🇮🇪Ireland

REN Clean Skincare Rosa Centifolia No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm for oily skin

Average

  • 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 oily skin as Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil and Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter provide emollient action, though they may not offer sufficient seboregulation for your oily shine concerns.
  • The cleansing balm effectively dissolves makeup and impurities due to the presence of Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, but lacks targeted ingredients for oil control.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract and Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Based on limited data, this rose-infused cleansing balm is highly rated for its luxurious texture that effectively melts away makeup and impurities. It is particularly beneficial for dry or sensitive skin due to its hydrating and soothing properties. Some users find the strong floral scent polarizing and the tube packaging inconvenient.

Highlights

  • Effective cleansing Mostly Mentioned
    • “Removes all my makeup, even waterproof mascara.”
    • “Cleanses thoroughly without stripping.”
    • “Melts away impurities effectively.”
  • Luxurious texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “The texture is amazing, it melts beautifully.”
    • “Feels so luxurious on the skin.”
    • “Leaves my skin feeling soft and pampered.”
  • Difficult packaging Often Mentioned
    • “The balm is so thick it's hard to get out of the tube.”
    • “I wish it came in a jar, the tube is inconvenient.”
    • “Squeezing the product out is a struggle.”
  • Hydrating and soothing Sometimes Noted
    • “Perfect for my dry and sensitive skin.”
    • “Doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry.”
    • “Very hydrating and soothing.”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Love the authentic rose scent, it's so relaxing.”
    • “Smells like a real rose garden.”
    • “The fragrance is spa-like.”
  • Polarizing scent Sometimes Noted
    • “The rose scent is very strong, almost old-fashioned.”
    • “I found the fragrance to be overpowering and a bit irritating.”
    • “Not a fan of the strong floral smell.”
  • Gentle ingredients Rarely Noted
    • “Contains nice natural oils.”
    • “Comes with a good quality muslin cloth.”
  • Eye irritation Rarely Noted
    • “It stung my eyes when I tried to remove mascara.”
    • “My eyes became cloudy after using it.”
    • “Not suitable for eye makeup removal.”
  • Heavy residue Rarely Noted
    • “Left a greasy film on my skin.”
    • “Felt a bit heavy if I didn't rinse well.”
    • “Had to use the cloth to remove all residue.”
  • High price Rarely Noted
    • “It's quite expensive for the amount you get.”
    • “A bit pricey for a cleanser.”
    • “Wish it was more affordable.”

Sources: lovi.care, cultbeauty.co.uk, lyko.com, spacenk.com, mywomenstuff.com, makeup4all.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does REN Rosa Centifolia No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm work for oily skin?

This cleansing balm works reasonably well for oily skin to dissolve makeup and impurities, though it lacks oil-controlling ingredients for shiny areas. It is safe and soothing with no irritation risks, but an oily skin type needs oil-absorbing and balancing ingredients to manage excess shine properly.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?

This cleansing balm is an average fit for oily skin because it lacks oil-controlling ingredients and uses rich oils and butters like almond oil and shea butter. A cleanser for oily skin needs targeted oil control and lighter ingredients that balance shine without feeling heavy.

What does Sweet Almond Oil do for oily skin?

Sweet Almond Oil is a weak fit for oily skin because it is heavy and may clog pores. Oily skin needs lightweight ingredients that help control oil production and keep pores clear.

What does Butyrospermum Parkii Butter do for oily skin?

Butyrospermum parkii butter is a rich ingredient that may feel too heavy for oily skin and can sometimes clog pores. For oily skin, a moisturizer needs lighter ingredients that hydrate without feeling greasy or heavy.

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and as part of your weekly routine. It effectively melts away makeup and impurities, but oily skin needs targeted oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine best.

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 because it has no harsh ingredients. To best care for oily skin, a product of this type needs oil-balancing and shine-controlling ingredients.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine to effectively dissolve makeup and impurities on oily skin. Because it lacks oil control ingredients, oily skin types also need targeted ingredients to manage shine.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cleansing balm is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but because it contains richer oils and shea butter, it may not help control your oily shine well. Oily skin often needs cleansers with targeted oil-controlling and pore-clearing ingredients to stay fresh.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, benzyl alcohol, citronellol, geraniol, eugenol, 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, 2023
  • Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.

    Molecules, 2020
  • A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.

    Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
  • A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
  • Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.

    BioFactors, 2023
  • Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.

    Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020
  • Damask rose stem-cell-derived exosome therapy improved scar appearance, skin elasticity, hydration, and tissue quality across four patients with diverse dermatological conditions compared to pretreatment status.

    Pharmaceutics, 2025
  • Topical application of geraniol significantly inhibited TPA-induced lipid peroxidation, inflammatory responses, and proinflammatory cytokine release while upregulating reduced glutathione content and antioxidant enzyme activities in mouse skin, alongside inhibiting altered activities of p38MAPK, NF-κB, and COX-2.

    Experimental and Molecular Pathology, 2013
  • Cymbopogon martini essential oil and its topical formulations exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.65 to 10 Εg/ml and showed no skin sensitization in guinea pigs.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018
  • Pre-treatment with p-menthadienols-rich essential oil of Cymbopogon martini (CMA-01) inhibited pro-inflammatory markers in activated HaCat cells and reduced ear edema, pro-inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress markers, and histological changes in TPA-induced skin inflammation in mouse ears.

    Inflammopharmacology, 2022
  • The 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

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Glyceryl Cocoate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl Behenate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Parfum, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Viola Odorata Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower, Lecithin, Benzyl Alcohol, Oryzanol, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Eugenol, 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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