August 16, 2013

Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil Review

This was provided to me by a brand for review but all opinions expressed are my own

Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil

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.

Dior Instant Gentle Cleansing Oil Fall 2013

This was provided to me by a brand for review but all opinions expressed are my own

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

    • the Muse

      i always suggest removing eye makeup prior to cleansing your face but yeah, it does fairly well with waterproof mascara and harder to remove eye makeup!

  • chadias

    I’m not really a fan of oil-based things, but the addition of lily flowers makes me think twice…
    Maybe I’ll check it out once it comes to Brazil!

  • Kathy

    Thanks for the review!

    The ingredients – – – hmmmm……shouldn’t there be oil in cleansing oil?

  • amy

    Wow, that’s a whole lot of chemicals in there… I can’t see how there would be any benefit from the natural oils, especially since it’s so far down on the list. I’ll just stick to my Coconut Oil, which doesn’t leave a film, or any tightness, and gets every bit of makeup off, while moisturizing at the same time. Plus, it’s only about $5 USD.

  • megan

    I’m into cleansing balms. (I watched a video with Caroline Hirons and it changed me lol.) At the mo, I’m using Clinique’s Take the Day Off cleansing balm which melts into an oil when it hits your face. I love it since my skin is so dry. Have you tried it? I don’t get the tight feeling but I wonder if it’s the water not the product.

  • telle

    SEABREEZE! WOW!!! Haven’t used that in years…! Ahhh! Happy moment!

    I tried this (got a small sample) and I liked the texture and was happy to be able to use it in the shower, although i found it didn’t do a great job at taking off all of my eye makeup (maybe cleansing oils aren’t really for the eye makeup removal?). I also find that when i use cleansing oils on my eyes, my eyes get irritated…i dunno what i do wrong! 🙁 in any case, i like the concept of cleansing oils, but have recently discovered clinique’s cleansing balm and will opt for that over the oils. 😀 Thanks for the share and review! 🙂

  • catazure

    I got this as a deluxe sample from Sephora and actually also like it. I have not been using it correctly – I massage in and remove with a cotton pad – so I am going to do it your way now, Muse!
    I usually use Lush UltraBland for makeup removal.

  • Felicia

    I purchased this a couple of weeks ago since I love my cleansing oils and always like to try new ones. I’m a bit disappointed since it doesn’t remove all of my waterproof mascara as the MAC cleansing oil for example, and it does sting my eyes. I will use it up but will porpbably not repurchase. Thanks Muse for the review 🙂

  • FH

    I had a SEVERE allergic reaction to this product. I do have sensitive skin so I tried a sample for a month first. I had no problems. So I ordered the full size from Sephora. I used it Monday night (the consistency was not exactly like the sample…(I should have paid more attention)and woke up Tuesday morning with a bad rash, hives, swollen eyelids and a prickly sensation all over my face and neck. The next day my lips and tongue started to tingle so I went to the doctor. SEVERE allergic reaction. The warning to you is that the sample and the full size may not be the same product. Beware ladies.

  • Taylor

    I’ve started using it for a completely different use. As I am a finger chewer and I’ve randomly started applying it to my hands after clipping dead skin and have almost completely stopped the biting bc it doesn’t dry the skin out afterward.