Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for combination skin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate
Tocopherol
Low
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for combination skin; the pre-cleansers 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 makeup removal for your combination skin, as ethylhexyl palmitate and carthamus tinctorius seed oil help dissolve impurities, though their emollient properties may increase oily shine.
- Caprylic capric triglyceride provides emollient action suitable for combination skin without being overly heavy.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away excess oil.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser to effectively break down heavy makeup and dirt.
- Gently wipe the makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Use the makeup remover on completely dry skin to help dissolve surface oils and impurities best.
- Avoid direct contact with the eyes while using this makeup remover.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 9.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleansing balm is highly effective at removing all types of makeup and sunscreen, leaving skin feeling soft and nourished. It is frequently praised for its gentle, fragrance-free formula, making it suitable for sensitive and dry skin types. Some users report temporary blurry vision after use, and a moderate number find the price point high. A small number of users experienced breakouts or disliked the packaging and scent.
Highlights
Melts makeup Mostly Mentioned
- “Melts waterproof mascara”
- “Dissolves long-wear foundation”
- “Removes glitter easily”
- “Breaks down sunscreen”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “No strong scent”
- “Good for sensitive noses”
- “No perfume irritation”
- “Clean ingredient list”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “No stinging eyes”
- “Safe for sensitive skin”
- “Doesn't irritate contacts”
Non-drying finish Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Face feels nourished”
- “No tight feeling”
- “Hydrating for dry patches”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “Silky balm-to-oil”
- “Spreads easily”
- “Little goes a long way”
- “Satisfying melt”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive for cleanser”
- “Pricey for the amount”
- “Not budget-friendly”
- “Costly daily staple”
Temporary blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “Blurry vision after use”
- “Cloudy film on eyes”
- “Oily film on contacts”
- “Foggy sight for minutes”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused cystic acne”
- “Clogged my pores”
- “Triggered breakouts”
- “Too heavy for oily skin”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “Unhygienic tub”
- “Hate dipping fingers”
- “Hard to open lid”
- “Messy to scoop”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like old oil”
- “Scent like plastic/wax”
- “Smells like dirty socks”
- “Odd chemical smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, clinique.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clinique Take The Day Off a weak match for combination skin?
This makeup remover is a weak match because its heavy oils may increase oily shine on your combination skin. A product of this type needs soothing and nourishing ingredients that provide hydration without adding extra weight, along with components like squalane or plant oils that balance both oily and dry areas.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for combination skin?
Ethylhexyl palmitate and carthamus tinctorius seed oil make this cleanser a weak match because their softening qualities may increase oily shine on combination skin. A makeup remover for this skin type needs soothing, hydrating ingredients like squalane, hyaluronic acid, and plant oils that clean effectively without adding extra weight to oily areas.
What does Ethylhexyl Palmitate do for combination skin?
Ethylhexyl palmitate is a softening agent that helps keep combination skin smooth and feeling soft, but it may feel a bit heavy in oily areas. Because it can clog pores, this type of skin often does better with lighter, oil-free hydrators.
What does Safflower Seed Oil do for combination skin?
Safflower seed oil helps keep combination skin smooth and may help protect against early aging from sun exposure. This oil is a poor fit for combination skin because it lacks the lightweight hydration and balanced oil control that this skin type needs.
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2020International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also in your weekly routine before cleansing. A makeup remover for combination skin needs ingredients that dissolve makeup while keeping oily areas balanced.
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. Combination skin needs products that wash away impurities and soothe without adding extra oils that may increase oily shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This makeup remover is a weak match for combination skin because its ingredients may increase oily shine, so you may want to use it less often or only when you wear heavy makeup. To better fit combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs lighter ingredients that dissolve makeup without adding extra heaviness.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser may cause breakouts for combination skin, as its rich oils can increase oily shine and clog pores. A product of this type needs lighter ingredients that clear away makeup and impurities without feeling heavy or greasy.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Safflower oil body-human epidermal growth factor microgel emulsions mixed with xanthan gum enhance transdermal absorption, regulate inflammation, accelerate angiogenesis, and promote re-epithelialization and remodeling in full-layer skin wounds in rats.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022Topical 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, 2023Topical 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
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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