On my way home or along routes I frequently take, I always seem to spot The Face Shop. Other drugstores are far away, and while Aritaum is about as close as The Face Shop and quite interesting, for some reason I just don't feel like going to The Face Shop. Even when I deliberately search for good products on the Hwahae app, I either don't need anything right away or, even if I do, I'm not drawn to their offerings. I'm absolutely not anti-The Face Shop though! I actually enjoy visiting Nature Collection.
Anyway, I bought this cleansing oil from a store I visited during a major sale. I feel like I've tried something from this line before, but I don't remember it making a big impression. This oil is just okay, and I'm using it well enough. Dealing with fine dust is one thing, but coming home after a long day of work, cleansing my face, and taking care of my skin has become both a daily routine and a pleasure for me. Especially important in this routine is using cleansing oil to remove makeup and manage my pores.
The oil is thin and has a fragrant scent. It doesn't make my skin feel stuffy, and it removes BB cream and Aritaum Idol Real Lash Fixer pretty well. I like to massage my face to remove makeup and extract sebum before emulsifying, and it seems like white sebum-like substances come out even from the pore openings. When I add a little water to start the emulsification process, it feels like the sebum is being expelled. As the emulsification progresses, it looks whiter than other oils - it really gives the impression of rice water! Of course, it's not actually rice water. Another advantage could be that irritating ingredients like parabens or ethanol don't appear to be present, at least on the surface.
By my standards, I'd say this cleansing oil ranks above average!
It's extremely thin. So thin that it runs down to my chin and fingers, dripping down my face even without adding water. While overly thick formulas can be irritating, this one is so runny that it's difficult to properly massage it.
Still, after a few rolls, you see clumps that make you wonder, "Is this all sebum?" But upon closer inspection, it seems these clumps are a combination of makeup dissolving on contact with the oil and skin barrier components mixing with the oil. I thought it was sebum and got excited, but the sebum from my nose only came out partially. Continued massaging does extract some, but noticeably less effectively than other products.
It also stings my eyes terribly. Could it be the caprylic acid, cetyl alcohol, or other emulsifiers? When I try to massage with my eyes open or while cleansing, it stings so much that I tear up. I probably didn't notice with other products because they didn't get into my eyes as easily. The thin consistency seems to allow the oil to enter the eyes more readily. The light texture does provide a smooth feeling and feels refreshing despite being for combination to dry skin. It's not as heavy as olive oil-based formulas like DHC, and the ingredient combination seems lighter compared to other products. While it's considered a stable product line, I don't think there's a significant difference in how the skin receives it. Quick-absorbing ingredients might clog pores if left on too long during cleansing, but most of these ingredients are likely washed away with water and second cleansing, right?
Some might be concerned about the addition of sorbeth even though it's free of phenoxyethanol and parabens. Sorbeth is also a PEG derivative, so those sensitive to PEGs should take note of this.
As mentioned earlier, the caprylic acid was irritating when it got into my eyes. Those with sensitive skin might experience stinging. However, if it's thoroughly rinsed off, it shouldn't be a problem post-cleansing. But if irritation occurs while it's on the skin, it could lead to open pores and a burning sensation.
Like all cleansing oils, preservatives and emulsifiers are necessary in cosmetics. Isopropyl myristate is a very common emulsifier, and along with others, it helps blend oil and water-based ingredients in cleansing oils. Emulsifiers like cetyl ethylhexanoate, isopropyl myristate, and polyglyceryl tend to give a refreshing, smooth feel without stickiness and good spreadability. In skincare, these emulsifiers can help functional ingredients penetrate the skin, but they can also potentially clog pores or cause acne. Natural ingredients like rice bran oil or kukui nut oil also lack sufficient research on potential side effects. There are many ingredients commonly used that are rated EWG 1 or below, but with no research to back up their safety. It seems illogical - "This is safe, but we don't know why." People are starting to question standards like Skindip and Ecocert due to these ambiguities. I've experienced this too - buying products for their "good" ingredients only to find them irritating, while seemingly "worse" ingredients cause no irritation. It's hard to establish objective criteria with such individual variations.
There are also cases where ingredients are listed due to their presence in the manufacturing process, even if they're not added directly. This can lead to inconsistencies in labeling across products. It's quite unfair and confusing for consumers.
I hope this explanation isn't too convoluted. To sum up, I experienced some eye stinging. The sebum extraction wasn't great but not entirely ineffective. It removed makeup well, but for heavy mascara or color makeup, a separate remover is necessary. I always do a second cleanse, so I made sure to thoroughly clean my pores with a foaming cleanser.
Personally, while this cleansing oil isn't bad, it's not exceptionally good either. It's above average, but with so many cleansing oils of similar quality available, I won't be repurchasing it.
