Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse for combination skin
Isopropyl Palmitate
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Retinyl Palmitate Vitamin A
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other pre-cleansers fit it 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
- Offers excellent makeup removal for your combination skin, as isopropyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride effectively dissolve oil-based impurities, while ingredients like prunus amygdalus dulcis oil and crambe abyssinica seed oil provide emollient action.
- The formulation provides general cleansing and hydration benefits, but it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively address oily shine, and could benefit from additional humectants for optimal hydration.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like ubiquinone and tocopheryl acetate.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis balm-to-milk cleanser is highly regarded for its luxurious, spa-like experience, effectively dissolving stubborn makeup and waterproof mascara without drying out the skin. It is especially favored by those with dry, mature, and sensitive skin for its hydrating and soothing properties, leaving the complexion feeling plump. A notable drawback is the polarizing, potent essential oil fragrance.
Highlights
Spa-like scent Mostly Mentioned
- “smells like a spa”
- “heavenly scent”
- “relaxing evening ritual”
- “divine smell”
Effective makeup remover Often Mentioned
- “melts waterproof mascara”
- “removes all traces”
- “dissolves heavy makeup”
- “no scrubbing needed”
Hydrating and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “never feels tight”
- “nourishing for dry skin”
- “plump and bouncy”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for a cleanser”
- “luxury splurge”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “buttery balm”
- “silky consistency”
- “glides on skin”
- “pleasure to massage”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is overpowering”
- “too much camphor”
- “smell is too strong”
- “fragrance lingers”
Opaque packaging Rarely Noted
- “can't see amount left”
- “runs out unexpectedly”
- “heavy bottle hides content”
- “hard to gauge usage”
Requires cloth removal Rarely Noted
- “needs a flannel”
- “leaves oily film”
- “residue if not wiped”
- “heavy for morning”
Sources: lovi.care, sarahchapman.com, spacenk.com, lookfantastic.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, qvcuk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse work for combination skin?
Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse works reasonably well for combination skin by removing makeup and providing basic hydration without causing irritation, though other products fit this skin type better. To achieve an ideal balance for combination skin, this type of product needs extra water-attracting ingredients to manage oily shine while keeping dry areas adequately hydrated.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Isopropyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride in this cleanser help dissolve oil-based impurities, while prunus amygdalus dulcis oil and crambe abyssinica seed oil soften the skin.
What does Isopropyl Palmitate do for combination skin?
Isopropyl Palmitate helps moisturize dry areas on combination skin by softening the surface, but it is heavy and may clog pores in oilier zones. A product for this skin type needs lighter, balancing ingredients that hydrate without feeling greasy.
What does Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride do for combination skin?
Caprylic/capric triglyceride helps keep combination skin hydrated and soft while reducing moisture loss. It is generally well tolerated and unlikely to clog pores.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This makeup remover goes in your evening routine, used as the first step before your cleanser, and also in your weekly routine. It is safe for your combination skin and helps melt away makeup and impurities without irritation. However, because this product type is an average fit for your skin, combination skin needs oil-balancing ingredients to manage shine and hydrating ingredients to keep skin soft.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening routine before your cleanser and treatment, as it is safe for combination skin. A product of this type needs additional humectants and specialized ingredients to help manage oily shine while keeping your skin balanced.
How often should I use it?
Use this makeup remover in the evening to clear away makeup and impurities before cleansing. Combination skin works well with this routine step, though this particular product needs ingredients to manage oily shine and extra water-attracting ingredients for ideal hydration.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging on your combination skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and features soothing agents. However, to better manage oily shine and keep combination skin clear, a cleanser of this type needs specialized ingredients to balance oil along with added hydrating agents.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (limonene and linalool) and drying alcohol (ethanol).
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, 2023Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Topical 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, 2024Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Ingredients
Isopropyl Palmitate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Oleate, Peg-10 Laurate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Alba Cera Beeswax Cera, Decyl Glucoside, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Water, Camphor Oil Bark, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Limonene, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Propylene Carbonate, Tribehenin, Ethanol, Ubiquinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Ceramide 2, Peg-10 Phytosterol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Glycerin, Retinyl Palmitate, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Linalool, Citrus Aurantium Amara Oil Twig Leaf, Lemon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara Oil Flower, Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Myrtus Communis Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower, Myrocarpus Fastigiatus Oil, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Cananga Odorata Oil Flower, Jasmine Leaf Extract Flower, Rosa Damascena Oil Flower
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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