When I asked for your opinions on whether one should use cleansing oils even if you don’t use makeup, I had a few readers (Shay, Kay Es etc) ask for my thoughts on the cleansing oils I’ve used. Eeks! Do you know how long I’ve been at it and how many I’ve been through? haha…
But I do like using cleansing oils and I have found some that I like and will merrily tell you to buy (provided you don’t buy them all and leave nothing for me 😛 ) and I have also found some that do not work for me.
As for how to use cleansing oil to avoid that oily feel after cleansing, try reading my earlier tip on how to properly use cleansing oils. Proper emulsification will reduce the oily feel, but a lot also depends on the texture of the cleansing oil in question. The oily feeling never goes away for some I’ve tried, even if you emulsify like crazy.
So, from memory, here is a quick run down of the cleansing oils I’ve used. Its long, so make sure you have food and water on hand so you don’t expire 😛
Kanebo Blanchir Make Off Conditioner (full review)
One of my first introductions to cleansing oils. The texture is light and I usually need only 2-3 pumps. It emulsifies easily and it leaves my skin feeling soft and clean. It was a staple for a long time and I still have a bottle I got at a sale (I try to buy it on sale whenever I can) Its good! 🙂
Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil – various textures
Who hasn’t heard of Shu Uemura’s iconic product? I believe they are the ones who made cleansing oils famous in the Western world. The texture of the oil is quite thick and you need 3-4 pumps for optimum results. Sadly Shu Uemura cleansing oils break me out. I’ve tried almost every type they have and I get bumps and pimples within 2 uses. I don’t risk it anymore.
Kanebo Freshel C Cleansing Oil
This is an inexpensive cleansing oil I like. I don’t think I ever reviewed it and I’ve tossed my previous bottle before I could take a picture. It used to be sold in Watson’s and Sasa but I don’t know if we have it anymore. I stocked up and went through a few bottles. Its got no scent and the texture is lighter than Kanebo Blanchir Make Off Conditioner. But it cleans the skin well, does not break me out and is about as good as you get for the price you pay which for me is awesome.
Kose Softymo Whitening Cleansing Oil (full review)
A long time favourite. I stock up on this in Hong Kong or you can also purchase it at Sasa.com. I discovered it when it was still available here but its no longer. I don’t get any whitening though. The whitening version has a white label. You can read my review for my thoughts on it and why I love it so much.
Kose Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil (Picture here but no review yet)
This is the pink bottle of the Softymo cleansing oil, and its about the same except the texture feels lighter than the White one. I use 3-4 pumps and it does not leave my skin feeling oily, it cleans a treat (although waterproof mascara can take a bit of effort) and in general is a wonderful buy. Get it from Hong Kong or Sasa.com.
Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil (Picture here but no review yet)
This is the yellow bottle and the texture is the thickest of the 3. I use about 2-3 pumps of this one but despite it feeling thicker, it does not leave an oily residue, it emulsifies well and cleans the skin well. I experience no breakouts with this one and I love all 3 Kose Softymo cleansing oils I’ve tried.
Baviphat Two Times BB Cleansing Oil (full review)
Get it if you like the smell of petrol 😛 Leaves an oily residue on my skin. Blergh!
Kanebo Naive Kracie Cleansing Oil
I’m planning to review this properly soon (I’m almost done!) but just quickly, I don’t like this as much as I do the other Kanebo cleansing oils I’ve used. There is a scent and the texture feels thick. It also does not emulsify as well and takes a lot of work to clean off.
Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil (Mini Review based on sample)
I liked this one. It felt light on my skin and emulsified well. I only tried a sample though. The sample did not break me out but I can’t say the same with prolonged usage (although I don’t think it will)
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
This is DHC’s iconic product. They say its made with olive oil (If I’m not mistaken) and that one is sold every minute world wide. When I was active on makeup forums, you could not move for the raves for this product. So I went to Hong Kong, saw a store and picked up a bottle for about RM99 at the time. Used it for a week, nursed pimples and clogged pores. Cleared up skin, used it for another week and skin died again. Tossed it and chalked it up to an expensive mistake 😛 I recently tried a sample sachet I obtained randomly (might be when DHC first launched here – its available at Watson’s stores locally) and within 2 uses I broke out and had clogged pores. Clearly olive oil on my face is a no-no.
Kao Biore Cleansing Oil (full review)
I got mine in 2008 a while before it became available here. I love the scent which reminded me of green apples. It was alright but it was oily and sticky and took a long time to emulsify. It was nice that it could be used wet and I actually found that it worked better used wet but I found it too much work. It broke me out in the end with continuous use so it was tossed.
Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil (full review)
Some of you might remember this one which I told you about recently. Like the Biore one, this one too can be used wet and in fact, works much better wet than dry on my skin. It smells lovely and I enjoy using this in the morning and still am. Its not very good at removing makeup, but as I don’t use it for that purpose, I’m happy with it as a facial cleanser.
I Nuovi Cleanse Splash Away Makeup Cleansing Oil (full review)
Another inexpensive favourite that works well and is easy on the pocket. I only wish they made it a pump bottle instead of a pour bottle because it does get messy.
Pure Extra Virgin Olive Oil (full review and update)
And finally, I’ve done the whole use pure EVOO directly on your skin thing. You can read my experience and how I feel about it. In a nutshell, it was fine for a few days and then broke me out. I now only use EVOO to cook and for dipping bread. Its delicious that way 😛
Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (Full Review)
After many years, I revisited cleansing oils with one from Tatcha, and it proved to be a positive experience. Non-drying for my now dry skin, and removes makeup well and is a treat for the skin! Problem? Price and availability. But read the review to see what I really think of it!
Dr. Lewinns 4 Fusion Cleansing Oil (Full Review)
This one is a right treat! Well formulated, non drying at all and I might have been terribly tempted to return to using cleansing oils after so many years! There was a problem with its packaging though so I guess nothing is quite perfect 😛
Whew! Are you still with me? hehe… As far as I can recall, those are the cleansing oils I’ve tried to date and liked and hated. Happily for me, my skin is perfectly happy with inexpensive cleansing oils, while many pricier versions break me out. Do I say “Hooray!” at this point? 😉
Its a good thing that inexpensive versions work for me because I am liberal with the use of my cleansing oil. You have to be for it to properly clean and so you don’t tug on your skin too much. In the early days, I used to be more stingy with the oils, and I found that not only did it stick more to my skin, it clogged pores a little and also did not clean very well, double cleansing aside. But when I was more liberal with it, it in fact helped to unclog pores and cleaned makeup and skin so much better and even seemed to emulsify better too.
Some tips on using cleansing oils properly based on my experience:-
- Don’t stinge on the oil. 3 pumps of oil from most brands is usually the optimum. If its more liquid you can get away with 2 or 2.5 pumps. The oil helps unclog pores if you use enough.
- Add water gradually. If you find that the oil you use leaves an oily residue, it could be the oil, or it could be that it was not properly emulsifies. Add water to the skin a little at a time and massage the skin lightly. You will find the oil turning white. Keep adding water in gradual amounts until it runs clear. If you do it properly, there will be no oily feel left on the skin.
- Cleansing oils do not clog pores if you emulsify it properly. Always start with dry hands and face and add water gradually. You cannot splash off cleansing oils without emulsifying first.
- Using warm water helps emulsify the oils better. This is why I tend to use cleansing oils in the shower. I wash my face before I shower so I can use the warm water which I find helps the oils emulsify better.
So its probably a good thing that my skin can tolerate most inexpensive oil cleanser and at the rate I run through my oils, if I were to be stuck on Shu Uemura or DHC I’d be broke 😉 I am using other brands and will continue to use other brands from time to time – I love experimenting and trying out new cleansing oils – and when I do, you can be sure I’ll let you know how they fare in upcoming reviews 🙂
Now, of all of the above, which ones have you tried and do you have comments or likes or dislikes? Do you have one I have not tried that you think I should try because its oh-so-wonderful? Share! 😀
Paris B
I love this review! I’ve been wanting to try the Softymo and Freshel one but I’m still working my way through DHC (luckily it doesn’t break me out but I always double cleanse, but it kills my eyes OMG!!!). Do you find your eyes sting if any of these oils get into your eyes?
Lastly, I heard from MyMakeUpReviews that pure coconut oil works really well too… would have loved to see a review on that too!
Yay glad you enjoyed reading this 🙂 I always double cleanse and one or two may sting my eyes if they get into my eyes but nothing I’d notice. I do notice they tend to get cloudy if I use it to remove mascara. But otherwise I’ve not really faced much problems with cleansing oils except the breaking out bit. I haven’t tired coconut oil. After my last horrible experience with olive oil, I’m quite loathe to try anymore of these “natural oil cleansers”. I prefer to stick to the commercial ones that emulsify and are easier to use 😉
My all time favourite cleansing oil was HABA’s cleansing oil (the original formula) which has squalane oil in it.
Unfortunately after going through a few bottles, they changed the formula which does not agree with me. Can’t get the original formula one anymore, even in Japan.
My least favourite is Shu’s – same problem that you have with them, whichever formula i tried.
I hadn’t tried HABA – I always wanted to though, the one with squalene. So they don’t make that anymore? Guess I won’t be trying it then 😛
HABA still sells cleansing oil but the new formula which can be used with damp (not wet) hands/ face, unlike most cleansing oils.
However it has less % of squalane than the original formula and after using it I feel as if there’s some film of some sort over my skin (like fancl’s – see below).
It’s strange because I normally only get this type of feeling with mineral oils and squalane is a natural oil and HABA products do not contain any mineral oil.
Fancl also states that its cleansing oil does not contain mineral oils but it doesnt agree with me either.
definitely Fancl! I’ve gone through many bottles already. You must try it when you visit Singapore!
Ahhh ok I shall have to look up Fancl when I go to Singapore next 😀
After reading so many raves about Fancl cleansing oil, recently i managed to get my hands on a bottle as well as DHC.
Unfortunately, I do not like it at all – i feel as if there’s a film of some sort left on my face.
Even though DHC deep cleansing oil is much thicker, my skin felt much cleaner than Fancl.
Thank you for sharing Rudi! I wonder if it’ll work for me then. I guess there’s no better way to know than to give it a go! 😉
Woahh!! I love this post! Glad to hear good things about the red Kanebo cleansing oil – shall try to get it at their next warehouse sale 🙂 Same goes for Inuovi. Would like to try the Kose Softymos as well. Cute bottles!
I didn’t know Bobbi Brown and MAC gave cleansing oil samples. Must go and ask. I get such a kick out of receiving little sachets full of product! 😉
I got my BB samples but I haven’t tried MAC. I must use up my cleansing oil stash or I can’t try new ones! >.<
FANCL Mild Cleansing Oil! If I line up all the bottles of FANCL MCO that I have used over the years, I probably can fill up few cardboxes!
Goodness! That good huh? Guess I better check this out then! 😀
Wow wow wow, you have tried so many!
My fav is a cleansing oil made up of extra virgin olive oil. It’s a Japanese brand which is even difficult to find online. Got it when I was in Tokyo 2 yrs ago. But since it is so hard to find, forget it. I’ll be trying others when I finish with my current bottle.
I didn’t know that I should use so many pumps of oil. I use 1 pump and was ok for me. Maybe I try with more tomorrow.
Ya have been around a while LOL! 😉 I’m breaking out just reading “Extra virgin olive oil” 😛 For some reason, my skin just hates it! Perhaps the oils you use work well enough with 1 pump – most don’t for me 😉
Haha…it’s a commercial cleansing oil. But on the bottle it says made of evo. I tried using 2 pumps. So slippery that some dripped onto the sink. But no diff for me. 😛
Can’t believe you’ve tried so many of them! Such in-depth research over the years. I’m an amateur compared to you in the field of cleansing oils 🙂 First one was Shu Uemura (yellow version) which I purchased twice and did fine by me except it was a tad pricey. Also didn’t quite see what the fuss was since it was just .. fine. Now I’m on Biore which is good enough as well.
LOL yes yes cleansing oil research 😉 I was never one to stay with just one for very long. The most I ever used from 1 brand would be the Kanebo Blanchir and Kose Softymo ones
The I Nuovi one has weird German written on it. xD
Really? haha… maybe they can’t read German 😉 What does it say?
I’m on my first bottle of cleansing oil now (Biore). It stings my eyes like craaaaazy! I do use quite alot so I’m only gonna use the cheaper ones for now. What about Pure Beauty?
Yikes! I dislike anything that stings my eyes. I’m not familiar with Pure Beauty – where do I get that?
I used SKII’s cleansing oil before… It wasn’t called cleansing oil, some fancier name which I don’t recall… hahah.a.. no breakouts, skin clear 🙂
Now I’m using Biore’s~~ Love the smell but like what u said, it’s a little sticky but with a little work, all my makeup comes off 🙂 hahah… no clogged pores whatsoever… does its job and is easy on the wallet! Been wanting to try shu’s but a little worried I might get breakouts… I’ve got some mini samples of cleansing oils from Korea… can’t wait to try them out!!
Glad to know the Biore one works for you! 😀 At least its inexpensive and it does smell nice right? See if you can get samples from Shu – they sometimes give them if you ask nicely 😉
i have only used shu uemura so far and adore it. before discovery of cleansing oils my eyes were a mess every evening when i’d take my make up off. all other cleansers irritated them a lot. i want to try kose ones now too.
Wow you’ve tried a lot of different cleansing oils!!! I just bought the DHC one, and so far I like it and haven’t had breakouts (even though I am prone to acne). It’s the only cleansing oil I’ve used so far – I didn’t even know there were that many different ones out there!
Haha yes there are LOADS of different brands with cleansing oils, especially from Asian brands. I’m always up to trying more 😀
you should try origin’s. it’s rm88 if i’m not mistaken. works so much better than shu uemura’s 😉
I’ve only tried the Biore one and pure EV Olive oil. I think the Biore one is effective, but not really olive oil, because pure oil can’t emulsify well(if at all), when it touches water.
I have been using Laneige Refreshing Cleansing Oil ever since I started makeup, and I can never find anything that even comes close! It’s effective with all my water/smudge-proof liquid liners, all my best-staying mascaras. And yet it is so soft, gentle, mild, even leaves my face in this tender state after washing off everything!
It was recommended by my facialist, and I’ve never found the need to look for better ones ever since.
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I can’t use a lot of cleansing oils, including many counter brand ones, because they contain mineral oil. I am very sensitive to that.
Found this blog while browsing for d price of dermalogica pre cleanse..I tried pre cleanse from the sample they gave when you buy their cleanser, it is an AH-MAZING product but a bit pricey. So all this time i use clinique make up remover and since started using origins, I bumped into their cleansing oil- Origins Clean Energy 200ml RM90 and currently I’m loving it. Have you tried it? It’s a bit thicker than dermalogica and I actually prefer dermalogica but for now, I’ll stick to Origins coz its cheaper 🙂
I share the same sentiments abt Shu Uemura oil, it sure breaks me out like mad too!
So far, my fav of the fav is still FANCL, it nvr breaks me out, unclogs n clean my skin so well in fact i enjoy “rubbing” out the tiny bits, sometimes i feel high abt it! haha.. the best part, it does a good job in removing waterproof eye makeups and even lash glue so effortlessly! i’ll team this product w/ Fancl’s powder facial wash, my face feels so clean and smooth after cleansed and there’s no tightening feel at all, keeps it soft and supple! just love it! =D
Hi Paris,
I’ve tried the ? O S É Seikisho Perfect Cleansing Oil and it’s worked beautifully : not too oily, nice scent and leave smooth skin. However after using it almost 2 weeks, It gave me big acne on forehead & chin, very scary ! I’ve never had that kind of acne before so I guessed that must be the source. I switched to Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser oil free but give me break out :((
This happened eventhough I use H2O Marine Cleanser Gel oil free & ? O S É Seikisho Black Bar Soap afterwards.
Maybe I don’t need to use cleansing oil for my acne-prone, combination skin ? I only put BRTC Blemish Recover Balm & pressed powder actually..
Any thoughts, Paris ?
It maybe that there’s an ingredient in there that isn’t suitable for your skin. Some oils break me out too even if I cleanse properly. If you use makeup, there will be a need to use a makeup remover. Cleansing oils may not be it, but there are other options, like a cream remover or maybe a cleansing water like the famed Bioderma (we can’t get it in Malaysia) although I’m told Caudalie Cleansing Water is quite good too. I just got mine, so I’ll try it and see what I think 🙂
I heard (or read at somewhere) that cleansing oils are two kinds: ones made with mineral oil and ones made with mixture of vegetable oils.. I have oily skin and almost pretty sure of myself that I will definitely react to vegetable oils but I did used a cleansing oil (still using, about to be finished, though) with mineral oils, even though they are not prefered consciously because mineral oil is a side product of refined petroleum. My favorite was Kose’s perfect cleansing oil but I bought Sephora’s cleansing oil, hope it treats well to my face, too. But after reading you review about Kanebo, I will definitely buy that!
ditto
My Skin type-Sensitive , oily skin with dehydrated surface. (complex hor)
too much of oil control products will lead to dry skin n result the pimple to be “stuck” below my dehydrated surface.hiaz.
Back to review:
After several attempts on SU- white, yellow, pink … it ended up with clogged pores n pimples (oil seeds n even nodules. ) so sad!
SU CO was so highly raved and makes me think whether am I the only 1 with problem. Glad that I bump into page n realise that i’m not alone.
Verdict-SU does cause break out.
Other than SU, I tried several brands -DHC, Fancl, BB, biore pores.(I wasn’t convinced as I was told cleansing oil suppose will curb the facial oil)….AND still, clog my pores. But I do agree that it make your skin feel fresh after wash.
Finally, I gave up. tried Cleansing milk and Now i’m using Cleasing water aka. Michellar Solution. mainly pharmaceutical brands-Avene, LA roche and currently Bioderma ( a clinical brand).
Verdict-not as efficient as CO, as you have to wipe off BB cream with 2-3 solution soaked cotton.
IT does clean and minimise outbreak.
Saw Bioderma in most of the Dubai pharmacy. Seems to be very popular in Dubai.
You should to try Kanebo Impress IC Brightening make off remover, I found it can clean the keratin and the small pimple at the nose out. The smell like the Bulgarian rose, nice. Really Love it and wan to share my experience with you all.