Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil for dry skin
Squalane
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Tocopherol
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin as Squalane and Evening Primrose Oil provide excellent hydration and emollient benefits, addressing flakiness effectively.
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride offer superior makeup removal, complementing the nourishing properties for a thorough yet gentle cleanse.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients and lacking harsh components, ensuring no irritation.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover in your PM routine every evening to gently clean your face. Always pair with a gentle cleanser afterward.
- Apply this makeup remover as a pre-cleanser step before using your regular cleanser and moisturizer.
- Gently wipe a small amount of makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid any harsh rubbing on dry or flaky skin.
- Apply the makeup remover directly onto dry skin to easily dissolve makeup without stripping your natural moisture. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before first use. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
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 dry skin?
This cleansing oil is a great fit for dry skin because ingredients like squalane and evening primrose oil provide deep hydration to address flakiness. Additionally, components like caprylic capric triglyceride help remove makeup thoroughly while keeping the skin feeling soft and nourished.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Squalane and evening primrose oil make this cleanser a great fit because they provide deep hydration and help smooth away dry flakiness. The formula also includes caprylic capric triglyceride to gently remove makeup while nourishing the skin without causing irritation.
What does Squalane do for dry skin?
Squalane helps keep dry skin soft and smooth by acting as a hydrating agent that locks in moisture and prevents water loss. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect the skin from damage while improving overall hydration.
Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, 2012Molecules, 2009
What does Evening Primrose Oil do for dry skin?
Evening primrose oil helps relieve dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier and keeping moisture locked in. Regular use of this oil may improve hydration and help calm rough or irritated patches. This type of skin needs nourishing plant oils and barrier-supporting ingredients to stay soft and comfortable.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly first step before cleansing and applying a nourishing mask. It is a great fit for dry skin because squalane and evening primrose oil provide deep moisture and help smooth away flakiness.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before cleansing and applying your retinol. Using a nourishing product helps keep dry skin calm and comfortable while you use retinol, as it is unlikely to cause irritation.
Cutis, 2006International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine and your weekly routine. It is a great fit for your dry skin because squalane and evening primrose oil provide deep moisture and soften flakiness while melting away makeup gently.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Biomaterials Advances, 2022
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, as its nourishing ingredients gently clean while keeping the skin soft and calm without irritation. The formula is considered safe for your skin type and focuses on providing thorough makeup removal along with deep moisture.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021
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
Electrospun 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, 2022Topical 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, 2023Polysaccharide-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, 2025A 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, 2019Topical application of 10% evening primrose oil (EPO) and Lioxasol creams resulted in increased cell proliferative activity in the skin of female pigs compared to untreated skin, with EPO producing a more pronounced increase in basal layer labelling index and Lioxasol causing a more immediate increase in papillary dermis labelled cells.
Cell Proliferation, 1997Gellan 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.