Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil for acne-prone skin
Squalane
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Tocopherol
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- 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 suitability for your combination skin as squalane and evening primrose oil provide emollient action, though they may not be sufficient for optimal results across all areas of your skin.
- The formula effectively removes makeup and impurities with ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride, offering general hydration and cleansing benefits.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like lavender oil and evening primrose oil.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis lightweight cleansing oil is widely praised for its ability to emulsify into a milk that effectively dissolves stubborn makeup without stripping the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated. While most users with dry or combination skin enjoy the spa-like lavender scent and non-greasy finish, a minority experience eye irritation (blurriness) or breakouts.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “dissolves stubborn mascara”
- “removes all traces of foundation”
- “melts away dirt and makeup”
- “takes off waterproof makeup easily”
Hydrating & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and replenished”
- “doesn't over-dry my face”
- “skin feels hydrated after rinsing”
- “no tight feeling”
Pleasant sensory experience Often Mentioned
- “smells like a spa”
- “relaxing lavender scent”
- “soothing aroma for bedtime”
- “smells divine”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight oil texture”
- “emulsifies to a gentle milk”
- “rinses clean without residue”
- “not heavy or greasy”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “blurs my vision for minutes”
- “stings my eyes”
- “cloudy vision after use”
- “irritates sensitive eyes”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “a bit pricey”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “pricey splurge”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Scent dislike Rarely Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “smells rancid to me”
- “weird botanical odor”
- “overpowering lavender”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused tiny bumps”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, boots.com, lookfantastic.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil work for acne-prone skin?
This cleansing oil works moderately well for acne-prone skin, as it removes makeup and impurities while keeping your skin calm and soft. However, a product of this type needs nourishing oils and extracts that soothe blemishes and support both oily and dry areas without clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Squalane and evening primrose oil help make this cleanser a fit for acne-prone skin by providing soothing and softening benefits. Because this oil-based cleanser is an average fit, products of this type for acne-prone skin need nourishing plant oils and extracts that soothe blemishes and cleanse effectively without the heavy oils that may trigger breakouts.
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 Evening Primrose Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Evening primrose oil is unlikely to cure acne on its own, but it may help calm dryness and irritation when you are using strong drying treatments. It helps support skin barrier function and moisture retention in dry skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also in your weekly routine before cleansing. For acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs soothing oils and light hydrators to lift makeup while keeping skin calm.
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 and your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin, though this skin type needs lighter, oil-free hydrators and gentle blemish-fighting ingredients for the best results.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This makeup remover works for your acne-prone skin as part of your evening routine to clear away makeup and impurities before cleansing. Because it provides an average fit, acne-prone skin needs a makeup remover that balances gentle oil-clearing ingredients with lightweight hydrators like squalane and evening primrose oil to keep pores clear and calm.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because its ingredients may not be sufficient for optimal results across all areas of your skin. A product of this type needs non-clogging soothing ingredients and gentle cleansers that clear makeup without heavy oils.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, citronellol, geraniol, and limonene).
What the research says
Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Topical 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, 2023Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022Squalane 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, 2025A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019Topical application of 10% evening primrose oil (EPO) and Lioxasol creams resulted in increased cell proliferative activity in the skin of female pigs compared to untreated skin, with EPO producing a more pronounced increase in basal layer labelling index and Lioxasol causing a more immediate increase in papillary dermis labelled cells.
Cell Proliferation, 1997Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Topical 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
Why other pre-cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
Camellia japonica oil activated the human COL1A2 promoter, induced type I procollagen synthesis, inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity, and reduced trans-epidermal water loss without inducing adverse reactions in human skin.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Zea Mays Corn Germ Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Oenothera Biennis Evening Primrose Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Squalane, Coriandrum Sativum Coriander Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Lavender Oil, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Geranium Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Rosemary Oil Leaf, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Glycine Soja Soybean Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
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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