Dermalogica Precleanse for oily acne-prone skin
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Tocopherol
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this formula effectively dissolves makeup and impurities with caprylic capric triglyceride and apricot kernel oil, which are beneficial for managing oiliness and breakouts. Helianthus annuus seed oil further supports sebum balance without clogging pores, making it a good choice for your skin type.
- The cleansing oils in this product offer general cleansing benefits that support your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- This product has a favorable safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 5.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users widely praise this oil cleanser as an effective first step in a double-cleansing routine, noting its ability to melt away waterproof makeup and excess sebum without stripping the skin. It is generally celebrated for leaving skin soft and clean, though some users with sensitive skin or eyes report irritation due to the strong essential oil fragrance.
Highlights
Dissolves makeup Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes stubborn mascara”
- “Melts foundation”
- “Breaks down sunscreen”
- “Clears heavy stage makeup”
Leaves skin soft Often Mentioned
- “Non-stripping finish”
- “Feels hydrated”
- “Silky texture”
- “No tight feeling”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Expensive for cleanser”
- “Pricey investment”
- “Not budget-friendly”
- “Luxury cost”
Effective for oily Sometimes Noted
- “Clears sebaceous filaments”
- “Removes excess oil”
- “Balances sebum”
- “Deep cleans pores”
Spa-like experience Sometimes Noted
- “Relaxing herbal scent”
- “Luxurious feel”
- “Professional quality”
- “Enjoyable ritual”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Stings eyes”
- “Blurs vision”
- “Sensitive to oils”
- “Burns if gets in eyes”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “Leaky pump”
- “Messy bottle”
- “Travel difficulties”
- “Dispenses too much”
Little goes long Rarely Noted
- “Lasts for months”
- “One pump sufficient”
- “Spreads easily”
- “Cost-effective over time”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Cystic acne flare-ups”
- “Clogged pores”
- “Allergic reaction”
- “Small bumps”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Overpowering scent”
- “Essential oils irritating”
- “Smells like citronella/lavender”
- “Too perfumed”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.sg, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dermalogica Precleanse a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Dermalogica Precleanse is a great fit because it effectively dissolves makeup and impurities with caprylic capric triglyceride and apricot kernel oil, which help manage oiliness and breakouts. Sunflower seed oil further supports sebum balance without clogging your pores, while the formula remains gentle and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Caprylic capric triglyceride and apricot kernel oil make this cleanser a great fit because they effectively dissolve makeup while helping manage oiliness and breakouts. Sunflower seed oil also supports sebum balance without clogging pores, keeping your skin calm.
What does Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride do for oily acne-prone skin?
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride helps keep skin hydrated and prevents moisture loss without leaving a heavy feel. For oily acne-prone skin, this type of ingredient works best when it is lightweight, non-greasy, and paired with balancing or clarifying ingredients that do not clog pores.
What does Apricot Kernel Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Apricot kernel oil may feel too heavy and clog pores on oily acne-prone skin, which is prone to breakouts. Oily and acne-prone skin types need lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that help control shine and soothe irritation without blocking pores.
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, and also before your cleanser in the weekly routine. It is a great fit because it helps dissolve makeup and impurities using caprylic capric triglyceride and apricot kernel oil, and sunflower seed oil helps balance oil without clogging pores.
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 it is safe to use alongside retinol. It has a great safety profile for your skin type, with no harsh ingredients that would clash with your treatment.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This makeup remover is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin and is used in the evening routine. It effectively dissolves makeup and impurities with caprylic capric triglyceride and apricot kernel oil, and sunflower seed oil helps support oil balance without clogging pores.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as caprylic capric triglyceride, apricot kernel oil, and sunflower seed oil help balance oil without blocking pores. It has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citral, limonene, and linalool).
What the research says
Topical 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, 2023Limonene protects immortalized human skin keratinocytes against UVB-induced photodamage and photoaging by increasing cell viability, inhibiting intracellular ROS generation, suppressing alpha-MSH secretion, and preventing depletion of tight junction proteins through activation of the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant defense system.
Environmental Toxicology, 2022Topical application of Foeniculum vulgare compounds fenchone and limonene increased wound contraction and re-epithelialization in rats compared to untreated and sham control groups over 10 days.
Biotechnic & Histochemistry, 2017Cold pressed terpeneless Valencia orange oil completely inhibited Campylobacter jejuni and reduced cells attached to chicken skin by 1.5 to 2 logarithms compared to control, while showing variable inhibition against Campylobacter coli and Arcobacter spp.
International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2009Topical 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
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Peg-40 Sorbitan Peroleate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Solanum Lycopersicum Extract Tomato Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Citral, Limonene, 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.
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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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