Random internet question:”Hey what do you think about the DHC Cleansing Oil?”
Me; “How long have you got?”
DHC deep cleansing oil is a cult classic. Made in Japan by a company called DHC which stands for Daigaku Honyako Center.
Based on the time-honoured Japanese tradition of double cleansing. Yip, it is not only Korea that is all in when it comes to the double cleanse.
Being a Japanese product, they adhere to a philosophy we love, Wabi Sabi.
In an overly simplistic form, Wabi Sabi means “Beauty in Imperfection”, or “Perfectly Imperfect”.
Of course, within the rich and deep nature of Japanese culture, Wabi-Sabi is much more than this. It is about finding that beauty exists in the most profound and very often mundane places.
In our very modern western culture where youth is the measurement of beauty, you may be left thinking you can’t be beautiful anymore because you peaked at 20.
This fortunately is completely false.
Youth my friends shall fade, but your beauty is timeless.
http://www.skinkins.com
Ok, that’s enough amateur philosophy for today let’s get back to the wonder that is DHC deep cleansing oil.
To say that DHC are obsessed with olive oil would be an understatement – and we love them for it.
This facial oil is based on organic olive oil.
Not just any olive oil though; this olive oil is very special. Grown in Beana Spain. This product is made from the Flor de Aceite (flower of virgin oil). This is the oil from the first crush before it goes through the first press. This makes the Flor de Aceite more precious than the highest quality extra virgin olive oil.
The Flor de Aceite is then ultra-purified in state-of-the-art factories in Japan. Very few other ingredients are added to the formula.
What Is In DHC Cleansing Oil?
Apart from ultra-purified organic olive oil, there are only a few other ingredients.
| Ingredient | Why its included | Comedogenic Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | Antioxidant and emollient | 0-4 Depending on the concentration |
| Capric Triglyceride | Emollient | 4 |
| Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate | Surfactant – makes oil easy to rinse off | 0 |
| Pentylene Glycol | Solvent and humectant – improve the ‘feel’ of a product, adds antimicrobial action that extends shelf life and adds moisture | 1 |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative | 1 |
| Tocopherol – Vitamin E | Emollient and antioxidant | 3 |
| Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate | Extracted from liquorice plants – soothing anti-inflammatory properties at low concentration | 0-5 Depending on the concentration |
| Rosemary Leaf Oil | Antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibacterial. Is an ‘essential oil’. | 0-5 Depending on the concentration and individual sensitivity. |
Olive oil is naturally high in antioxidants, and vitamin E. Capric triglyceride is an emollient that is added to make the product easily spreadable. The pentylene glycol adds to the silky feel of the product. Phenoxyethanol is included to preserve the product. Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate is extracted from liquorice and adds anti-inflammatory properties.
Let’s talk about the addition of Rosemary Leaf Extract.
From a ‘consumer experience,’ the addition of the rosemary essential oil is to add fragrance. I am a big fan of unscented skincare products. 90% of irritation caused to skin by-products comes from the fragrance. Rosemary leaves are a very common spice, and their oil is used in cosmetic products for fragrance, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. It s a very common plant found on most continents in the world.
Rosemary leaf oil is what is known as an essential oil.
What Is An Essential Oil?
Also known as volatile oil, they are chemical molecules that are extracted from parts of a plant. Usually the flowers, bark, and leaves. Some essential oils, for example, rose oil are very expensive – this is because it takes 4 tons of roses to make 1 kg of essential rose oil.
Essential oils are wonderful and have many science and research-proven benefits. But, just because something is ‘botanical or natural’ doesn’t mean it is safe to put on your skin.
I give extreme caution warnings about using an essential oil on your skin and never use ‘neat’ or undiluted essential oils on your face; you risk severe irritation. Essential oils can be extremely irritating to skin, eyes and mucus membranes.
Turpentine, for example, is an essential oil made from the resin of pine trees – it is an extremely powerful industrial cleaner. Don’t even think about putting it anywhere near your skin!
The DHC deep cleansing oil formulation is 30 years old and in the early 90s consumers were not nearly as savvy as we are now about our skin products and the ingredients they contain.
In my opinion, they could remove the rosemary essential oil, and it wouldn’t make any difference to how great this facial cleanser is. But I can 100 per cent guarantee that they won’t.
There would be outrage from all of their decades-long loyal customers. It is estimated that a bottle of this cleanser is sold somewhere in the world every 10 seconds! This is a multi-million dollar revenue maker.
So, is the rosemary oil addition such a big deal? In this case, I am going with no. It is a very small part of this product’s formulation and is diluted by olive oil.
I have been using this oil for over 15 years and have never had any irritation issues with it. I have recommended it to hundreds of people, and it is very rare that anyone has a reaction to it. It is suitable for every skin type, and I recommend it for acne-prone, oily, sensitive, and mature skin. Even rosacea and psoriasis sufferers have used and loved this oil cleanser.
Who Can Use DHC Deep Cleansing Oil?
This oil cleanser is suitable for everyone. We really mean everyone. If you have combination skin, oily skin or acne-prone skin, you may be hesitant about using an oil cleanser. It feels wrong to add oil to already oily skin right?
Well, fear not. The principle behind oil cleansing is ‘like attracts like”.
This means that the oil will attach to the excess oil sebum, makeup, sunscreen, dirt and sweat and dissolve it. All while leaving your skin feeling balanced and hydrated.
Dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin and even acne-prone and rosacea skin types can use DHC cleansing oil.
Is DHC Deep Cleansing Oil Non-Comedogenic?
When you look at the ingredients list, you will see that some are moderate to high on the comedogenic scale and some are zero.
Non-comedogenic status in a product is a tricky thing to quantify. I personally have found this product not to be comedogenic.
But that doesn’t mean that it will be non-comedogenic for you. Your skin my reactive differently to mine. But it is rare for this product to cause irritation or contact dermatitis.
How To Use DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
If you have not ridden on the double cleanse train yet, then this is the oil to start with.
A double cleanse is like a little ritual that you add to your skincare routine. You start with an oil-based cleanser to break down makeup, sunscreen and dirt. Then you use a foaming or gel-based cleanser to whisk off any stubborn makeup or gunk.
This leaves you with perfectly clean, but hydrated skin. To get the most out of the often expensive serums and creams, you apply to your skin you need it to be really clean and ready to absorb the serum.
Cleansing is a vital part of your skincare routine. You need to remove the debris from your skin while not stripping it or drying it out. This is why a double cleanse is my recommended way of cleansing your skin.
You apply 2 pumps of the oil to dry hands and then massage it into your dry face. Work in gentle circular motions and make sure you gently massage it over your eyes and lashes.
The oil stays and oil until you add water. The addition of lukewarm water turns the oil into a milky emulsion which then rinses clean off your skin.
Your skin should never feel dry, tight, or sensitive after using this oil. I always do a second cleanse with a foam or gel cleanser. If you have very dry skin or rosacea, I would recommend doing your second cleanse with the DHC oil a second time and using a very soft damp cloth to remove the oil.
Is DHC Deep Cleansing Oil Worth It?
This is a very simply formulated product. Simple doesn’t mean less effective. Simple means fewer filler additives and chemicals. Just straight to the point awesomeness for your skin.
I am not a believer in needing to spend a lot of money on skincare and certainly not on cleaners which are typically only on the skin for 10 – 20 seconds.
This is what I would term a mid-range price point for a product of this quality and I think it is worth every penny. I use it twice a day and also use it once or twice a week to do a 30-minute facial massage
I love this product and will continue to use it for the rest of my life.
