Do you double-cleanse? As an avid makeup and sunscreen user that has tried many types of products over the years, I can whole-heartedly say that I haven’t found a better method to get rid of makeup, gunk, sebum and other debris. For those unfamiliar with double cleansing method, it means you cleanse your skin twice; first with an oil-based cleanser and then follow up with a water-based cleanser. A good first cleanser therefore must be able to break apart the makeup & sunscreen in a fast and gentle way without leaving much residue.
Today I’ll be reviewing the Etude House Real Art Moisture Cleansing Oil. I literally had no idea this was popular until I was looking for an oil cleanser to try and review. I wouldn’t have picked this up for its looks. I mean, what is up with the shocked Mona Lisa? Apparently there are a couple of versions of this oil that cater to different skin types, but since I follow up with another cleanser anyway, I don’t really care for that. I just want one that is affordable, effective and doesn’t leave any residue on my face.
As usual, I’ve listed the ingredients below. Unless you are sensitive to any of the oils (coconut, grape seed, apricot kernel), fragrance or any of the other synthetic ingredients on the list, there’s really no reason to worry about the ingredients. Personally, I didn’t experience any breakouts from using this product. It’s notable also that some people cannot stand the citrus-like scent.
Ingredients: Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, cetyl ethylhexanoate, trethylhexanoin, PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate, octyldodecyl myristate, pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, hydrogenated poly(c6-14 olefin), PEG-8 isostearate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, isostearic acid, camellia japonica seed oil, prunus mume fruit extract, squalane, nelumbo nucifera germ extract, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, pinus koraiensis seed oil, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, hydrogenated polyisobutene, fragrance
I usually apply 2-3 pumps and start massaging my dry face gently. Once that’s done, I add some water to get the product to emulsify, which it does quite well. It doesn’t sting your eyes but can make your vision blurry, so I always make sure to remove my contacts first. Afterwards, it’s time to rinse before going in with the second cleanser. My skin never felt stripped, nor did it feel like there was still a residue on my face. I like!
But is it also effective? Most of the time I don’t wear that much makeup, so for those days the Etude House Real Art Moisture Cleansing Oil does a pretty fine job to remove my makeup. HOWEVER. If you tend to wear heavy makeup, long-lasting makeup or love to wear Japanese mascara (those can’t be removed with regular cleansers), you may find this cleansing oil just isn’t powerful enough to get the job done.
Etude House Real Art Moisture Cleansing Oil (185 ml) – $ 12
Available on etudehouse.com
Product was purchased.