Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil Review
Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil hit the skincare scene earlier this month at Sephora and gets a bigger push for the Fall 2013 season when it hits counters and shelves more nationally.
This is the first time Dior has done a cleansing oil so that along makes it exciting. Secondly it’s made with pure lily extract which gives it a delightful feminine fragrance.
Let’s take a look shall we?
Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil is $36 and contains 6.7 oz of product. This is actually considerably bigger than Shu’s Cleansing Oil so you are getting a little more bang for your buck. The oil comes in a push to dispense bottle which makes for mess-free use.
It’s supposed to be suitable for all skin types however, the heavier fragrance might prove irritating for sensitive users. I found the scent pleasant if not strong. It’s an herbal scent with lovely delicate notes of lily. Even though it is marketed as a cleansing oil it isn’t a traditional formula. They recommend use on a dry face or a damp one. Shu Uemura just recently released Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil which can also be used on damp and dry skin. This type of oil isn’t very common as typically cleansing oil is meant to be used on a dry face and emulsified with a tiny bit of water after being massaged in. The fact you can use Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil both ways is pretty cool although I prefer dry application myself.
To use it, simply come home after your long day, pump two or three amounts into the palm of your hands, massage it onto your face (with makeup on of course). Now use a little water to emulsify it, massage a little more, and finally rinse it completely away with cooler water. It actually does emulsify in the traditional cleansing oil sense and doesn’t really have the milky consistency you might be used to with cleansing oils you already use. It does rinse clean away though and doesn’t leave behind a greasy or oily film. But it doesn’t go milky as it emulsifies and breaks down so don’t expect that to happen when you add water.
The oil is a thicker consistency and has a moisturizing feel as you apply however, it does make my skin a bit tight and drier after use. This probably makes it ideal for those with oily skin but not as friendly a cleansing option for those of us with drier skin looking to restore moisture not to lose it.
Even though it does not emulsify it isn’t being lazy with its duty. I used it to clean off a face full of make up and it performed well. I tested to see how much oil, dirt, and makeup it might have left behind by using an soaked cotton pad in Seabreeze (astringent) after cleansing with it. I swiped my entire face down with the cotton pad and absolutely nothing transferred onto it. So indeed it is doing well at makeup removal.
If it wasn’t for the tightness it left behind I’d say it was a fairly good cleansing oil! But than again Shu’s oils sometimes leave me tight too.
Anyone try it?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
It’s available now at Sephora and Sephora.com and hits counters later this September.