EPICUTIS Oil Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Extract Wood
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil
Macadamia Ternifolia Oil Nut Macadamia Oil Nut
Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 suitability for your combination skin, as Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil and Macadamia Ternifolia Oil provide emollient properties that aid in cleansing and hydration. These ingredients help dissolve makeup and impurities, offering general cleansing benefits for your acne-prone skin.
- The formula is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
- While effective for makeup removal, the product's emollient oils may not fully address your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
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 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users with sensitive, dry, and acne-prone skin highly recommend this cleanser for its ability to effectively remove makeup and sunscreen without causing irritation. It is frequently noted for leaving the skin feeling soft, hydrated, and calm, making it suitable for post-procedure care and reactive complexions. Some users find the price point high and occasionally mention the bottle size is small.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “removes makeup without irritating my sensitive skin”
- “face feels clean, soft, and never tight”
- “cleanses thoroughly without stripping my skin”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “melts away makeup and sunscreen effortlessly”
- “removes spf/dirt easily”
- “dissolves face makeup... in a flash”
Hydrating and softening Often Mentioned
- “leaves my skin feeling clean and hydrated”
- “skin feels soft, smooth and velvety”
- “nourishes my skin and leaves it feeling hydrated”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “good products but stupidly expensive”
- “price tag is indeed hefty”
Acne-safe, non-clogging Sometimes Noted
- “acne safe, my skin is so sensitive”
- “helped balance my skin, reduce breakouts”
- “unclogs pores without stripping”
Lacks scent Rarely Noted
- “feels a little… too plain”
- “just very 'meh' for me”
- “no perceptible scent”
Occasional breakouts Rarely Noted
- “oil cleanser broke me out so bad”
- “tiny bumps on my cheeks”
- “skin got a little angry (oily, acne prone)”
Small bottle size Rarely Noted
- “wish it came in a bigger bottle”
- “go through it quickly”
- “wish it came in a larger size”
Sources: lovi.care, artofskincare.com, knoxglow.com, skintruth.com, lazskincare.com, skinsafeproducts.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Epicutis Oil Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?
Epicutis Oil Cleanser works moderately well for acne-prone skin, as its plant oils gently dissolve makeup and cleanse without causing irritation, though it is unlikely to target breakouts. Makeup removers that fit acne-prone skin better need nourishing oils and plant extracts that soothe blemishes while keeping the skin calm and clear.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil and Macadamia Ternifolia Oil make this cleanser a fit by providing softening benefits that help dissolve makeup without irritating your skin. However, since this product is an average fit, acne-prone skin needs a makeup remover that also includes nourishing oils and extracts for soothing blemishes, along with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
What does Hinoki Wood Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Hinoki Wood Extract helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness. Research shows it works well to fight blemish-causing bacteria while keeping skin safe and comfortable.
Dermatology, 2014International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024
What does Hinoki Wood Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Hinoki Wood Oil helps calm redness and swelling in acne-prone skin by reducing irritation. Plant extracts like this may support clearer skin with a lower risk of harsh reactions than some standard treatments.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Pharmaceuticals, 2024
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 as the first step of your weekly routine. It helps dissolve makeup and impurities using oils, but acne-prone skin also needs targeted ingredients that actively clear breakouts and blemishes.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your evening routine before applying your retinol treatment, as its oils help gently wash away makeup and impurities without irritation. However, because this makeup remover may not directly target breakouts, acne-prone skin also needs treatments containing active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to properly clear blemishes.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening and for your weekly routine as part of your skincare steps. The formula is unlikely to cause irritation, but a product of this type for acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that directly target breakouts and blemishes.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Epicutis Oil Cleanser works for your acne-prone skin by gently dissolving makeup, but its oils may not fully address breakouts. To truly fit acne-prone skin, this type of cleanser needs added ingredients that specifically target pimples and clear pores.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Safety and skin sensitization testing of emu and macadamia nut oil applied via standard patch test showed no adverse reactions in 20 participants.
Data in Brief, 2017Lactobacillus-fermented Chamaecyparis obtusa reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 65.3% compared to 38.2% with tea tree oil in 34 patients over 8 weeks, demonstrating superior efficacy, faster onset, and safety.
Dermatology, 2014Hinokitiol treatment attenuates LPS-induced proinflammatory factors, NF-kappaB activation, and cell migration in primary human keratinocytes via Sirt1 histone deacetylase activation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017A lipid mixture representing major components of Chamaecyparis obtusa extract up-regulated HBD-3 and LL-37, exhibited bactericidal effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, protected against keratinocyte cell death, and accelerated skin wound healing and healing of S. aureus-superinfected wounds in an animal model.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2018Chamaecyparis obtusa 70% ethanol extract exhibited antioxidant, antiwrinkle, and anti-inflammatory effects in UVA-irradiated fibroblasts by suppressing cell death by 21.3% at 25 µg/mL and increasing collagen type I and superoxide dismutase mRNA levels.
Medicina, 2023
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
Chamaecyparis Obtusa Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Limnanthes Versicolor Seed Oil Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Oil Nut Macadamia Oil Nut, Rice Bran Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquioleate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Tocopherol
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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