If I had to pick a favorite Korean skincare category (other than sheet masks), I would pick cleansing oils. A cleansing oil is a necessary step for anyone who uses sunscreens, primers, decorative makeup, and is outside of the house during the day. The purpose of a cleansing oil is to dissolve oil soluble impurities and prepare the skin for the water-based (foaming) cleansing step. Don’t worry about having oily skin - cleansing oils are special and emulsify (turn white) when mixed with water, rinsing off the skin completely and leaving you with a soft, clean face.
The Huangjisoo brand was founded by the Korean Dr. Huang Ji Soo whose mother had atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Dr. Huang Ji Soo wanted to create products that could treat skin issues in more natural ways without relying on strong prescription medications; her brand is for everyone, including people with skin conditions like her mother’s (personal note - please see a dermatologist if you have serious issues that require medical attention).
This Huangjisoo cleansing oil is:
Water free - the formula is concentrated and effective without being watered down
Cruelty free - Huangjisoo does not experiment on animals
Safe - doesn’t contain harmful ingredients such as artificial fragrance, parabens, etc)
This cleanser blends seven premium botanical oils for maximum efficacy: apricot, jojoba, green tea seed, macadamia seed, evening primrose, pot marigold, and olive. It's currently available on* eBay; Amazon has some products by this brand but not the oil yet.
How to use:
Pump into clean, dry hands
Massage over dry face to remove makeup, sunscreen, and impurities
Rinse with warm water and follow with a foaming cleanser
My impressions:
I can’t easily count how many cleansing oils I have tried, especially if you include samples, but it’s probably more than the average person. Some were great, some not so much, but this one… oh my, THIS ONE is a complete must have for me. I have a hard time not typing in all caps because it makes me that happy. I can see myself getting it again and again.
First of all, the smell. I don’t know which combination of the ingredients gives the product this scent, maybe it’s that last citrus oil, but it’s extremely pleasant, warm and citrusy. It reminds me of hot black tea brewed with lemon. It’s incredibly hard to describe, but trust me - I could sniff the bottle all day (I know I’m weird). The nice thing - if you aren’t a scent person, the aroma of this oil is very light and not overwhelming, so it shouldn’t bother you. The packaging is cool - right below the pump is a small sliding ring that lets you lock the bottle, making it perfect for transport (or to keep little hands out of your skincare).
Second - this is a true all-over-face product for those who love to simplify their life and not stock a separate eye makeup remover. Typically, I don’t use cleansing oils on my eyes as they tend to sting. However, this cleanser is fantastic and doesn’t cause any irritation. It removes mascara and eyeliner beautifully without the racoon eye effect. Of course, it makes quick work of primers, bb creams, and sun protection products. It doesn’t dry out or irritate my skin. I’d say the manufacturer nailed the product name - it really is a perfect oil. It's currently available on* eBay and hopefully Amazon gets it soon as well.
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Huangjisoo Pure Perfect Cleansing Oil Ingredients: prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, sorbeth-30, tetraoleate, camellia sinensis (green tea) seed oil, macadamia ternifolia (macadamia) seed oil, polyglyceryl 10 caprylate/caprate, tocopherol, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, calendula officinalis (pot marigold) oil, olea europaea (olive) oil, citrus aurantium amara leaf/twig oil.