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Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil for combination skin

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil
  • Sclerocarya Birrea Oil
  • Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
  • Unrefined Sclerocarya Birrea Kernel Oil Sclerocarya Birrea Kernel Oil

Low

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A weak match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside 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 suitability for your combination skin due to the emollient action of Sclerocarya Birrea Kernel Oil and Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, which may not fully address the needs of both oily and dry areas.
  • While the oils provide excellent moisturizing and smoothing benefits, they are largely supportive and do not directly target your main goal of oily shine.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
  • Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 5.6k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this facial oil is widely praised for its ability to deeply hydrate and soothe dry, sensitive skin without feeling overly heavy, often leaving a noticeable glow. A significant portion of users find it difficult to justify the high price tag for a single-ingredient product, noting that much cheaper alternatives offer nearly identical results.

Highlights

  • Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin felt hydrated and soft”
    • “dry patches disappear”
    • “instantly moisturized”
  • Extremely expensive Mostly Mentioned
    • “not worth the price tag”
    • “costs a pretty penny”
    • “way too expensive”
  • Absorbs quickly Often Mentioned
    • “sinks in within a few minutes”
    • “doesn't leave an oily film”
    • “absorbs almost instantly”
  • Cheaper alternatives exist Often Mentioned
    • “The Ordinary is a dupe”
    • “sticking with rosehip oil”
    • “basic for the price”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't break me out or irritate”
    • “calming and restorative”
  • Imparts a glow Sometimes Noted
    • “youthful glow”
    • “skin looks radiant”
    • “dewy look”
  • High-quality packaging Rarely Noted
    • “packaging is brilliant”
    • “airtight bottle”
    • “love the dropper”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “broke me out”
    • “caused clogged pores”
    • “cystic acne flare-up”
  • Pipette issues Rarely Noted
    • “hard to get last drops”
    • “dropper is messy”
    • “leaked in bag”
  • Sits on skin Rarely Noted
    • “sat on top of skin”
    • “felt too heavy”
    • “looked greasy”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, drunkelephant.com, spacenk.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Facial Oil a weak match for combination skin?

This oil is a weak match for your combination skin because it provides moderate suitability by leaving dry and oily areas unaddressed. It offers moisturizing and smoothing benefits, but a product for this skin needs brightening ingredients to reduce oily shine and soothing agents to handle diverse skin needs.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

Which ingredients make this treatment a poor fit for combination skin?

Sclerocarya Birrea Kernel Oil and Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil make this treatment a weak match because their rich, smoothing action is largely supportive and may not address the needs of both oily and dry areas or reduce oily shine. Combination skin needs a product containing effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients, soothing agents, antioxidants, and multiple peptides that reduce oily shine while providing balanced hydration without irritation.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

What does Marula Oil do for combination skin?

Marula oil is unlikely to be a good fit for combination skin because it tends to trap moisture on normal skin and heavy oils may cause issues on areas prone to breakouts. A product for this skin type needs a lighter feel with ingredients that balance oil and hydrate dry spots without clogging pores.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2022

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

This treatment goes in the evening routine, as a moisturizer after your cleansing toner. Because this product is a weak match for combination skin, a product of this type needs balancing ingredients that control oily shine while keeping dry areas soft.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying it after your retinol to help lock in moisture and keep your skin soft and smooth. This type of product works best for combination skin when it also includes ingredients that balance oily shine.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

How often should I use this treatment?

This oil is a weak match for combination skin because it may not fully address oily shine while moisturizing, so a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and balancing ingredients to care for both dry and oily areas. When you do use it, daily application is unlikely to irritate and helps smooth lipid-dry skin.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

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

This oil is unlikely to clog pores for combination skin, though reviewers occasionally report breakouts. A product of this type needs lighter ingredients that balance oily shine while still keeping dry areas soft and smooth.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

This oil is unlikely to harm the thin skin around the eyes or on the body, as its oils are generally well tolerated. However, a product for this skin needs ingredients that directly address specific concerns like dry patches or oily shine without feeling too heavy.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015

Ingredients

Unrefined Sclerocarya Birrea Kernel Oil Sclerocarya Birrea Kernel Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed 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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.