Votary Cleansing Oil for oily skin
Geranium
Apricot Oil
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Allantoin
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best pre-cleansers for oily skin.
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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this cleansing oil effectively dissolves impurities with caprylic capric triglyceride and glycerin, while linoleic and oleic acids offer cleansing and soothing benefits to manage oily shine.
- The inclusion of various amino acids and humectants like sodium pca and urea further supports skin hydration and barrier function, balancing your skin's needs without exacerbating oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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 500+ reviewsUsers find this cleanser provides a luxurious, spa-like experience that effectively removes makeup and impurities, leaving skin feeling soft, nourished, and radiant. A significant number of reviews highlight its pleasant scent and quality packaging. Some users note the high price and the necessity of using a flannel as drawbacks.
Highlights
Effective cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “Melts makeup, removes waterproof mascara, dissolves grime, deep clean.”
Hydrating finish Mostly Mentioned
- “Soft skin, never tight, nourished, plumped, glowy.”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “Silky, lightweight, glides effortlessly, pleasure to use.”
Spa-like scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells divine, relaxing aroma, uplifting rose geranium, therapeutic.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Expensive, luxury treat, pricey, investment product.”
Quality packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Beautiful glass bottle, fluffy flannel included, chic design, pump dispenser.”
Requires cloth Sometimes Noted
- “Must use flannel, doesn't rinse clean, extra laundry, faff to wash.”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused spots, clogged pores, reaction, not for acne-prone.”
Oily residue Rarely Noted
- “Film if not wiped, greasy feel, heavy for oily skin.”
Scent preference Rarely Noted
- “Strong smell, earthy (Super Seed), herbal, overpowering for some.”
Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, votary.co.uk, wonderlusting.co.uk, manforhimself.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Votary Cleansing Oil a great fit for oily skin?
Votary Cleansing Oil is a great fit for oily skin because it uses caprylic capric triglyceride and glycerin to dissolve impurities while linoleic and oleic acids help manage oily shine. Amino acids and urea also support hydration and balance your skin without making it more oily, and it has no harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Caprylic capric triglyceride and glycerin help dissolve impurities, while linoleic and oleic acids manage oily shine without adding heaviness. Amino acids, sodium PCA, and urea support hydration and keep your skin balanced.
What does Geranium do for oily skin?
Geranium helps balance oily skin by controlling extra shine and keeping your face feeling fresh. It works well to calm the skin and keep things clear without feeling heavy.
What does Apricot Oil do for oily skin?
Apricot oil helps keep oily skin feeling soft and smooth without feeling heavy. It aids in skin barrier repair and provides antioxidants that protect the skin.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017Food Chemistry, 2025
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleansing oil goes in your evening routine as a makeup remover before your cleanser, or in your weekly routine before your cleanser, enzyme powder, and mask. It effectively dissolves impurities and helps manage oily shine while balancing hydration without making your skin feel heavy or greasy.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser when using retinol. Using a gentle cleanser and barrier-supporting ingredients helps keep your skin calm and balanced while using retinoids.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and weekly routine to manage oily shine. It is unlikely to cause irritation and safely balances your skin's needs.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleansing oil is a great fit for oily skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores, as it dissolves impurities without harsh ingredients that trigger irritation or excess oiliness. The formula uses gentle cleansing agents and hydrating ingredients that balance your skin while keeping it calm and clear.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical treatment with Geranium thunbergii extract lotion improved skin elasticity and reduced skin wrinkling scores compared to placebo in healthy Japanese women by inhibiting HYBID-mediated hyaluronan degradation and down-regulating HYBID expression.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Geranium and Calendula essential oil-loaded ethanolic lipid vesicular creams exhibited notable antioxidant capacity, sun protection factor values of 10.26 and 18.54, and collagenase and elastase inhibition capacity compared to nonvesicular creams.
BioMed Research International, 2021Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium Pca, Pca, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Palmitic Acid
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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