I am a huge fan of cleansing oils; they are the best option to remove all of my makeup without drying out my skin. I’ve been using one of Shu Uemura’s cleansing oils for more than a year now, but I’ve been looking for a cheaper alternative, so I was excited to see that Garnier has released a new Nourishing Cleansing Oil.
The Garnier Nourishing Cleansing oil comes in a 4.2oz pump-top bottle for around $7, which means it’s around $1.67 an ounce. That’s a great price, both overall and per ounce. To compare, Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing oil is $67 for 450ml, about $4.40 an ounce; DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is $28 for 6.7oz or about $4.17 an ounce; Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil is around $28 (in the US) for 120ml or about $7 an ounce.
I had minor difficulty with the pump top on the bottle; the pump sticks a little and the oil tends to splatter. If I were to use this regularly, I’d decant into a better-functioning pump bottle (and I would definitely decant for travel, as I think the bottle is prone to leaking). However, the pump does work; the packaging isn’t ideal, but it’s not something that would prevent me from purchasing.
The Garnier cleansing oil has a thin, fluid texture – it’s quite similar to the Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing oil, and thinner than DHC’s Deep Cleansing oil. It has a relatively strong fragrance. Although I like the smell, I prefer unscented skincare (though I’m also okay with lightly scented facial care items and sometimes enjoy scented bodycare items).
Like the other cleansing oils I’ve used, I apply about two pumps to my face and massage in. Light makeup melts off immediately, and heavier makeup will come off completely after 30 seconds or so of massage. Then, I rinse off my hands and use my wet hands to fully emulsify the oil. I find that this step is essential with most cleansing oils – if I try to rinse off the oil straight away, it doesn’t all come off. Then, I rinse my face with warm water several times to get all the remaining oil off. Used this way, the Garnier cleansing oil removes all my makeup and leaves my face clean without stripping it. Note that if you like the squeaky-clean feel, you won’t like this (but if, like me, you hate the squeaky clean feel, try a cleansing oil!). I never use a second cleanser after an oil cleanser (aka double cleanse) – I find doing so both too drying and unnecessary.
Overall, the Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil is a really nice, affordable cleansing oil option with one major flaw – the fragrance. I simply cannot deal with a cleanser this strongly scented (though again, it is a pleasant-to-my-nose scent, at least if it were a bit milder). This cleansing oil has now been relegated to washing swatches off my arm – and I actually may end up repurchasing it for that purpose, since it works well and is inexpensive.
Are you a cleansing oil fan, and is the Garnier Cleansing Oil something you’ll be trying out? And does anyone else find using strongly scented face products unbearable?
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