Where to purchase: Yesstyle: LINK / Stylevana: LINK
Price: £13.75 / $16.75
Volume: 230ml
Made in: Japan
What is it?: A Cleansing Oil.
What does it do?: Remove makeup + stubborn mascara + excess dirt + oily residue.
Aims to: Cleanse without leaving an oily residue + doesn’t dry out the skin. It’s supposed to dissolve all types of makeup from waterproof mascara to foundation. The brand states you don’t need to cleanse with anything else (i.e. a double cleanse) when using this product (i.e. it’s that good).
Supposedly Good for: Dry, Oily, Combination + Acne-prone skin.
What I think: I agree all skin types could use this as it’s not a heavy oil. Also this did not exacerbate my pimples.
How does this differ from the other Kose Softmyo Cleansing Oils?: This speedy version is the only one that is Fragrance + EO Free and can also be used with wet hands. It is also supposed to be the most effective out of the three at even washing off waterproof mascara. The Yellow Version contains Macadamia Nut Oil and Rice Bran Oil (focuses more on pore care). The White Version instead contains Almond Oil and Rice Bran Oil and is meant to help brighten the skin at the same time.
Vegan?: No.
Cruelty Free?: Still sells in China.
How long does it last after opening?: 12 Months.
pH: N/A
Packaging: Plastic Bottle with a Pump Mechanism. This also comes with a safety hinge that you slide in between the pump to stop it from pumping/leaking in a bag.
Note: Refills are available to ease up on packaging: LINK / LINK.
- I like this pump as it doesn’t get jammed / break or get clogged.
Directions: Apply dry onto the face and massage. Once this has emulsified (turned milky) wash this off thoroughly.
How I use it: I use this to initially dissolve my makeup. Because this doesn’t sting the eyes, I am able to use this to gently dissolve eye makeup. It doesn’t remove my Kohl/Eyeliner/Waterproof Mascara fully at first use, so I do need to apply again (and sometimes again) to remove the eye makeup fully. But it does ”speedily” remove the rest of my makeup well. 1 pump is enough to cover the face. Another pump for the neck and if you want some extra for the eyes (as this is a lightweight oil, it spreads far). This emulsifies easily when water is added so it’s easy to wash off as well.
Key Ingredients: Olive Oil + Safflower Seed Oil (Emollients). FYI: Olive oil is a common base with good cleansing oils as it dissolves makeup quite effectively (along with the added ingredients).
Other Key Ingredients: These are emollients such as Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil (another common oil in makeup cleansing oils), Jojoba seed oil and Corn Oil.
Full Ingredients: Mineral Oil, PEG-8 Glyceryl Isostearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclomethicone, Water, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Safflower Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Corn Germ Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol
NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE
Texture: A lightweight oil that’s not sticky.
Does this dry out the skin?: If I just used this to remove SPF, then yes. When washing off makeup (as there’s more to wash off), this doesn’t dry out the skin as much. But I wouldn’t recommend using this as a regular everyday cleanser as this works to remove makeup and has a higher cleansing power due to that.
Sticky?: No.
Greasy?: Yes due to the oil.
Balls up?: No.
- As you can see, this is a lightweight oil that runs down the hand.
Product Swatch Comparison: No Product (Left) VS Product (Right)
Does this Sting if the Skin has been Irritated / Sensitised by Shaving/Heavy Retinol Use?: No.
Summer or Winter?: Both Seasons.
Does this sting the eyes when cleansing?: No.
Video Swatch + See this under Water
- As you can see, this is a lightweight oil cleanser that simply slides down the hand.
Makeup Removal Test:
Liquid Waterproof Eye liner / Eye pencil / Eyebrow Pencil / Liquid Lip / Lipstick / Lip Line
Rule: Only Rub for 30 Seconds. Then add water and rub for 30 seconds. Wash but do not pat/wipe dry.
- As you can see, when water is added, this turns milky. Which makes it easier to wash off! It really thins out this product and you’re not left with a sticky residue
Good at removing Makeup?: As you can see, this is pretty decent! It did have a semi-tough time with the waterproof Eyeliner (This is the one I used), which I had the same issue with on the eyes (i.e. I have to double cleanse to remove the waterproof mascara/liner).
Fragrance?: Fragrance and Essential Oil Free (doesn’t smell of anything either).
How long have I been using this?: 2-3 Months.
Will I use until Completion?: Yes.
How Long will that take?: 1-2 Months.
The Effect?: The company stated this cleanses without leaving an oily residue. I agree. They said this doesn’t dry out the skin; I would say this doesn’t if I’m removing makeup but as a regular cleanser, it does make my skin feel slightly tight. They also state this dissolves all types of makeup quickly and effectively with one cleanse: I think it’s definitely good and does a good job, but I do need another cleanse for tough waterproof eye makeup (at least).
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What I like:
- Fragrance + EO Free
- Emulsifies when washing off (i.e. easy to remove + no leftover residue)
- Thin texture
- Did not sting / irritate my eyes or skin
- Didn’t dry-out my skin
- Effective at removing most makeup (see the cons for the exceptions)
What I don’t like:
- I still need to double cleanse/cleanse again in order to remove waterproof eye makeup fully
- Will dry my skin if I just use this as a regular cleanser (i.e. not for makeup removal)
Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4 (nearly a 3.9)/ 5 – This is a decent makeup dissolving oil and I understand why it’s popular. I don’t think it’s as effective as the DHC cleansing oil, but I would say this is slightly better than it’s alternative (due to texture) the Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil. I appreciate that this has a lightweight texture and that it emulsifies when washing off. I also appreciate that this is Fragrance + EO Free. I do think all skin types could use this as it’s not heavy, and also this is easy to wash off which is great.
Note: If you want to simply sample/test out this cleansing oil; a smaller, travel-friendly version is available: LINK / LINK.
Would I repurchase?: I would look to see if there are more effective cleansing oil alternatives, but I wouldn’t mind repurchasing this if I had to (still does the job).
Dupe?: A similar dupe is the Pyunkang Yul Cleansing oil: LINK (Although I think the Kose cleansing oil is slightly better).
- Another Dupe is the Youlief Key Cleansing Oil: Swatches + Review. (Fragrance + EO Free).
- The DHC Cleansing Oil (contains scents however): Swatches + Review.
Still one of the best cleansing oils out there in terms of effectiveness.
My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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