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DHC Pore Cleansing Oil for oily skin

DHC Pore Cleansing Oil

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even 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

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+ reviews

Users with oily and acne-prone skin praise this oil for its lighter, gel-like texture and refreshing citrus scent compared to the heavier original version. While many report effective makeup removal and a reduction in perceived oiliness, results regarding actual pore shrinkage and blackhead removal are mixed, with some seeing drastic improvements and others noticing little change.

Highlights

  • Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
    • “dissolves foundation”
    • “removes waterproof mascara”
    • “cleans thoroughly”
  • Ideal for oily skin Often Mentioned
    • “lightweight”
    • “non-greasy”
    • “balances sebum”
    • “gel-like texture”
  • Pleasant citrus scent Often Mentioned
    • “fresh”
    • “grapefruit”
    • “orange”
    • “lemon”
    • “relaxing aroma”
  • Gentle and non-stripping Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin soft”
    • “not tight”
    • “hydrating”
    • “smooth finish”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “expensive for size”
    • “pricey”
    • “small bottle”
  • Mixed pore results Sometimes Noted
    • “no change in pores”
    • “blackheads remained”
    • “didn't shrink pores”
  • Eye area sensitivity Rarely Noted
    • “stings eyes”
    • “requires separate eye remover”
    • “blurry vision”
  • Harder to find Rarely Noted
    • “out of stock”
    • “less available than Deep version”

Sources: lovi.care, dhccare.com, femaledaily.com, skindeep.blog, intrice.blogspot.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes DHC Pore Cleansing Oil a great fit for oily skin?

This product is a great fit because Zinc PCA and mushroom extract help control sebum and minimize pores to reduce oily shine. It also removes makeup thoroughly while ingredients like dipotassium glycyrrhizate and calendula flower extract provide soothing benefits and help prevent skin irritation.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?

Zinc PCA and Fomes Officinalis Extract make this cleanser a great fit for your oily skin by helping control shine and minimize pores. Additionally, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract provide soothing benefits to help keep your skin calm and prevent irritation.

What does Orange Peel Extract do for oily skin?

Orange peel extract helps oily skin by fighting bacteria and calming redness, which is great for keeping breakouts under control. It is unlikely to cause irritation for most people, though citrus ingredients can occasionally trigger sensitivity in some skin types.

Heliyon, 2019Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 2021

What does Grapefruit Peel Extract do for oily skin?

Grapefruit Peel Extract helps keep oily skin clear and calm by protecting against environmental stress and reducing irritation. This extract may also help balance excess oil and keep pores feeling clean throughout the day.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also in the weekly routine. It is a great fit for your oily skin because ingredients like Zinc PCA and mushroom extract control oil and minimize pores, while calendula and dipotassium glycyrrhizate help soothe the skin and prevent irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser and treatment, making it a good fit for your oily skin. Zinc PCA helps control oil, while soothing ingredients like Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract make it unlikely to irritate your skin when used alongside a retinol treatment.

How often should I use it?

This makeup remover fits into your evening routine as the first step to clear away makeup before you cleanse. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep oily shine under control.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

DHC Pore Cleansing Oil is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, because Zinc PCA and mushroom extract help control oil and keep pores clear. Its soothing ingredients also calm the skin and prevent irritation.

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).

What the research says

  • Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
  • A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
  • Topical application of an aqueous gel containing 0.1% w/w naringenin demonstrated in vitro safety, significantly reduced UV-induced stratum corneum lipid peroxidation, and showed in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy against methyl nicotinate-induced inflammation in human participants compared to a blank gel and untreated area, while chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and kaempferol displayed pro-oxidant profiles.

    Frontiers in Chemistry, 2024
  • Topical application of a naringenin-containing formulation protected hairless mice from ultraviolet B-induced skin damage by inhibiting edema, cytokine production, superoxide anion, and lipid hydroperoxides while maintaining antioxidant enzymes and glutathione levels.

    PloS One, 2016
  • Encapsulating naringenin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), and kaempferol into nanostructured lipid carriers provided prolonged release, stability, and antioxidant protection against oxidative stress in human keratinocytes, with an NDGA and kaempferol mixture showing synergistic antioxidant effects.

    Pharmaceutics, 2021
  • A 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, 2017
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ppg-13-Decyletra-Deceth 24, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arginine, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium Edta, Zinc Pca, Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Grapefruit Peel Extract, Cladosiphon Novae-Caledoniae Extract, Lemon Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract Olive Leaf Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Oligopeptide-56-Amido Peg-75 Methyl Ether, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara Oil Flower, Cynara Scolymus Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Artocarpus Lakoocha Extract Wood, Limonene

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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

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