February 3, 2010

Kose Happy Bath Day Cleansing Oil Review

Let the Muse tell you all about Kose Happy Bath Day. Ok, so Kose makes this line of bath and body goodies entitled Happy Bath Day. Dontcha just dig on the name? As in Happy Birthday but it’s a bath and body line so it’s named Happy Bath Day…OMG cute or what? It’s the little things in life that make the Muse smile.

Anyway!

Recently Kose introduced a cleansing oil and a cleansing foam to the Happy Bath Day Collection. Interesting development considering that for the most part it’s always been about the body and not the face.

Have a little jump to learn more about the cleansing oil!

You know how I’m always hyped about rose scents right? The thing is I’ve tried quite a few pieces from the Kose Happy Bath Day Collection and must say the scent is so not thrilling. Hello Old Lady! It’s rose but it has this strange grandmotherly underlay that’s just terribly gross to my nose.

My mentality for purchasing the Kose Happy Bath Day Cleansing Oil was, “wow maybe it’ll be fragrance-free because it’s for your face plus look at that cute packaging”. Seriously, present me with a pink bottle of cleansing oil and watch the fire works in my eyes. I was in lust as soon as I seen the cute bottle so I was completely ignoring the fact that Happy Bath Day smelled like my great grandmother.

I got the oil and proceeded to love it. It’s a typical cleansing oil but it packs good quality behind it with a thick, hydrating formula that rinses clean away. It works as any other cleansing oil does by massaging onto a dry face and emulsifying with a bit of water before completely rinsing off makeup. I really love it. I thought the thicker formula was particularly delightful as it’s a bit less runny than a normal cleansing oil and it feels very moisturizing on my skin.� It’s not as effective as I’d like on waterproof mascara but I really could care less since I normally attack my eyes with an eye makeup remover prior to washing my face.

Problem…

God I can’t get over the stench. I just really can’t stand the smell at all. As I mentioned I adore rose scents but Happy Bath Day gets it all wrong. I can’t really pick apart exactly where it goes wrong. For the most part you get a nice rose note but the problem is it’s overpowered by a powdery dry down with a mix of other cheaper floral notes that makes it cloying.

Ugh.

Overall, the cleansing oil is fantastic and well worthy of a haul so long as you can get over the stench you should be golden otherwise you may want to skip.

I purchased from Japan at retail but Sasa has close to retail at $11.40.

Disclosure: The following item was purchased by me for review purposes (and because I like flinging my money at makeup products of any kind) on Musings of a Muse. For further information please see my FTC Guidelines or my Disclosure/Disclaimer posts.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Audrey

    Thank you so much for this review! I was going to pick this up on my current Sasa haul but I started waffling and putting it in, then taking it out of my cart… If the rose is really that bad, no way I’ll get it! I’ll stick to my Kanebo Naive orange cleansing oil… It’s cheaper anyway!

    • the Muse

      my pleasure audrey! I didn’t like the smell. the entire range doesn’t smell as true to rose as I would like. I freaking love Naive Orange it’s the best one from the Naive range 🙂

  • Nia

    Stench? Huh, so bad then?

    I never tried a cleansing oil, but I also do not sure stuff on my face that needs to be washed away with water. Makes my skin unhappy.
    But weird smell? No go!

    • the Muse

      bad nia. just rose grossness. normally like rose but this is grandma smelling to me! You’re damn lucky girl! I feel like I need a brillo pad to remove all my makeup at the end of the day LOL

  • Mollie

    Do you think it would make those of us with sensitive skin break out? I’ve never had trouble with the oils I’ve tried (Boscia and plain old olive oil), but after a while they get a little ineffective and make my skin look dull. But I’d like to give this a go! I did get the Kose Airy Whip (LOVE the name!) and it is really nice, but a bit drying.

    • the Muse

      mmm Mollie I’m not sure dear. possibly as the fragrance could kinda tempt the sensitive skin gods. I’ve never had a prob with oils making my skin dull to be honest but than again I haven’t used plain old olive oil to cleanse with 🙂 I really like Airy Whip, never had a problem with drying with it. Etude House as an oil foam which could offer more hydration but again it stinks 😛

  • dina

    i swear when i read your stuff sometimes you answer the questions go through my mind as i read! cute bottle -great! rose – great! price-great! stench – can’t do it captain!! (p.s. i have this ish with many of the philosophy skin products too) thank you, i can rule this one out of the prospects 😀

    • the Muse

      hey dina you ever get the wet dog smell from hope moisturizer? that’s one thing I hated about Philosophy!!!!!! LOL!

  • suz

    Yay a review on the cleansing oil…aside from bad review of the scent…I will still grab myself the cleansing oil.

    • the Muse

      suz I’m glad you buying this as I really can’t wait to hear your take on the scent! Don’t forget to stop by and comment when u get it. REALLY curious what you think of the smell 😀

      • suz

        Sure will!!

        don’t scare me now! I definitely will get this friday!!

        I love the fragrance…I hope it smells like it….

  • Mythy

    I so want to get this now because of its cute packaging and super catchy name (It makes me smile too :D!!).

  • Comrade_Garlic

    First off, I thought I was alone in the whole Hope In A Jar smells like wet dog thing. Thank you Dina. Thank you Muse.

    Secondly, thanks for the review. I keep putting this in my $3000 Sasa cart. I swear it’s that large. In the end I never buy anything. I really won’t buy this.

    • the Muse

      comrade garlic OMG you too!? I swear people look at my funny when I say that. It STINKS!

      god virtual shopping is the best. I load up my cart crazily too but never submit!

  • Jasmine

    Hi Muse! You’re absolutely right (you are the authority on describing smells now!) on this —

    “For the most part you get a nice rose note but the problem is it’s overpowered by a powdery dry down with a mix of other cheaper floral notes that makes it cloying.”

    Totally hit the nail on the head! I bought their powder spray thinking that it’d keep me dry and subtly scented without the overkill of parfum or toilette, but the drydown smells like cheap baby wipes and some synthetic sweetness. Ew.

    • the Muse

      lol thanks Jasmine!!!!!!!!!!! I brought a bunch of happy bath stuff two years ago or more when it was first coming out and it was AWFUL! so gross! And true baby wipes or toilet paper or something strange smelling like that!

  • Tiffany

    I dont know about the cleansing oil but the body butter and hand cream in
    this series do smell heavenly…like rich roses ahh so nice~

  • christmas

    awww I really actually like some of the Happy Bath Day stuff because of the scent. The cologne is rosy with a little bit of cherry scent I think. I hope nobody thinks I smell like an old lady…

    • christmas

      by the way, I’m just looking at the Kose stuff, but have you checked out these Kose Clear Turn sheet masks? I switch up sometimes between them and My Beauty Diary. They come in Collegen Essence, Q10 coenzyme, and Whitening (there’s one more but IDK what it’s called, and one targeted for eyes). They have less essence than My Beauty Diary but I kinda like them. I read you were a fan of sheet masks so I thought I’d tell you about them. 🙂

      • the Muse

        hey christmas yup, really enjoy Kose Sheet Masks 😀 the whitening ones are very nice!

    • the Muse

      I swear we don’t think you smell like a little old lady Christmas 😀