Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil for combination skin
Squalane
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Tocopherol
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, this product effectively dissolves makeup and impurities with Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, while Squalane and Coriandrum Sativum Coriander Seed Oil support barrier repair.
- It offers general hydration and cleansing benefits that are supportive for oily shine on combination skin, though not specialized for this concern.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients like lavender oil and evening primrose oil with no risks of irritation.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away excess oil.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser to effectively break down heavy makeup and dirt.
- Gently wipe the makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Use the makeup remover on completely dry skin to help dissolve surface oils and impurities best.
- Avoid direct contact with the eyes while using this makeup remover.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis lightweight cleansing oil is widely praised for its ability to emulsify into a milk that effectively dissolves stubborn makeup without stripping the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated. While most users with dry or combination skin enjoy the spa-like lavender scent and non-greasy finish, a minority experience eye irritation (blurriness) or breakouts.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “dissolves stubborn mascara”
- “removes all traces of foundation”
- “melts away dirt and makeup”
- “takes off waterproof makeup easily”
Hydrating & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and replenished”
- “doesn't over-dry my face”
- “skin feels hydrated after rinsing”
- “no tight feeling”
Pleasant sensory experience Often Mentioned
- “smells like a spa”
- “relaxing lavender scent”
- “soothing aroma for bedtime”
- “smells divine”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight oil texture”
- “emulsifies to a gentle milk”
- “rinses clean without residue”
- “not heavy or greasy”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “blurs my vision for minutes”
- “stings my eyes”
- “cloudy vision after use”
- “irritates sensitive eyes”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “a bit pricey”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “pricey splurge”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Scent dislike Rarely Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “smells rancid to me”
- “weird botanical odor”
- “overpowering lavender”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused tiny bumps”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, boots.com, lookfantastic.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil a great fit for combination skin?
This cleansing oil is a great fit for your combination skin because it gently dissolves makeup while helping repair your skin barrier with squalane and coriander seed oil. It also provides general hydration that supports oily shine, while soothing ingredients like lavender oil and evening primrose oil keep your skin calm and soft.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride effectively dissolve makeup and impurities, while squalane and coriander seed oil help support barrier repair. Additionally, ingredients like lavender oil and evening primrose oil provide a safe, soothing touch with low risk of irritation.
What does Squalane do for combination skin?
Squalane helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. It supports the skin barrier and provides lightweight hydration that works well for both dry and oily areas.
Skin Health and Disease, 2024Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025
What does Evening Primrose Oil do for combination skin?
Evening primrose oil helps strengthen your skin barrier and increases moisture, making it a good fit when your skin needs balanced hydration. This ingredient helps keep dry areas soft while supporting overall skin recovery and integrity. To work best on combination skin, it needs to be paired with lightweight hydrators and delivered in a formula that does not feel heavy on oily zones.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022Biomaterials Advances, 2022
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step in your evening routine for removing makeup, or as a weekly makeup remover. It helps dissolve makeup and impurities while supporting your skin barrier with squalane and coriander seed oil.
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, making it a great fit for your combination skin. It effectively dissolves makeup and impurities while supporting your skin barrier, helping keep your skin calm and comfortable when using retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and as part of your weekly routine for combination skin. It effectively dissolves makeup while supporting skin barrier repair and keeping your skin calm.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because its ingredients are generally safe and well-tolerated by this skin type. It helps dissolve makeup while supporting your skin barrier, though it is always wise to watch for individual sensitivities.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, citronellol, geraniol, and limonene).
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, 2023Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 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, 2025Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016A nanoemulsion cream containing lavender essential oil and licorice extract significantly reduced wound area, increased TGF-beta1 and collagen gene expression, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and promoted faster tissue healing in rats compared to untreated and vehicle controls.
Journal of Tissue Viability, 2020Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Zea Mays Corn Germ Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Oenothera Biennis Evening Primrose Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Squalane, Coriandrum Sativum Coriander Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Lavender Oil, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Geranium Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Rosemary Oil Leaf, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Glycine Soja Soybean Oil, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
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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