MAC Cleanse Off Oil for oily skin
Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit
Squalane
Jojoba Seed Oil
Tocopherol
Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil FlowerAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin as emollients like Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Squalane provide cleansing without over-drying, though they may not offer sufficient oil control for managing oily shine.
- The formula effectively dissolves makeup and impurities, with ingredients like olive oil and jojoba oil providing general cleansing and hydration benefits.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing components such as Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower and Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, minimizing irritation risks.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3×/week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. It prepares your skin by melting away excess oil and makeup.
- Gently press a small amount onto your dry skin using your fingertips. Massage softly and avoid harsh rubbing to protect your pores.
- Apply this product on dry skin to effectively break down heavy makeup and surface oil. Massage it gently before washing it off with water.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThis cleansing oil is highly effective at removing stubborn waterproof makeup, leaving skin feeling moisturized and balanced, which is particularly appreciated by those with sensitive and oily skin. A notable concern is that the product has reportedly been discontinued, and some users have experienced temporary blurry vision after use.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes every single trace of eye makeup”
- “melts away makeup without harsh scrubbing”
- “cuts through waterproof mascara”
Non-drying and gentle Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft and fresh”
- “doesn't strip my face of moisture”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
Rinses clean Often Mentioned
- “Rinses clean with no greasy feel”
- “leaves no residue”
- “emulsifies well with water”
Temporary blurry vision Often Mentioned
- “Makes my eyes all foggy”
- “clouded up my eyes”
- “vision blurry for a couple of minutes”
Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
- “Bottle lasts forever”
- “a little goes a long way”
- “lasts me for 10-11 months”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “On the expensive side”
- “price is a bit wicked”
- “steep price for a cleanser”
Product discontinued Sometimes Noted
- “Discontinued a while back”
- “currently unavailable”
- “Hyper Real replacement is awful”
Occasional breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Made me breakout”
- “caused whiteheads”
- “ingredients are disappointing for my skin”
Sources: lovi.care, cozycot.com, macys.com, temptalia.com, nordstrom.com, hwahae.co.kr, and more
Questions and answers
How well does MAC Cleanse Off Oil work for oily skin?
MAC Cleanse Off Oil works moderately well for oily skin because emollients like Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Squalane provide cleansing without over-drying, though it may not offer sufficient oil control for managing oily shine. The formula effectively dissolves makeup and impurities while containing soothing components like Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower and Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil that minimize irritation risks. A makeup remover for oily skin needs oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight formulas that manage shine without heavy oils or clogged pores.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and squalane make this cleanser a good fit because they clean without over-drying, while chamomile and lavender oils help keep irritation low. However, because it contains rich oils, an oily skin type needs lightweight or oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.
What does Olive Oil do for oily skin?
Olive oil is generally a poor fit for oily skin because its higher oleic acid content may disrupt the skin barrier, which can clog pores and worsen breakouts. A product of this type needs lighter ingredients with a higher linoleic acid ratio to balance oil and help repair the skin.
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and as the first step of your weekly routine. It gently dissolves makeup and impurities without over-drying, but oily skin also needs ingredients that help control excess shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your regular cleanser, followed by your retinol treatment and moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation since it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like chamomile and lavender oils. Oily skin also needs ingredients that provide better oil control.
How often should I use it?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your nighttime routine to dissolve makeup and impurities without over-drying your skin. It is safe for oily skin and helps minimize irritation risks, though an oily skin type needs ingredients that also provide better oil control.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe profile and lacks harsh ingredients, though occasional breakouts may still happen. Oily skin needs a cleanser with strong oil control ingredients to help manage daily shine.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
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, 2024Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Regular use of a mild bisabolol-containing shampoo significantly reduced scabbing and erythema and demonstrated excellent skin compatibility in patients after hair transplantation compared to baseline.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Squalane 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, 2025Clay 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 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 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, 2024Daily 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, 2010The 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
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Squalane, Jojoba Seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Rice Germ Oil, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil Flower, Citrus Aurantium Amara Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Water, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit Rose Oil Fruit, Limonene
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
How does it fit your skin?
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