Hey lovely ladies,
My life literally changed when I first started using cleansing oils in late 2013. I started with the Shu Uemura, which kind of spoils your chances for everything else because you are starting with the best and nothing else ever matches up. However, I did try other brands – Bobbi Brown, MAC, Sephora, but I came back to Shu Uemura each time. So, I decided to stick with Shu Uemura, but decided to experiment within that line. So, today’s review is on Shu Uemura – Skin Purifier Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil.
What is a cleansing oil?
Unlike regular “oil cleansing,” cleansing oils work better because they are an ingenious combination of water solubility and oil. All oils have similar molecular bonds (specifically covalent ones). As a result, they are capable of breaking apart similar molecules. So, when you rub on an oil cleanser, it dissolves even tough makeup and breaks up sebum and grime on the surface of your skin. Then, because the oil has been made water soluble, the entire formulation washes away completely. Your skin gets clean without getting stripped of its natural moisture the way it does with some traditional cleansers.
Product Details:
Cashmere skin quality: ultime8 complex delivers softer, smoother and moisturized skin for an exquisite makeup finish. The precious essence of 8 exquisite botanical origin oils has been merged together. These oils, carefully sought out from Chinese medicines and beauty oils all over the world, are proven to have the highest skin care efficacy. Utlime8 cleansing oil effortlessly removes all make-up and impurities.
Price:
$90 for 450 ml.
Packaging:
This cleansing oil comes in a plastic bottle. The oil itself is transparent and it’s the bottle, which is brown in colour. The bottle comes packaged in a dark brown cardboard box.
The bottles are color coordinated, so you can figure out which variant it is just by glancing at the bottle. This is perfect for nuts like me – who have stocked up on 4 variants of Shu Uemura cleansing oil!!
My Experience with Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil:
First things first, cleansing oils are great for your skin – irrespective of the skin type. There is a huge variety of options in the market – for dry skin, for anti-ageing, for sensitive skin, etc, etc. All my life, I thought I should keep away from oils because I have oily skin. However, since the last couple of years, I have been living with oils – cleansing oils as well as face oils! And I love it!
Coming back to the product, the product is a transparent liquid (in a brown bottle). This one is different from the Shu Uemura Anti-/Oxi one that I had reviewed earlier. This one can be applied to your face dry/wet. Meaning? Most cleansing oils work when your skin is dry (as in non-wet) so that they mix with the makeup and sebum and break it down. Post which, when you mix it with a little water, it emulsifies and can later be washed off with water. However, two of the Shu Uemura variants work on wet and dry skin both – this Ultime8 one and Porefinist Anti-shine (the pink bottle). So, this works well for you if you find your hands are wet and your next task was supposed to be cleansing your face. Also, it works well for people who might want to use this for the second step of a double cleanse process because your skin will be already wet with the first cleanse.
I take a little oil onto my hand and rub onto my skin. I have tried it both wet and dry. Surprisingly, that has not impacted the efficacy of this product one bit! It has a light pleasant fragrance, spreads easily onto the skin. It dissolves all makeup, dirt, grime, excess sebum from the face and neck. Once the makeup has broken down, start mixing it with a little water to emulsify the oil and continue rubbing the product all over the skin. Once all makeup has broken down and the oil has emulsified, which in reality takes only a few seconds, splash your face with water and see it reveal fresh, clean and supple skin. There is no feeling of tightness, no residue on the skin.
It breaks down all makeup very effectively – including waterproof makeup. If you have oily or sensitive skin, this variant might not be the best bet for you, I would suggest you opt for the Anti/oxi variant. Why? This one is supposed to be a slightly heavier mix of oils, more suitable for dry skin. It did not break me out except during those days of the month. So, this may/may not have contributed to it.
To sum this up for you:
Pros of Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil:
- Extremely effective in removing makeup, dirt, grime, and excess sebum.
- Does not cause the skin to feel tight, like some harsh cleansers do.
- Leaves no residue or stickiness on the face.
- Skin becomes radiant with regular use.
- Easy to dispense and apply.
- Easy to store and carry.
- Breaks down even waterproof makeup.
- Can be used on wet or dry skin.
Cons of Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil:
- Availability in India.
- Wouldn’t suggest to sensitive skin.
IMBB Rating:
4.8/5
The Shu Uemura cleansing oils are absolutely legendary. They are the best in the market and you do have a choice of picking up from a range, depending on what your skin needs. Yes, they come with a cost and it is steep. However, with them, a little really goes a long way. So a bottle lasts you ages.
Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Porefinist Gentle Foaming Cleansing Water
Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Skin Refining Anti-Dullness Cleansing Oil
Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Whitefficient Clear Brightening Gentle Cleansing Oil
Shu Uemura POREfinist Anti-Shine Fresh Cleansing Oil
Safi – The Blood Purifier
Shiseido Perfect Rouge Sublime RD142
