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Kanebo Sensai Silky Purifying Cleansing Oil and Creamy Soap Reviews

Phyllis — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:41:30 +0000

Proper cleansing is the first step to clear skin, which is why I have been practising the Asian Double Cleansing routine for over 10 years now. The routine involves using two complimentary products, normally a cleansing oil to dissolve makeup and sebum followed by a creamy/foamy soap to remove residue and gently exfoliate. I have tried all kinds of products out there and my newly discovered Kanebo Sensai Silky Purifying Cleansing Oil and Silky Purifying Creamy Soap, are handsdown the best!

The Silky Purifying Cleansing Oil contains Koishimaru Silk to keep skin moist and natural Almond and Orange oils to blend with makeup and oily impurities so they can be drawn out to the skin surface and washed off easily. It feels very lightweight, making the massaging experience so great. Once the oil comes into contact with water, it emulsifies nicely and washes off effortlessly without feeling greasy. It also does an excellent job removing my makeup and any residue my eye makeup remover did not take off.

The Creamy Soap, which is a cream cleanser, also contains Koishimaru Silk, along with Brown Sugar Extract, Quillai Extract and Kanzo Powder to wash away any remaining impurities and for anti-inflammatory purposes. It is pretty thick so a small amount is all you need. It lathers up very nicely into a foam and again washes off easily without leaving my skin feeling tight.

I have been using this combo every night for a month now and my dehydrated combination skin has never looked better. It feels clean, smooth and soft and the clogged pores that I get every now and then have returned less frequently too! Must keep on using them!

Overall Rating:

The Kanebo Sensai Silky Purifying Cleansing Oil and Creamy Soap are available at Bergdorf Goodman, Kanebo.com and Neiman Marcus for $50.

Disclosure: The products in this entry were provided by the manufacturer for consideration. Please see my Disclaimer for more information on my posting policy.

NARS Very First Makeup Cleansing Oil

Phyllis — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:16:29 +0000

Cleansing oils have been a staple in my routine for 10 years now and one of my favorite makeup brands, NARS, has finally joined the bandwagon to give us his very own Makeup Cleansing Oil.

The Makeup Cleansing Oil eliminates makeup traces and flushes out pores for more effective next-step cleansing without leaving any residue. Plus unlike other regular cleansing oils, it is made with exclusive advanced technology so you can apply with either wet or dry hands.

I have been using NARS Aqua Gel Hydrator and Brightening Serum religiously and they have never failed me. I can’t wait to try this out and report back!

The cleansing oil retails $40 and is now available at Neiman Marcus.

New to Cleansing Oils? Check out the 411 and my reviews.

How To: Remove Makeup Properly

Phyllis — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 20:23:00 +0000

Taking it all off is probably one of the most tedious yet unavoidable chores for all you makeup addicts out there. Today I will cover briefly how you can take everything off without spending hours and hours in the bathroom.

Face Makeup
The best way to take off all facial makeup is to use a cleansing oil followed by a foam/gentle cleanser. My newest faves are Kose Softymo Super-cleansing Oil followed by Clean and Clear Daily Pore Cleanser.

Eye Makeup
To remove eye makeup effortlessly, pick a duo-phase eye makeup remover like Lancome Bi-facil or Ponds Bare and Repair. Simply soak a cotton pad with the remover and press against your eyelid for 10-15 seconds. Next, dip a Q-tip soaked with remover, close your eyes and gently go back and forth on your lashes to remove any remaining mascara. Whatever you do, remember to use *extra* care since the skin around your eyes is only 0.5mm thick.

Lip Makeup
The best way to remove lip makeup is to use a remover made specifically for it (try the one by Kanebo). If you can’t find it, simply use cleansing oil or Ponds Cold Cream.

How To: Use A Cleansing Oil and Cleansing Oil Reviews

Phyllis — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 18:59:00 +0000

Back when MAC first released its cleansing oil, a lot of people were skeptical about it. How do you wash makeup off with oil? Doesn’t oil make your face all greasy and cause breakouts?

The truth is, cleansing oils have been a staple in the Asian skincare regime for a very long time. They break down and melt away your makeup like no other and most of them contain emulsifiers so when they are in contact with water, they turn into this milky white liquid which can be easily rinsed off.

The key to using cleansing oil is to make sure your face and hands are both dry. Pump a few drops of the cleansing oil onto your palm, spread it all over your face and massage gently. Wet your fingers, massage all over your face again. Rinse off with water and ta da! Makeup-free face!

If your skin feels greasy afterwards, you can wash your face with a gentle cleanser or wipe it with a cotton ball soaked with witch hazel.

Below are reviews of some of the cleansing oils I have used!

DHC Cleansing Oil ($24)
This has always been one of the best selling cleansing oils in Japan and is literally featured in every single beauty magazine! It works great and takes everything off, including dirt, oil and waterproof mascara. Plus it contains olive oil and vitamin E, so my face never feels greasy nor tight after I wash it off. Highly recommended!

Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil ($20)
Fancl was really popular in Hong Kong when I was a teen and this was one of their best selling products. It utilizes nano-technology to penetrate deep down into your pores to break up even the most stubborn makeup into nano-size particles so it slides right off your skin. It also contains Soft Cushion Oil, Rose Hip oil, Green Tea Catechin Oil and Squalane. Texture-wise, it does not feel as heavy as DHC but works just as well. A few drops of this and all of my makeup is goneeeee! Like all Fancl products, this is free of preservatives, sterilizers, petroleum surfactants, fragrances and mineral oil which makes it suitable even for sensitive skin. Thumbs up!

Kose Softymo Super Cleansing Oil
I picked this up during one of my trips back to Hong Kong because it was surprisingly dirt cheap. The texture is a lot thinner than most cleansing oils and it does not clean well at all. It also tends to leave behind a greasy film and I definitely need to follow with a cleanser or toner to get rid of it. I will not be buying this again.

Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil
This works a GAZILLION times better than the Super Cleansing Oil! It contains Orange Oil and Rice Bran Oil to effectively remove all traces of makeup while moisturizing your skin. It cleans my face very well and leaves it feeling fresh without any tight feeling or sticky residue. I have been using this for years and I always go back to it!

You can get this now at the Makeup For Life Beauty Store!

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil ($26.50)
Over the past few years, Shu Uemura has come out with 5 different versions of this product for different skin types:

* Original for all skin types
* Fresh for normal to oily skin types and acne-prone skin
* Enriched for drier skin types or those in drier climates
* Premium A/O for anti-aging and anti-oxidant purposes
* Premium A/I for those with damaged, dry or sensitive skin, seeking anti-aging benefits

I bought the Original one back in 1999 and it was my very first cleansing oil. It contains a blend of 60% light oils, 40% rich oils, vitamin E and tea tree fragrance to remove makeup and impurities thoroughly while maintaining the skin’s integral balance. The texture feels a little heavy and a lot like DHC. It does remove all makeup and dirt effectively and effortlessly. If only the price was lower!