Votary Cleansing Oil - Rose Geranium & Apricot for acne-prone skin
Geranium
Apricot Kernel Oil
Sunflower Seed Oil
Jojoba Seed Oil
Chamomile Oil Flower
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 makeup removal for your combination skin, as sunflower seed oil and apricot kernel oil help dissolve impurities, though they may not provide sufficient seboregulation for oily areas.
- Provides general cleansing and hydration benefits, but lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing apricot kernel oil and chamomile oil.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away dirt and oil. Start 3x/week and work up to daily use if your combination skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before cleansing and using the rest of your skin products. This ensures all makeup and impurities are fully washed away.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing the skin too harshly to prevent irritation.
- Apply the makeup remover on dry skin to easily dissolve makeup and clear out blemishes. There is no need to dampen your face beforehand.
- Do a patch test before first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid the delicate eye area while applying.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers frequently describe this cleanser as a luxurious, spa-like experience that effectively removes makeup and grime without stripping the skin. It is highly praised for leaving dry, dull, or sensitive skin feeling plump, hydrated, and soft, with many users noting the calming benefits of the hot cloth method.
Highlights
Hydrating and soft Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels clean and fresh without any tightness”
- “leaves my skin glowing and hydrated”
- “nourished feeling”
- “my dry skin feels so good”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “whisks away every trace of the day”
- “takes everything off in one cleanse”
- “lifts off even the most stubborn mascara”
- “melted away the day”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells incredible”
- “treat for the senses”
- “heavenly cleanser”
- “light herbal scent helps ease tension”
Calming ritual Sometimes Noted
- “moment of calm”
- “enjoyable and relaxing experience”
- “spa-like cleansing”
- “beauty ritual”
Nice texture Sometimes Noted
- “beautifully light”
- “lovely easy slip”
- “silky texture”
- “sinks effortlessly into complexion”
Expensive product Sometimes Noted
- “luxurious price tag”
- “investment purchase”
- “ain't cheap”
- “purchase it as a treat when I can afford it”
Cloth maintenance Rarely Noted
- “need to wash cloths frequently”
- “using a cloth twice a day is too much”
- “prefer rinse-off cleansers”
Glass packaging Rarely Noted
- “heavy glass bottle”
- “worried about dropping it”
- “not travel friendly”
Scent not preferred Rarely Noted
- “not crazy about the smell”
- “slightly earthy smell”
- “scent is not for everyone”
Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, votary.co.uk, thegroomingclinic.com, amazingy.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Votary Rose Geranium & Apricot Cleansing Oil work for acne-prone skin?
This cleansing oil works moderately well for acne-prone skin, helping dissolve impurities without irritation while lacking targeted ingredients to effectively clear breakouts. An acne-prone skin routine needs nourishing oils and extracts that soothe blemishes alongside effective cleansing.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Apricot kernel oil and chamomile oil help make this cleanser safe for your acne-prone skin by providing soothing benefits without harsh ingredients. However, to truly fit acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients that manage oil and breakouts while maintaining hydration.
What does Geranium do for acne-prone skin?
Geranium helps calm redness and swelling in acne-prone skin while soothing irritated areas. It is unlikely to clog pores and may help keep breakouts under control.
Biochimie Open, 2017Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 2016
What does Apricot Kernel Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Apricot kernel oil may help nourish acne-prone skin, but because it is a heavier oil, it is unlikely to provide the deep balancing and barrier support that this skin type needs. To truly care for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs lightweight, soothing plant oils and extracts that hydrate without clogging pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also before your cleanser in your weekly routine. It is safe for acne-prone skin and helps dissolve impurities, but an acne-prone skin type needs targeted ingredients that help control oil and clear breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser and retinol treatment, as it is unlikely to irritate your skin. An acne-prone skin type needs a product of this type to include targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing benefits to properly manage breakouts while using active treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening to clear away makeup and impurities safely without causing irritation. Because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts, acne-prone skin needs a product that also provides active blemish control and oil regulation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing apricot kernel oil and chamomile oil instead of harsh ingredients. However, it lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address breakouts and may not provide enough oil control for oily areas. Acne-prone skin often needs a cleanser with ingredients that help balance oil and clear pores, such as salicylic acid.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, citronellol, geraniol, and linalool).
What the research says
Topical treatment with Geranium thunbergii extract lotion improved skin elasticity and reduced skin wrinkling scores compared to placebo in healthy Japanese women by inhibiting HYBID-mediated hyaluronan degradation and down-regulating HYBID expression.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Geranium and Calendula essential oil-loaded ethanolic lipid vesicular creams exhibited notable antioxidant capacity, sun protection factor values of 10.26 and 18.54, and collagenase and elastase inhibition capacity compared to nonvesicular creams.
BioMed Research International, 2021Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Daily application of 3% German chamomile oil for 4 weeks significantly reduced serum IgE levels, serum histamine levels, and scratching frequency in DNCB-sensitized mice compared with control groups.
Journal of Veterinary Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Why other pre-cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
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, 2023
Ingredients
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower Geranium Oil Flower, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool
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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