Oil Can Really Remove Oil: Shu Uemura High Performance Cleansing Oil Review

Let me tell you that I used to be among those who snobbed Shu Uemura cleansing oils because of their steep price points. However, after trying out the Sakura Fresh (Pink) variant that Pammy gave me, I knew I deserved the guillotine for not giving this oil-based cleanser a chance.

Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing
Cleansing Oil in Fresh, 150mL, $28

Packaging. This cleanser comes in 450mL, 150mL and travel-size 8mL's.

   8 mL- perfect for testing the best cleansing oil in town

   150mL- I have weird skin: my HG skin products can turn against me after 8-10months. Remember my    Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel nightmare? This size is perfect for my "extended trial" period.

   450mL- most users claim that it lasts them a year (cost-efficient!)

Except for the minis, these cleansing oils come in lovely clear bottles with pumps. They are such sink candies, I tell you. My only gripe is that the pump can dispense too much product that shoots out too strong from the nozzle that can result to wasted oil. I prevent this from happening by pressing the pump slowly and halfway through so that I get the desired amount of cleanser on my palm (2 pumps is perfect for me).

Product Efficacy. It is an amazing makeup remover, a gentle facial cleanser and an absolutely effective skin mattifier.

As a makeup remover, It works as well as my Pond's cold cream. It leaves the face squeaky clean minus the tugging from facial wipes that always happens with cream and gel cleansers. I feel like I'm stalling wrinkles from appearing on my face because I've cut down on using facial wipes.

This does not work well on eye makeup, though.

As a gentle cleanser, this variant did not break me out. However, unlike most users who claim that this cleanser lessened their zits (or dried the pimples), I feel that it cannot stand against hormonal acne.

Check out how Shu Uemura fares versus the affordable Kanebo Freshel Cleansing Oil.

As a mattifier, Shu Uemura Balancing Oil in Fresh Pink has helped suck out the icky oil off my face! There are so many signs that clearly shows how less oily my skin has been ever since I've added this to my local obagi skincare routine and I'm loving these results to bits. I can not award the decrease in facial oiliness to Shu alone, though. My derma's meds helped a lot, too. But having the oil cleanser around has truly made an even more significant difference in having a matte and brighter skin!

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Mini/Travel size (8mL)
that Pammy gave me!

What to Expect. If you have never tried cleansing oils, you might be taken aback at how non-matte the skin can be after washing the cleanser off. The Shu Uemura cleansing oil will leave the face a lil slippery after washing, but once dried out, the face becomes a perfect canvass --- not too oily, not too dry.

Some follow up with soap. I don't.

Procurement. Rustan's carry Shu Uemura with a whopping 4,000php for the full size, and 1800ish on the 150mL bottle. If you don't want to put a dent on that card, you may want to:

a. ask a relative/friend from the U.S. or Japan or Taiwan to buy for you

b. get one from duty free! my 150mL bottle costs the same ($28) as the Shu website sells it.

c. buy from reputable Taiwanese sellers in ebay. Most of them offer free shipping and have fair-priced products.

Scent. It leaves a pleasant floral scent that isn't too strong.

I should've followed my instincts to try out cleansing oils in place of my good old Pond's cold cream makeup remover when my co-beauty blogger, Crystal, raved about the Shu Uemura Skin Purifier High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil in Fresh. Crystal has tried cleansing oils from Elianto and DHC, and she ended up loving Shu Uemura's famed cleasnser.

While it comes with a hefty price tag, its pump not too effective, and its eye makeup-removing ability a failure, I will definitely have this product around. Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil in Fresh Pink is truly a good investment if you want better skin.