Drunk Elephant Slaai™ Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil
Strawberry Seed Oil
Sclerocarya Birrea Oil
Bamboo Booster
Charcoal Powder
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil and Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil provide emollient action, though they may not offer sufficient seboregulation for your concerns.
- The formula effectively removes makeup and impurities due to ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride, but it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil and Tocopherol.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away impurities. Start by using it 3×/week before working up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow it with your usual cleansing steps to ensure all residue is thoroughly washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using soft cotton pads. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent irritating your blemishes and active breakouts.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to effectively break down excess oil and makeup. Clean away thoroughly before moving on to the next skincare steps .
- Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★3.8Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry and sensitive skin frequently praise this balm for its effective waterproof makeup removal and moisturizing properties, leaving skin soft and dewy. Users with oily or acne-prone skin often report that the thick texture can leave a greasy residue and may cause breakouts. Some users also noted issues with the waxy texture and the bamboo booster.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara”
- “dissolves heavy foundation”
- “removes every trace”
Moisturizing and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “dewy glow”
- “not tight”
Gentle, clean formula Sometimes Noted
- “fragrance-free”
- “no essential oils”
- “doesn't sting eyes”
Smart packaging design Sometimes Noted
- “magnetic spoon attachment”
- “spatula stays clean”
- “convenient lid storage”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “cystic acne flare-ups”
- “clogged pores”
- “small bumps appeared”
Greasy residue Sometimes Noted
- “leaves oily film”
- “hard to rinse”
- “vision blurriness”
Bamboo booster issues Rarely Noted
- “too gritty/harsh”
- “tiny quantity”
- “difficult to mix”
Thick, waxy texture Rarely Noted
- “feels like candle wax”
- “difficult to spread”
- “heavy on skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.my, thecut.com, reallyree.com, alexaskin.com, mybeautythesis.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Drunk Elephant Slaai Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well because it safely melts away makeup and impurities without irritating your skin, but it lacks oil-controlling and breakout-targeting ingredients. A makeup remover for oily acne-prone skin needs to manage excess oil and target blemishes without using heavy oils or butters that can clog pores.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works for your oily acne-prone skin because ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride effectively remove makeup and impurities, while soothing components like Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil and Tocopherol are unlikely to cause irritation. However, because it lacks oil-controlling and breakout-targeting ingredients, an ideal cleanser for this skin type needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to manage excess oil and breakouts.
What does Kiwi Seed Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Kiwi seed oil is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because it has a high amount of linoleic acid, which helps repair your skin barrier. Oils rich in linoleic acid keep your face feeling soft and smooth without clogging your pores.
What does Strawberry Seed Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Strawberry Seed Oil helps balance oily, acne-prone skin by providing light hydration that feels comfortable without clogging pores. Because it is rich in lightweight fatty acids, it absorbs quickly and leaves your face feeling soft and smooth.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your regular cleanser. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also balances oil and targets breakouts with ingredients like salicylic acid.
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 retinol treatment. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but an oily acne-prone routine needs ingredients like salicylic acid and oil-control components to properly target breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening to take off makeup and impurities as part of your routine for oily acne-prone skin. Because it lacks specialized blemish-fighting ingredients, an oily acne-prone skin type needs a cleanser with ingredients like salicylic acid to help clear breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser may cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to manage blemishes and leaves behind oils that may not control oil production well enough. A product of this type for this skin needs oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid to help keep pores clear and prevent breakouts.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Bambusa vulgaris leaves accelerate cutaneous wound healing and inhibit carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2016Soap-and-water wash and superactive charcoal paste applied topically at various times after T-2 toxin exposure effectively reduced skin lesion severity in swine compared to untreated controls.
Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1989
Why other pre-cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Wax Seed Sunflower Wax Seed, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Oil Fruit, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Strawberry Seed Extract, Cranberry Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Watermelon Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract, Charcoal Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Zea Mays Starch, Potassium Sorbate
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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