The number of cleansing oils I’ve dabbled in is mind boggling (read about all the cleansing oils I’ve tried here if you have the time 😛 ). The number grows day after day because I’m always a little curious about the cleansing oils out there. But how did I fall into this trap then?
Let’s start at the very beginning… 🙂
I was first introduced to cleansing oils and the concept of double cleansing through Kanebo. I’ve been going to their salons for facials for years and still am! I picked up my first bottle of the Kanebo Blanchir Make Off Conditioner there. Despite the rather strange name, what this is, is a cleansing oil – or the first step in the double cleansing routine.
I went through quite a few bottles in my time, before I started branching out. Recently, I decided to go back to this (Its gone through about 3 changes in packaging since the first time I used it) and wouldn’t you know? I fell back in love with it! So, here we are, revisiting my first love and wondering why I ever strayed 🙂
I must say that I love the packaging. The tall red bottle is elegant and I love how it looks in the shower. Superficial thoughts, but there you go 🙂 The pump is very good. It dispenses just the right amount you need, and 2 to 3 pumps is what I use every evening. Its pricey, but I’ve also learnt that you need sufficient oil to do a decent cleansing job of your skin. (You can read some of my tips for using cleansing oils effectively here and also here)
There is no scent and unlike many cleansing oils I’ve used since, the texture of this one isn’t very oily at all. Its in fact, got a slightly thick viscous texture and does not feel like oil on the skin, rather like a thick clear liquid gel. I’m not sure if I’m making any sense, but it feels different.
2-3 pumps of this product coats my skin with a layer of the oil and allows me enough lubrication to massage off the day’s dirt and makeup. I find that sometimes, while massaging the oil on my skin, I feel these little gritty bits under my fingers which I’m told is dirt getting dislodged from our skin, and sometimes also, when I run my fingers over a congested bit of skin (usually around my chin) I find blackheads being dislodged. This is part of the reason I like my cleansing oils. Those that do work for me, do an excellent job at cleaning my skin and contrary to the name, do not clog my pores (unless the ingredients do not agree with my skin). This one however, seems to do a better job than many others I’ve used and I’m just noticing it recently, now that I’m reusing it.
The only down side is that I’ve found that this one does not remove waterproof eye makeup very well. I therefore take a little time to remove my eye makeup first these days, before using this to remove my facial makeup. There are additional benefits to doing this as I will share with you in a later post 🙂
When water is introduced, the oil turns into a milky liquid and cleans off quite easily without leaving my skin feeling dry or tight or over-cleansed. This is something I like. Some cleansing oils leave my skin feeling stripped but this doesn’t, and my skin feels soft and clean. I love it! 😀
In a nutshell
The Kanebo Blanchir Make Off Conditioner is a cleansing oil that does not feel like a traditional cleansing oil in that it does not feel oily like most. It feels almost like a thick viscious gel and the clear liquid does not get everywhere when you apply it to the skin. The thickness of the liquid makes it easy to massage the skin and it cleans my skin very well without drying it out. My skin feels soft and very clean without feeling dry or stripped. Although its pricey, I find that I use less and it lasts longer than most.
Pros: Skin feels clean and soft and smooth without drying out, I like the slightly thicker texture, Emulsifies easily without leaving an oily feel on the skin, Packaging looks good
Cons: Does not clean off waterproof eye makeup as well as some other cleansing oils, Pricey
The Kanebo Blanchir line is also a skin brightening range and I believe that this cleansing oil also helps the skin look brighter and clearer. Does it work for this? I’m not sure, but I do like this one and my skin is presently looking much better than its had for a long time. I’m not sure if its related. Its pricier than most cleansing oils I use, but it feels like it does a better job than most and I actually use less so it lasts longer.
I’m fickle about my cleansing oils, and I rotate them a lot. I have the ones I like from the lower end of the price scale, which I am always more generous with when I use. I however do not try many higher end cleansing oils, this being one of the rare few I have. I am curious though … as always 😀
Has anyone used the Kanebo Blanchir Make Off Conditioner and like it too? Do you like cleansing oils too? If you do, which is your favourite? 😀
Paris B
Kanebo Blanchir Make Off Conditioner Cleansing Oil Price: Last known price was RM125 /150ml Availability: Kanebo counters and salons nationwide
Yay for cleansing oils! And yes, I agree with you, it does a good job at dislodging black heads and white heads too (yuck! gross!). Because of my fickle skin, I’ve only used Shu Uemura and have not got the guts to venture far to experiment. I love that it removes everything and makes my skin feel so clean! The comfortable sort of clean. I usually use the oil at the vanity and then hop into the shower to cleanse my face with my regular cleanser. That way, I can be sure every last trace of the oil cleanser has been washed off.
I can’t use Shu but yep! I love that its so much easier to remove makeup and cleanse ski at one go. I actually keep my oils in the shower (away from the actual water of course) and use it before I actually shower. I find warm water works much better to emulsify the oils too 🙂
Hi,
A bit off topic – you mentioned that you go to their salons for facials. Are the beauticians there pushy in getting you buy their products? I have always wanted to try these sort of facial salons but hate getting pushed to buy their products.
Hi Jenn, I’ve been going to their salons for quite a few years now. I only stayed on because they aren’t as pushy as others I’ve been to. They do make suggestions on what you could purchase or they do tell you about packages they have but if you decline, they don’t usually push on. I could never have stayed at a salon if they were pushy 😉
I LOOOVE cleansing oil, and you actually introduced me to it! 😀
I agree will this post, only that I use a cheaper one –> Hada Labo SHA Cleansing Oil. It’s my first cleansing oil purchased and I was skeptical initially but after using it, I totally fell in love with it. My skin doesn’t react to it and what I love about this cleansing oil is that when I massage it on my face, I felt the oil warmed up to the heat from my palm and like you said, I could feel those gritty bits and I know it’s working on unclogging my pores.
Thanks so much Paris, for loving cleansing oil! You got me converted! 😀
Oh wow! Can’t believe I got ou hooked onto cleansing oils 😀 I’m glad you are liking the benefits of using it and that the Hada Labo one works for you. That broke me out but it’s a pity because it would have been so much more affordable 🙂
Cleaning oil works for my skin especially with make-up.
I like Biore (pink bottle). Is cheap and works well.
Indeed! I like the one step makeup remover and cleansing process 🙂 sadly the Biore breaks me out but glad to hear it works for you 🙂
For waterproof eyeliner, you may try Simple eye remover, it works for me as I only use waterproof eyeliner and mascara.
Im using the Biore eye makeup remover. Have you tried that? Works quite well 🙂
I discovered that to remove the stubbornest of gel liners and mascaras, you need to massage/rub the area gently a little longer. Most of the times it’s not the product that you cannot remove, but the “residue” of the black products left when you clean them off. Took me a LONG time to realize that hahaha
I find that some waterproof mascara are more stubborn than others, because some if them do wash out with warm water although they are waterproof. I love those. Massaging the eye area with the oil does work but there are reasons why I don’t like that. Will be sharing some thoughts about this very topic soon 😉
Oh my, I remember this! You blogged about this donkey years ago! This was what got me hooked onto cleansing oils. Whenever I go for facials at Kanebo, the beauty therapist would use this to cleanse my face. I had a number of samples of these, bottles which I still keep to pour cleansing oil in when I travel 😛
My favourite cleansing oils are from Biore (the one that you don’t like :P) and Dermalogica (PreCleanse). After reading Sesame’s post on double-cleansing when you use sunscreen, I’ve taken to doing this on a daily basis, whether I have makeup on or not.
Haha yes! I talked about this years and years ago and I really do like it still which is a relief 😀 I quite like the Dermalogica one too and I also double cleanse when I don’t use makeup but intake a day off once a week if I don’t at makeup. I’m not sure why, but I just do lol!
Have you tried Bobbi Brown’s oil cleanser? I like that and Shu Uemura’s. I’m now trying DHC and Hada Labo but I’m still loving the texture of the previous two. Haven’t tried this before though. It’s definitely on my “to try” list =)
I tried a sample of the Bobbi Brown oil. I remember liking the light texture and the scent but I never bought it. Shu Uemura and DHC oils break me out as does Hada Labo 🙁
I’ve used Hada Labo before and it cause me breakouts. I don’t know what is inside it that cause me breakouts. I bought a big bottle and aft using it for like 4 times, I have to toss it away. Then I used SK-II cleansing oil. Its really good, i can feel something coming out from my face when I use it, dirt on my face maybe, or blackheads. haha… I never change to any brands aft that. The Kanebo Blanchir looks nice, I might wanna try it when I finish my SK-II. ^^
I break it from Hada Labo too so its not just you 🙂 for me, the ingredient that causes problems is olive oil. So I stay away from oils that contain olive oil. I haven’t tried SKII yet but it sounds like a good one! If you do try the Kanebo Blanchir one I hope you’ll like it 🙂
I haven’t tried this exact brand but your question made me think, WHEN DID I REALLY START on cleansing Oils? I do know it’s Shu but I’m not sure how I learned about it, I just know I was at the Shu counter trying on the green variant and even circled round the area deciding if I should really spend THAT Much for a makeup cleanser 🙂 Obviously, the answer was YES so that’s where it all started!
😀
Lol I know what you mean about thinking if I should spend so much on a cleaner, but I’m glad I did! 😀
On a totally unrelated note, you got me humming do-re-mi all day long after reading the title of your post haha. As always I enjoy reading your posts!
I am also experiencing “Sound-of-Music syndrome” after saw the title of her post.. 🙂
Haha you, Kate are the first person to notice and mention this, and guess what? It’s exactly what I intended. I was humming it all morning too lol!
Good call PB! 😀 Thanks to you I have a feel-good song resonating in my head all day long haha! Now on a more related note, I too am a fan of cleansing oils and have tried a fair share of offerings but I veered away after trying RMK’s cleansing balm… and might I add, haven’t looked back since!
*makes notes* RMK Cleansing Balm you say? I’m going to probably regret this, but will take a look next time I pass by a counter teehee… 😉
Oooh! This is a pretty bottle! Sorry, I’m a sucker for packaging!! I haven’t tried Kanebo skincare before but for you to return to it, it’s gotta be good, right?
Haha yes! The bottle is so simple and elegant isn’t it? Compared to the rest out there. I used to use Kanebo skincare for the most part, the whole range! But I now just use the ones that work best for me, because I learnt that not everything in a range works for me 😛
recently, i have the habit of removing eye makeup first before using cleansing oil to cleanse the face, so now it doesn’t really matter if the cleansing oil can’t remove waterproof stuff very well anymore 😀
Whoa! High 5! I’ve been doing this too after a long time and I think it’s better actually. Thoughts will come soon! 😉
tried estee lauder’s cleansing oil. caused lots of breakouts. never dare touch any cleansing oil again…
Ooh I’d never come across a cleansing oil by Estée Lauder! Do you have the name? It might be something in there that doesn’t agree with your skin, which is a pity!
it was in a dark blue bottle, that i’m sure. but the name, i think it was ‘take it away’ if i did not mix it up with something else. that was at least 3 years ago.
Ah ok I looked it up and it must have slipped through my radar because I don’t remember it. Maybe they don’t make it anymore 🙂
my favourite would be hada labo & sofymo one 🙂 nowadays to be on the safer side i used biore cleansing oil in cotton wipes first before i use cleansing oil if i am on heavy makeup, or else immediately i go for cleanser if there is no eye makeup at all
Yay for Softymo! They should seriously start bringing it back here 😛
Shu Uemura all the way! Removes everything including waterproof mascara.
Glad shunworks for you 🙂 breaks me out something awful 🙁
I have a Kanebo Freshel cleansing oil but I’ve stopped using it. Too oily at first, then too stripping after fully cleansed.. 🙁 The SA at the Kanebo warehouse sale tried to persuade me to get the red Blanchir cleansing oil (your fave) but I demurred based on price point. Ooh, regret lah now! Currently using DHC deep cleansing oil. I can feel the gritty bits with this one! 😉
I used to use Freshel too. I thought it was alright. Not wonderful, but not awful for me although I found I needed a lot of it to work well, and it was a little drying. The DHC oil is supposed to be very good too. Too bad it breaks me out so I can’t compare 😛
I like Kanebo (better than Shiseido) and I love cleansing oils! 🙂 This one has fallen off my radar after I gave my loyalty to FANCL cleansing oil for years. But now that you mentioned it, I think I will pledge my loyalty to it again. My love for cleansing oil knows no bounds. 🙂
A girl after my own heart 😀 I haven’t tried the Fancl oil you’ve mentioned here. Since you like the Kanebo one, that I do, I’m sure I’ll like the Fancl one that you do! 🙂
Hate the pink Biore one as it caused drying out and peeling.
Tried the Bobbi Brown one a while ago, but don’t remember if I would want to repurchase it.
MAC one is still okay.
Haven’t tried other drugstore products, not without sampling them beforehand.
I’ve heard the MAC one is quite good but I haven’t tried it. The Biore one broke me out 🙁
Just wondering… How does this fare compare to Hada Labo cleansing oil?
I have not been using other brands cleansing oil other than hada Labo due to the high price XD
Is it really worth spending so much on a good cleansing oil?
Well the Hada Labo oil breaks me out so if asked to compare I’d say this ones better for me. It doesn’t feel as oily as Hada Labo. As for whether an expensive cleansing oil is better, I’d say it depends. I use inexpensive brands as well as pricier brands of cleansing oil and some work for me while others don’t. I think its more to do with how much you’d like to spend and how much you like the product. If the Hada Labo one works for you, there is probably no need to change 😉