced hyperpigmentation in participants with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after 45 days of application.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2026Enzymatically interesterified fats based on mutton tallow and walnut oil produced emulsions that resulted in greater skin moisturization compared to non-interesterified fat and received positive sensory evaluations from 83 respondents.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015Walnut oil significantly promoted wound healing and reduced healing time in rats with skin defect wounds compared to vaseline gauze, accompanied by decreased inflammation, increased capillary formation, lower NF-kB expression, and higher EGF, TGF-β1, and MMP-1 expression.
Die Pharmazie, 2018
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Poly C6-14 Olefin, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Polysorbate 20, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Squalane, Jojoba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Juglans Regia Seed Oil, Gaultheria Procumbens Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Oat Kernel 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
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