Votary Cleansing Oil - Rose Geranium & Apricot for oily acne-prone skin
Geranium
Apricot Kernel Oil
Sunflower Seed Oil
Jojoba Seed Oil
Chamomile Oil Flower
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other pre-cleansers fit it 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 moderate cleansing benefits for your oily skin, as sunflower seed oil and apricot kernel oil help dissolve makeup and impurities, though they may not be sufficiently targeted to address your acne and breakouts.
- While the formula provides general cleansing, it lacks specific seboregulating ingredients that would offer optimal oil control for your oily skin type.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing chamomile oil.
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
★4.8Overall 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 oily acne-prone skin?
This cleansing oil works moderately well for oily and acne-prone skin, as plant oils help dissolve makeup and impurities without causing irritation, though they may not target breakouts or control excess oil. To fit this skin type better, a makeup remover needs ingredients that help control oil and manage blemishes while keeping skin calm and clear.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sunflower seed oil and apricot kernel oil help dissolve makeup and impurities on your oily skin, while chamomile oil helps calm it. However, a makeup remover for oily acne-prone skin also needs oil control ingredients and targeted blemish-fighting components to be a truly great fit.
What does Geranium do for oily acne-prone skin?
Geranium helps balance oil and calm redness for oily, acne-prone skin. It may also soothe angry breakouts so your face feels clearer and more comfortable.
What does Apricot Kernel Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Apricot kernel oil may feel too heavy and clog pores on oily acne-prone skin, which is prone to breakouts. Oily and acne-prone skin types need lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that help control shine and soothe irritation without blocking pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also as the first step of your weekly routine. It is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation, but an oily acne-prone skin type needs oil control ingredients and targeted blemish treatments to get the best results.
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 it is safe and unlikely to irritate your skin. Oily acne-prone skin also needs specific seboregulating ingredients to help control oil and target breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening to gently dissolve makeup and impurities on your oily acne-prone skin. While it safely cleanses without causing irritation, an oily skin type needs products with targeted oil-control ingredients to properly manage breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your oily acne-prone skin, but it lacks specific oil-controlling ingredients to properly target breakouts. A product of this type needs targeted seboregulating ingredients to manage oil and keep pores clear.
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 chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015Topical 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 oily acne-prone skin better
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013
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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