Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil for oily skin
Camellia Japonica Seed Oil
Coconut Oil
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil
Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract
Squalane
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 your oily skin as ingredients like squalane and caprylic capric triglyceride provide emollient action, though they may not be sufficiently balancing for excess sebum to address oily shine.
- The cleansing oils, including coconut oil and squalane, effectively dissolve makeup and impurities, providing general cleansing benefits for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing apricot kernel oil and camellia japonica seed oil.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers with dry to combination skin frequently praise this oil for effectively dissolving makeup and sunscreen without stripping moisture, noting a pleasant, spa-like herbal scent. A moderate number of reviewers mention eye irritation and blurry vision, while a low number of users with acne-prone skin reported breakouts.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara”
- “removes stubborn sunscreen”
- “dissolves heavy foundation”
- “cleans pores deeply”
Non-stripping, hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels soft”
- “never dry or tight”
- “leaves face moisturized”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “glides over skin”
- “emulsifies instantly”
- “rinses clean without residue”
- “lightweight consistency”
Luxurious herbal scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like a spa”
- “relaxing hanbang scent”
- “lovely ginseng fragrance”
- “earthy and calming”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stings my eyes”
- “causes blurry vision”
- “burns if it gets in eyes”
- “cloudy eyes after rinsing”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for a cleanser”
- “hard to justify cost”
- “luxury splurge”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “broke me out”
- “caused whiteheads”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “scent is too strong”
- “overpowering herbal smell”
- “smells like medicine”
- “fragrance lingers”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil work for oily skin?
This cleansing oil works for your oily skin, though other products fit it better, because it dissolves makeup and impurities well while soothing your face with apricot kernel oil and camellia japonica seed oil. It provides moderate softening benefits through ingredients like squalane, but it may not be sufficiently balancing for excess sebum to address oily shine. Makeup removers for oily skin need lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients that cleanse effectively without rich softening oils that can feel too heavy.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Squalane and caprylic capric triglyceride help remove makeup and impurities while keeping skin soft, though oily skin needs oil-controlling ingredients to properly balance excess shine.
What does Camellia Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Camellia seed oil helps keep oily skin hydrated without clogging pores and may help balance skin oils. This type of skin needs lightweight oils and ingredients that control excess shine while maintaining moisture.
Scientific Reports, 2023International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
What does Coconut Oil do for oily skin?
Coconut oil is generally too heavy for oily skin and may clog pores, leading to breakouts. A product of this type needs lightweight ingredients and oil-balancing benefits to keep oily skin clear and smooth.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine as the first step before your regular cleanser. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients that help clear away excess shine without feeling heavy.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser and before applying retinol. It helps dissolve makeup and impurities safely, but oily skin needs lighter balancing ingredients to properly control excess shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine when you wear makeup, as it works well to dissolve impurities for your oily skin. Because it may not balance excess oil enough on its own, oily skin needs lightweight, balancing ingredients and oil-control benefits to stay clear and fresh.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleansing oil is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a low complaint rate for potential breakouts and is free of harsh ingredients. However, because it offers only moderate suitability for your oily skin, a product of this type needs lighter, balancing ingredients that help control excess sebum and oily shine.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, 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, 2023Camellia 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, 2007Liquid crystalline emulsions formulated with camellia seed oil and four different surfactant combinations reduced transepidermal water loss and increased skin hydration without causing skin irritation, with the formulation containing Lecinol S-10 and Tween 80 demonstrating the best clinical results.
Scientific Reports, 2023Overnight virgin coconut oil application provides a skin protective effect against damage and increased TEWL from frequent alcohol-based hand sanitizer usage in 60 volunteers, resulting in a 25% increase in perceived moisture content compared to the control group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Squalane 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, 2025
Ingredients
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Peg-8 Isostearate, Coconut Oil, Dextrin Palmitate, Parfum, Limonene, Glyceryl Behenate Eicosadioate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Squalane, Linalool, Water, Butylene Glycol, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Pinus Koraiensis Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Coix Lacryma-Jobi Ma-Yuen Seed Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Chestnut Shell Extract, Spirodela Polyrhiza Extract, Prunus Mume Seed Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Seed Extract, Tangerine Peel Extract
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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