Shea Moisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Sensitive Skin Facial Cleansing Oil

Describe the brand in three words.

Hair. USA. Affordable.

What type of cleanser is it?

Oil - on the heavier side

Who is it for?

Advertised as being for everyone, but I would beware if you're particularly acnaic.

What’s in it?

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter**, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Wax, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Rosa Canina Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Balanites Aegyptiaca Kernel Oil, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

What's not in it?

mineral oil, parabens, the usual

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

fragrance, shea butter

Suitable for pregnancy?

Yes

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

A mixture of organic and natural

Tested on animals in home country/EU/sold in territories that advocate testing?

No/No/No

How does it smell?

Not strong at all, faintly 'herbal', and certainly unfragranced, which is odd, given that it says it contains essential oil fragrance

How do you use it?

Apply to dry skin, massage in, remove with flannel. You can totally emulsify if you prefer, and splash off, but eew. 

First cleanse/second cleanse or AM cleanse?

Second cleanse, AM cleanse OR a simple cleanse in the evening if you're not wearing a ton of makeup. 

Best for winter or summer?

Either.

Does it remove waterproof eye makeup?

Yes.

How long did I test it for?

I've had it for a few weeks, used sporadically.

How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?

$9.99 for 118ml. One pump dispenses a lot of product, so I tend to use half a pump. It will last a good while.

Works well with?

Anything. 

What’s the website like?

Good. It lists the ingredients and it's easy to navigate.

How’s the distribution? Available freely or limited?

It's in Target and Ulta, so good.

What’s good about it?

This is a good, affordable cleansing oil. It removes makeup, although I actually like it as a second cleanse or to remove lighter makeup. What it's really good for is massage. A small amount, giving grip, not slip, is great for this routine, which is rather mortifyingly, my very first blog post. However, it still stands as a good massage routine and can stay up until I update it. 

The oil is quite heavy, it's not runny, so apply half a pump, spread across the ends of your fingers, get on to your face, and have at it.

What’s not so good about it?

Not much. It works. It's not extortionate. Try it.

Would I purchase/repurchase?

Yes. It's good.

Do you need it?

If you need an affordable cleansing oil, absolutely.

Similar products?

The Body Shop Camomile Oil

Caudalie Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil

Una Brennan Vitamin C (although not nearly as thick, quite runny)

Shea Moisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Sensitive Skin Facial Cleansing Oil is $9.99 and available from SheaMoisture.com

*This post contains some affiliate links. See my full disclaimer here: http://bit.ly/1rpEmSq
The views expressed on this site are the author's own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a suitable professional should you have any such concerns.

Josh Rosebrook Herbal Infusion Oil

Describe the brand in three words.

Natural. American. White (packaging!)

What type of cleanser is it?

'3-in-1 Oil Cleanser'

Who is it for?

Everyone

What’s in it?

Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, Sunflower Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Sesame Oil, Apricot Oil, Almond Oil, Calendula, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow Root, Bilberry, Neem, Alfalfa, Skullcap, Fennel, Chickweed, Ginkgo, Hawthorn Berry, Green Tea, Rosewood Essential Oil, Damask Rose Essential Oil, Rose Geranium Essential Oil

What's not in it?

Mineral oil

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

Essential oils

Suitable for pregnancy?

Yes

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

Organic, vegan

Tested on animals in home country/EU/sold in territories that advocate testing?

No/No/No

How does it smell?

Herbal. No pun intended. Nice herbal, not coriander (cilantro) filth.

How do you use it?
Apply to dry skin, massage in thoroughly, remove with warm, damp facecloth. Josh advocates dry cleansing, which is interesting, but would kill me (thank God I'm not dramatic).

First cleanse/second cleanse or AM cleanse?
This is a good cleanser ingredients-wise. I use second cleanse or AM cleanse, getting the full benefit.

Best for winter or summer?
Either.

Does it remove waterproof eye makeup?
Yes, but don't waste it on that.

How long did I test it for?
A few months, on and off.

How much is it? /Size
$44.00/£32.50 for 60ml

Works well with?
Anything. It's a cleanser.

What’s the website like?
Good. Lots of info, including ingredients.

How’s the distribution? Available freely or limited?
Limited distribution.

What’s good about it?
This is a lovely organic oil cleanser, that leaves the skin completely calm and soothed. It's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial and antibacterial and balances oil production, cleans up dirt and brightens the skin. It feels beautiful to use. If you like cleansing, if you like organic, and you like oils, this is bliss.

What’s not so good about it?
It's not the cheapest oil out there for the size, but it's entirely organic, and that doesn't come cheap. Use it as a morning cleanse to wake the skin up, not in the evenings to wash away makeup, it's too good for that.

Would I purchase/repurchase?
Yes. It's lovely.

Do you need it?
If you can afford it, yes. If not, stick with chemist alternatives.

Similar products?
Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser
MV Organics 9 Oil Cleansing Tonic
Sonya Dakar Buriti Cleanser


Josh Rosebrook Herbal Infusion Oil is £32.50 in the UK from abeautifulworld.co.uk and $44.00 from JoshRosebrook.com



*This post contains some affiliate links. If you are happy to click on them and support the blog, thank you very much. If you would rather not, just google the product. It's all good.
See my full disclaimer here: http://bit.ly/1rpEmSq
The views expressed on this site are the author's own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a suitable professional should you have any such concerns.

FAVE FIVES: OIL CLEANSERS July 2016

Hi All!

Thank you for watching. First person to guess the quote wins ;)
See you soon with Retinols.

WHAT I’M WEARING:
Nails: OPI Alpine Snow Gels: http://amzn.to/2a5WFgV

Foundation: Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation in 2.1 http://bit.ly/2ajvsTd

Bronzer across forehead (my glow, basically): New CID I-Glow in Coral Crush (I will literally be buried wearing this): http://bit.ly/29nTIYJ

Used as Blush: Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Antigua (the perfect pink for me): http://bit.ly/29p1dL4

Lips: Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay Lip Pencil in Firebird (lightly all over lip): http://bit.ly/29p1OMN

Pixi LipLift Max in Petal Ice (on top):
UK - http://bit.ly/29DBnrl
USA - http://bit.ly/29ofv2f

Products Discussed:

NUDE Clarifying Cleansing Oil:
UK - http://bit.ly/2a5WNwK
USA - http://bit.ly/2a5Wy4U

Alpha-H Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil:
UK - http://bit.ly/2aQvSSM
USA - http://bit.ly/2amZqcD

Sonya Dakar Buriti Purifying Cleanser:
UK - http://bit.ly/2aQwgRi
USA - http://bit.ly/2awgBcH

Votary Cleansing Oil: http://bit.ly/2ag2rtj

Shu Uemura Ultime8: http://bit.ly/2aazcqe

De Mamiel Pure Calm Cleansing Dew: http://bit.ly/2akqQ2q







*I sometimes (not always) use affiliate links. If you are happy to click on the link and support this blog in that way, thank you very much. If you would prefer not to, just google the brand and the item, it's all cool. :) For absolute clarity: I do not use affiliate links on products belonging to brands that I work with on a professional basis.
See my full disclaimer here:
http://bit.ly/1rpEmSq

The views expressed on this site are the author's own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a suitable professional should you have any such concerns.

Elemis Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil

What is it?
'A nourishing cleansing oil.'

A liquified oil cleanser.

Who is it for?
Everyone. Elemis advertise this to all skin types.

What’s in it?
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Polysorbate 85, Sorbitan Oleate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Limonene, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica (Rose of Winter) Seed Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Geraniol, Fragrance (Parfum), Citral, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
fragrance
essential oils

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Mixture of both.

Tested on animals/sold in territories that advocate testing?
No/No

What's not in it?
mineral oil
artificial colouring
parabens
sls
sles
dea

How do you use it?/Where to use in your routine?
'Massage 1-2 pumps of the light-weight oil into dry skin and then add warm water. The oil will melt into a luxurious milky lather that cleanses the skin. Simply rinse off to reveal a clear and nourished complexion.'

I do apply to dry skin but I don't emulsify. Apply, massage, remove with flannel.

What’s good about it?
This is a lovely oil, much-needed on the market in term of volume vs price. Admittedly, there are only so many cleansing oils that you can call 'innovative', and while this is not reinventing the wheel, it works, and will appeal to both Elemis customers and fans of oil cleansing.
Heavy in omega 9, this is over 90% natural oils and leaves no residue, whether rinsed off or removed with a facecloth. Suitable for first or second cleanse.
Also, it's a whopping 195ml for £29.50.

What’s not so good about it?
I needed a couple of goes to remove eye makeup, but I do wear very 'kohl-y' types of mascara. If you don't wear a lot of makeup you should be fine.

How's the website?
Elemis.com is much better than the older timetospa.com, which looks really outdated by comparison. Lists ingredients, test results, returns etc very clearly.

Similar products?
Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil
Origins Clean Energy  Gentle Cleansing Oil
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil
L'Occitane Shea Butter Cleansing Oil


Elemis Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil is £29.50 for 195ml and available from www.elemis.com/nourishing-omega-rich-cleansing-oil and all Elemis stockists.

Votary Cleansing Oil

I know I'm going to like a brand when they start a sentence with 'You’ve been told that clean skin should feel stretched and tight. That’s simply not true.' 

Can I get an AMEN?

Votary is a fairly new brand to the market and contains a cleansing oil and three facial oils. Like members of Duran Duran, I have yet to meet a Votary product that I don't love.

The cleansing oil is one of my current favourites and has made its way into my regular routine.

Who is it for?

Everyone.

What’s in it?

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, Limonene+ Citronellol+ Geraniol+ Linalool+ (Naturally occurs in essential oils)

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

Essential oils

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

100% natural 

Tested on animals/sold in China?

No/No

What's not in it?

Mineral oil

How do you use it?

Apply as usual to dry hands, then dry skin, then massage and remove with a hot flannel. I use two pumps for a second cleanse and one pump for a morning cleanse.

What’s good about it?

It's really refined and 'thin' - if you know what I mean. So much so that it comes out of a pump spray. I love using oils for massage but some are just thick and gloopy. This is almost water-y. And that's a compliment.

What’s not so good about it?

It's not 'cheap' - it's £45.00 for 100ml but that's on a par with most balm cleansers for the same quantity and this would definitely last longer.

It doesn't completely destroy the Chanel Kohl mascara (my ultimate cleansing test) and I like the ingredients on my skin, hence....

Where to use in your routine?

I use it either a second cleanse in the evening or a morning cleanse when I wake up.

Similar products?

NUDE Purifying Cleansing Oil

Alpha-H Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil

Where from?

£45.00 for 100ml from Votary.co.uk or Liberty if you're a Londoner. 

NUDE Clarifying Cleansing Oil

I am currently loving this cleanser for my morning cleanse. Just one pump gives a really good grip for a quick 20 second massage while I shout at Max to brush his teeth. 

What is it?

'A superfood-rich oil-to-milk cleanser for face and eyes that removes all makeup and impurities to reveal incredibly clean, clear skin.'

Who is it for?

Recommended for combination skin but can honestly be used by all.

What’s in it?

Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Citrillus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Rice Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Tocopherol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Oleifera Camellia (Green Tea) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil.

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

Nope. No synthetic fragrances or pure essential oils or dyes, but bear in mind, anyone can be allergic to anything. 

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?

Natural - as much as a product can be...

Tested on animals/sold in China?

No/No

What's not in it?

NUDE is famously 'Parabens, Sulphates, Pegs, Tea, Dea, Proylene Glycol, Phthalates, Petrolatum, Synthetic Color, Synthetic Fragrance, Mineral Oil, and Silicones free'.

How do you use it?

I apply to dry hands, massage onto dry skin and remove with a hot, damp, flannel. 

You can also use to remove makeup, splash it and emulsify it if you wish. I prefer it neat. :)

What’s good about it?

It's really light, does not leave any residue at all and leaves the skin feeling beautiful afterwards. Don't be put off by the recommendation for combination skin - I would happily recommend this to sensitive and dry skins.

What’s not so good about it?

Not much. Nothing so far to be honest.

Where to use in your routine?

You can use AM and PM, first or second cleanse - but my preference is definitely morning cleanse. Especially as the weather is turning colder. Put your foams away people.

I love this cleanser.

Similar products?

Loads - Origins, Bobbi Brown, Una Brennan, Caudalie, Clinique, Tatcha, Josie Maran, Tata Harper - all make cleansing oils.

£28.00 for 100ml - available from spacenk.com/nudeskincare

Alpha-H Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil

What is it?
'Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil has been painstakingly developed to hydrate, soften and restore radiance to dulled or lacklustre complexions.
Rebuilding and hydrating.
Addresses the concerns of a changing skin.
Replaces essential lipids.
Targets irregular hyperpigmentation.'

Who is it for?

Essentially a cleanser for either a dull skin of any age or an ageing skin (45 plus) that is lacking in the 'glow' department. Equally aimed at skins suffering from pigmentation issues.

Any skin type.

What’s in it?

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?
Fragrance
Essential oils

Natural? Organic? Man made? Vegan?
Alpha-H make no claims to be organic/natural but they are animal friendly.

Tested on animals/sold in China?

No/No

What's not in it?

Parabens

Mineral oil

Phthalates

How do you use it?

'Apply 2-3 pumps to a dry face and gently massage.'

Exactly as above. I remove with a flannel - obviously - but if you are into emulsifying, this is one of the best I have seen on the market for rinsing clean away.

What’s good about it?

A lot. Great for ageing skins to help them retain the moisture in the skin and leaves the skin really soft as opposed to tight and 'OW'.

There are obviously questions about the efficacy of a cleanser aimed at pigmentation - if it's not staying on the skin, how can it work? Well in the case of this particular product, you have to massage it in to get it to work/spread and if you're doing that for a few minutes twice a day, it's certainly better than using a plain traditional milk in my book. The texture is gel, the massage movement converts it into an oil, then it's up to you whether you emulsify or not. 

What’s not so good about it?

Nothing after my trials.

Where to use in your routine?

Although this will remove makeup, because of the ingredients, this is in the second PM cleanse or morning cleanse for me.

Similar products?

Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser - for the texture

OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel

Alpha-H Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil is £35.95 for 100ml and I'm linking to Cult Beauty because they list all the ingredients! 

*stays calm, does not go off on one*

L'Occitane Shea Cleansing Oil

What is it?
'With its silky texture, it efficiently removes impurities and make-up (including waterproof) in a single step.'
An emulsifying cleansing oil.

What's in it?

Possibly acne/allergy/troubling for some ingredients?

Pegs

Shea butter

Fragrance

What's not in it?

mineral oil

parabens etc etc 

Who is it for?

Anyone removing makeup essentially....  

How do you use it?

'Eyes closed, massage the oil onto face with dry or wet hands. Add water to transform the oil into a milky lotion then rinse off with fresh water.'

Eeeww.

I don't know what it is with me and emulsifying products but my skin just never feels clean. Ever.

I apply this to dry skin, work it up with massage to remove/loosen makeup, then remove with a hot flannel x 2/3 and repeat if necessary.

What's good/not so good about it?
This is essentially a good, no fuss, non-mineral-oil containing, cleansing oil that removes all but the most waterproof of eye makeup. It's a good option for those of you that prefer an oil to a balm, or are not a freak like me and will actually emulsify as it tells you to.
It's also astonishingly good value at 200ml when you consider what the high-end ones cost for the same amount of product.

First or second cleanse? (<--- new heading - if you think of any others please give me a shout in the comments) 
I would still use this as predominantly a first cleanse product.

L'Occitane's Shea Cleansing Oil is £17.00 for 200ml and is available at www.loccitane.com/shea-cleansing-oil