K-SECRET Seoul 1988 Cleansing Oil for oily acne-prone skin
Pine Cica
Madecassoside
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil- Centella Asiatica Extract
Grape Seed Oil
High
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even 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 excellent makeup removal for your oily skin, as Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate effectively cleanse pores, while Centella Asiatica Extract and its derivatives soothe inflammation associated with acne and breakouts.
- Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil and Olea Europaea Oil Fruit provide emollient action, though additional ingredients for optimal oil control would enhance its suitability for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
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
★4.9Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users with normal to dry skin highly recommend this oil for its nourishing consistency that effectively dissolves makeup and blackheads without stripping moisture. It is praised for its soothing Pine Cica complex and gentle nature, though a small minority find the texture too heavy or the natural oil scent unappealing.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “dissolves stubborn makeup”
- “melts away blackheads”
- “removes sunscreen effectively”
Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip moisture”
- “skin feels soft”
- “no tight feeling”
Smooth gliding texture Sometimes Noted
- “glides on smoothly”
- “cushiony feel”
- “easy to massage”
Soothing for redness Sometimes Noted
- “calms irritated skin”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “reduces redness”
Pore clogging potential Rarely Noted
- “might clog pores”
- “not fungal acne safe”
- “caused closed comedones”
Slow emulsification Rarely Noted
- “takes time to turn milky”
- “needs more water to emulsify”
- “hard to rinse”
Thick consistency Rarely Noted
- “slightly thicker than most”
- “feels heavy on skin”
- “too thick for oily skin”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like cooking oil”
- “strong oil fragrance”
- “scent is average”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes K-Secret Seoul 1988 Cleansing Oil a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
K-Secret Seoul 1988 Cleansing Oil is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate effectively clean out pores, while Centella Asiatica Extract and Madecassoside help calm breakouts and redness. It also has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients, making it very unlikely to cause irritation.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate make this cleanser a great fit by effectively cleaning out your pores, while Centella Asiatica Extract and Madecassoside help calm your breakouts and soothe redness. Grape seed oil and macadamia seed oil also help balance your skin while keeping it soft.
Molecules, 2023International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015
What does Pine Cica do for oily acne-prone skin?
Pine Cica helps calm sensitive skin and manage excess oil while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep skin comfortable.
What does Madecassoside do for oily acne-prone skin?
Madecassoside helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation while supporting barrier repair. It may help decrease acne blemishes and moisture loss in human skin.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in your evening routine, used as the first step before your regular cleanser. It helps thoroughly clear out pores and calm angry blemishes while keeping your skin comfortable.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser and treatment, as it effectively cleanses pores while soothing inflammation. Using a gentle routine with this product is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep your skin calm while using retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your nighttime routine to effectively clear pores and remove makeup. It is safe for daily use on oily acne-prone skin and helps soothe inflammation.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily skin, as it features a safe formula with negligible pore-clogging potential and includes soothing ingredients that help calm inflammation.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Topical application of a water-in-oil emulsion containing 2% Muscat hamburg grape seed extract significantly improved melanin, elasticity, and sebum content compared to a placebo in human volunteers over 8 weeks, with no reported skin hypersensitivity.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015A 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, 2017Grape seed extract based emulgel and emulsion formulations reduced skin roughness, scaliness, wrinkles, and sebum content while enhancing elasticity and hydration.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021Chitosan-based hydrogels loaded with asiaticoside-rich Centella asiatica extract achieved controlled drug release, skin permeability, antimicrobial activity, and synergistic wound healing effects in an in vitro model.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023Centella asiatica extract significantly decreased markers of cell death, oxidative stress, cellular senescence, and apoptosis in hydrogen peroxide-induced human epidermal keratinocytes compared to cells treated with hydrogen peroxide alone.
Biology, 2025A topical spray containing Centella asiatica extract was non-irritating and achieved complete wound healing after 14 days in an excision wound rat model.
Acta Pharmaceutica, 2016Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Grapeseed oil-loaded dermocosmetic nanoemulgel applied on the cheeks of healthy volunteers significantly reduced skin melanin, erythema, sebum production, and pores while increasing moisture and elasticity compared to a placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical treatment with cranberry oil and grape oil improved wound healing in rats, with cranberry oil showing an 88.1% wound area reduction and grape oil showing 84.6% compared to 74.1% in controls and 78.4% in the mupirocin standard group on day 13.
Phytotherapy Research, 2011An ionic liquid-based grapeseed oil emulsion increased transdermal penetration by 4.63-fold and improved skin hydration, firmness, elasticity, and facial wrinkles after 28 days of continuous use compared to ordinary emulsion.
Pharmaceuticals, 2024
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycoproteins, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic 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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