Erno Laszlo Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil for dry sensitive skin
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil
Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil
Jojoba Seed Oil
Tocopheryl Acetate
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- This cleansing oil is highly suitable for your dry and sensitive skin, as mineral oil and apricot kernel oil effectively dissolve makeup while Bisabolol and Tocopherol provide soothing and antioxidant benefits.
- The formula's blend of nourishing oils like Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Persea Gratissima Oil offers excellent emollient and occlusive actions to combat dryness and support your skin barrier.
- The product has a favorable safety profile with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of calming components.
How to apply
- Use your makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3×/week daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. It prepares your face for a thorough double-cleansing routine.
- Gently press a small amount onto your skin using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing to protect your sensitive and flaky skin.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to ensure better tolerance and comfort. This prevents any extra irritation for reactive skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your very first use to prevent irritation.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis pre-cleansing oil is highly praised for its ability to effectively remove heavy makeup and dissolve impurities without stripping the skin's natural moisture, leaving it feeling soft and plump. It is particularly favored by those with dry or mature skin, contributing to a desirable glow. While many appreciate its performance as the first step in a double-cleansing routine, some users find the process to be time-consuming.
Highlights
Effective makeup remover Mostly Mentioned
- “Dissolves dirt and debris”
- “removes stubborn waterproof mascara”
- “breaks down makeup easily.”
Deeply moisturizing Often Mentioned
- “Infuses skin with moisture”
- “skin did not feel dry after use”
- “best moisturizer I have ever used.”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin felt softer & smoother”
- “refined and I look younger”
- “leaves skin fresh and plump.”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “Pricey”
- “expensive but worth it.”
Gentle and soothing Sometimes Noted
- “Product application felt gentle”
- “soothing essential oils”
- “smells lovely and spa-like.”
Long-lasting product Sometimes Noted
- “Product really lasts a long time”
- “bottle lasts for months”
- “good value despite price.”
Requires second step Sometimes Noted
- “Needs a triple cleanse to get off”
- “meant to be used with the bar”
- “hard to remove alone.”
Heavy oily texture Rarely Noted
- “Thick and viscous”
- “unpleasant oily feel”
- “heavy on the skin.”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “Plastic bottle feels cheap”
- “wish it was glass”
- “leaked in shipping.”
Sources: lovi.care, ernolaszlo.com, lovelyskin.com, lookfantastic.com, amazon.com, dermstore.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Erno Laszlo Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
This cleansing oil is a great fit because mineral oil and apricot kernel oil dissolve makeup while calming ingredients like Bisabolol and Tocopherol soothe easily irritated skin. Its rich blend of nourishing plant oils helps combat dryness and protects your skin barrier without harshness.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because mineral oil and apricot kernel oil gently dissolve makeup while jojoba seed oil, bisabolol, and tocopherol help calm and soothe easily irritated skin. Its rich blend of nourishing oils fights dryness and keeps your skin soft by locking in moisture.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
What does Safflower Seed Oil do for dry sensitive skin?
Safflower seed oil is a good fit for dry sensitive skin because it helps calm irritation while supporting the skin barrier. It also helps lock in moisture to keep your skin feeling soft and smooth.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018
What does Apricot Kernel Oil do for dry sensitive skin?
Apricot kernel oil helps nourish dry sensitive skin by moisturizing dry areas and calming irritation. Plant oils like this help repair the skin barrier and protect against everyday discomfort while feeling soft and smooth.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This makeup remover is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin and goes in your evening routine before your cleanser, and also in your weekly routine. Its nourishing oils help calm dryness and support your skin barrier without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleansing oil in your evening routine before applying your retinol treatment, as it gently removes makeup while helping to protect and soften your skin. Using a nourishing oil cleanser first is unlikely to cause irritation and helps prepare dry, sensitive skin for active treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and during weekly care. Its nourishing oils help combat dryness and support your skin barrier without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleansing oil is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin because its nourishing oils and vitamin E have a very safe profile and low chance of causing irritation. It does not contain ingredients that typically cause purging.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, benzyl alcohol, benzyl salicylate, citral, citronellol, coumarin, eugenol, geraniol, isoeugenol, limonene, and linalool).
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical 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, 2024Dermatological 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, 2021Safflower 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 cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil improved wrinkle grading, reduced nasolabial fold area and volume, and increased skin elasticity in twenty healthy volunteers over 12 weeks without allergic reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical treatment with SSFAO 50% or avocado oil increased wound contraction, reepithelialization, collagen density, and tensile strength while showing anti-inflammatory activity compared to petroleum jelly in rats.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013Clay 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, 2025Topical 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, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil Huile Minerale Mineral Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Parfum, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Corylus Americana Seed Oil Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Taraktogenos Kurzii Seed Oil, Bht, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Bisabolol, Ci 40800 Beta-Carotene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, 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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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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