While I was clearing out my room, I came across my little stash of Kose Softymo cleansing oils. I remembered I’d never told you about my inexpensive must-buy item whenever I go to Hong Kong!
Softymo is an inexpensive drugstore brand under the mother brand of Kose. These used to used be available in Watson’s and Sasa here in Malaysia. However, I have not seen them around for years now. I believe they are no longer brought in.
Why I say they are a must buy is because this is a great little bottle of cleansing oil. I always buy it for something like HKD35/45 a bottle which is just about RM20 here and it works so well.
The texture of the oil is not too thick nor too thin and it cleans off my makeup very easily. I use it the same way I use all cleansing oils and I don’t get clogged pores or pimples or any problems at all. 2 pumps is sufficient to clean off all my makeup and I do double cleanse. Its my routine.
If you are in Hong Kong, keep your eye out for the Kose Softymo cleansing oil at any drugstore (try Sasa and Bonjour). It sells out fast (I always see empty holes where it should be) and there are a few versions. I have used the yellow, white and pink version and I like them all. Whenever I catch sight of them at any store, I buy them up in bulk at up to 6 bottles at a go as I have been from my very first visit to HK – now I even shop for friends LOL… 😛
The White label version is lighter in texture. The Yellow one says Deep Cleansing and is thicker while the Pink oil one is light textured too. I can’t read Japanese so I’m not sure what they are called but they are all great.
Pros: Inexpensive, Cleans off makeup well, Does not dry out skin, Does not clog my skin
Cons: Not available in Malaysia at this time
Have you tried this one or heard of it? I first read about it online and bought my 1st bottle at Watson’s here in KL. But when I ran out, I realized it was no longer sold here so now I have to “import” it from Hong Kong. Not sure if its available in Singapore.
If you do know or have seen this cleansing oil here in Malaysia or nearer, in Singapore, do pipe up with location and prices yeah? It’d be great to be able to replenish my stock more readily 🙂
I also realize that by telling you of my little secret, I will now have to “fight” with everyone to get my mitts on this the next time I go to Hong Kong! 😛
Paris B
i got mine from HK too! but i haven’t use LOL. i think i bought it cuz u had liked it and that time my cleansing oil was running out!
don’t think SG is selling this as my friend couldn’t find it and had to buy for me when she went to HK! 😀
Haha… did I ever tell you about it before? I can’t remember but I do wish we still had it here. I guess running out is always a good excuse to fly over to replenish stock (amongst other things) 😉
haha! True, now that you’ve posted your secret, I will have to keep this on my HK to-buy list! Yes, I have heard of it. But no, unfortunately, it is not available in Singapore as well. =(
And wow, 6 at a time?? I can tell how good you think it is. =)
Oh not in Singapore too? Bummer!! Yes I do buy in bulk – luckily I’ve never had to declare them to customs yet 😉
yes, if I head on to HK I will purchase this and I have to stock up too ! Amazing Race for Cleansing Oils to us!!!!
Haha… I can just imagine us running for that last bottle on the shelf!
Hahaha! This sounds like rushing for the first incense on CNY.
hehe. and I’m one of those friends that you’ve been buying for :p barely halfway through my first bottle and already I have another bottle stashed. great stuff!
Yep! Great value for the price and it can last a while which is great 😀 Be sure to let you know when I next make a trip 😉
You know, this blog of yours is helping my HK shopping list grow at an alarming rate. BTW, tickets and hotels all booked for HK! Whee!!!! I think I’ll get something in the lines of Bleu Nuit there too 😛
I cannot wait to meet up with you after you get back from HK – gotta check out your hauls! Perhaps I might even have a shopping list for you. Mana tahu 😉 So exciting right?
Ah! Now I know what to ask for from my friend in HK! 😀
Thanks PB!
You’re most welcome! Tell them to look out for these in the drugstores – the SA didn’t know what I was talking about 😛
Hi! =D
I currently use the pink one (it´s called Speedy Cleansing Oil) and it´s great stuff! Also the 230ml is very economical! I bought it from Sasa and the 230ml bottle with a 170ml refill cost me US$8.80. That´s a great deal if you ask me!
I also have a bottle of the Deep Cleansing Oil here but I haven´t tried it yet!
I like to follow up with the Speedy Cleansing Wash which is a liquid foaming cleanser and very mild and non-drying. It´s one of the first Japanese foaming cleansers that I found doesn´t have this thick razor paste-like texture but rather feels like a normal facial soap! =D
Cheers! =D
Hi Kathi!! Thanks for dropping by and thanks for your recs too. I love foaming cleansers so I’d take a look at the Speedy Cleansing Wash – sounds cute 😀
OOOo. I don’t use cleansing oils, haha. I just use my cleanser on a cotton pad and wipe it on my makeup-ridden face, hahaha. It works great, but haihz… Mine is the Clinique liquid soap… Not very cost effective.
Cleansing oils actually work better for me to remove makeup than normal cleansers. But its always a personal choice. Glad you found something that works for you
Hi ParisB,
i’m using the YELLOW deep cleansing version.
works great! I’d probably try your white version when mine runs out.
I also get mine when i’m in HK.
Hi Hazel – i’m just finishing up my yellow deep cleansing version oil too! 😀
Now you’re making me feeling even more guilty for not spending enough money on Jap skin care products in HK! 😛
Haha… There’s always another time 😉
I’m using this CO too! After cleansing, you don’t even need to apply moisturizer. My skin felt really soft for as long as 4 hours in the afternoon
Oh I do it at night so I follow up with my night routine. Glad to know it works for you too!
Oh I have the White one and it’s indeed great! No breakouts while it takes off even the hardcore mascaras!
Only it dries out my skin terribly so instant moisturizing is well needed! HEHE
Funny you should say that it dries out your skin. I did not dry mine and I double cleanse. Perhaps its the weather? Thanks for sharing!
This is available in Japanese pharmacy such as nishino in Singapore.
Not available in Sg. Don’t know abt the nishino as Liesl says.
I bought mine in Tokyo. I bought this with another more expensive one made from virgin olive oil. Kinda like the more expensive one better even though this one do its job ok.
Its got this “oily” smell that I dont like…but I guess its just me as it is a cleansing OIL anyway (sure will have oily smell). Hahahhaa
Liesl is right, available for about SGD17 at Nishino (Liang Court has one).
It’s not the cheapest cleansing oil in SG, esp if you compare it to Muji’s cleansing oil for only SGD13. but volume-wise, you get abt 30ml more with softymo, so it works out.
In any case, after using 3 bottles of Muji cleansing oil, I discovered that the sensitive skin version doesn’t wash off as well here in SG and too emollient. (I was using it in China previously – hard water, therefore the oiliness counteracts the skin drying effects of the water).
So i went out on a whim and bought this. I’ve used Fancl, Shu, Origins, Kanebo’s Freeplus (which is good but hard to find in SEA) so I decided to wing it with this. I’m very happy because it’s light and rinses out quite well. I do use a microfibre shammy to wash this off still but definitely easier to clean than the rest.
Glad to know it’s so much cheaper in HK! It’s a crazy price seeing how better cleansing oil prices start at about RMB100 in China. (HKD abt same as RMB). I might just go stock up there next time too.
Wow! so many good review on this CO, wonder if its suitable for oily/combination skin? Considering grab a few when i down to Macau later…
Hi, i am a fan of Softymo cleansing oil since reading your review, bought my first bottle when i was in Taiwan. It turns out good as your review and good news~~ Rakuten global market got worldwide shipping for Softymo products.
http://global.rakuten.com/zh-tw/category/beauty/skin_care/cleansing/oil/kose/
Glad you like it too Lynn 🙂 It’s also stocked at Sasa.com and I’ve bought it from there before but I don’t shop at Sasa.com anymore because their service now really sucks. Pity. They have lots of interesting stuff.
Sorry, i was over excited and overlook the deliver countries, Malaysia is not inclusive .. =(