Shu Uemura • Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O • Cleansers

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windshadow on 4/30/2013 9:54:00 AM more reviews by windshadow

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Removes make up great but too drying for my skin. Started flaking after a week of use. But I do have dehydrated skin, so if yours isnt, I think it should be fine.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Cat1104 on 3/17/2013 11:29:00 PM more reviews by Cat1104

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

My skin: oily, clog-prone, sensitive that gets dehydrated very easily. I used this 6 or 7 years ago with no problem. For whatever reason, I stopped using it. I tried it again recently, and it caused tiny red irritation bumps all over my face. I suppose my skin has changed over the years and has become very reactive to oils. Over the past year, I've tried many oil cleansers to remove tenacious sunscreens. They all leave me with irritation, clogged pores, breakouts, and flaky skin. I'd like to give this 1 lippie, but I'm giving it 2 since it worked for me once upon a time.

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Breadyyy on 3/7/2013 6:03:00 AM more reviews by Breadyyy

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

I use the yellow version.. Why bother having 2 make up removers - one for the eyes and one for the face - when you can have an all-in-one make up remover like this??? Because of my oily skin, I tend to use gel eyeliners which won't budge all day (essence brand from Germany).. Using this to remove my eye make up thereafter is a God sent!!! It removes all traces of my make up! You only need a few pumps to cleanse your entire face, and no cotton pad is needed! It's a little pricey for a makeup cleanser but one 450ml bottle lasts me for 6 months which amounts to about 10GBP/month.. I consider it money well spent and maximum efficiency ;)

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laulau on 2/11/2013 4:50:00 PM more reviews by laulau

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I was looking for a new method of removing my makeup as my eyelids had become red and dry and flaky. No matter what I used, I would wake up to what looked like eczema on my eyelids, which would make wearing eyeshadow impossible.
First I thought it was my makeup so I threw out my eyeliner/mascara and cleaned all my brushes but it still happened.
Finally I worked out that it was the cotton pads I used, my eyelids were obviously too sensitive for them and it was making them dry and irritated.

The next day I went to the Shu Uemura counter as I had heard wonderful things about their oils. The sales lady wasn't pushy at all but suggested I try this oil and use it to melt the makeup off my eyelids.
Sure enough, I've been using this a couple of weeks and my eyelids are back to normal! I'm so impressed. Can't believe I was so harsh rubbing my eyes with cotton pads before.

I really like the product. I love that I don't need any other tools to remove all my makeup, just this. It literally melts all my makeup off and I wear a lot of mascara so that is no mean feat. Yes it's a little messy as you end up with black mascara smeared all over your face. But once you rinse it with water you are left with no trace of product.

Yes it's expensive, but the bottles are huge! I really see this as an investment.

The only negative point I have found is that if I don't rinse properly, it can cause me to break out a little around my nose/chin but this is because I have oily skin and if I get product build-up, I tend to break out.
So make sure you rinse fully after you are done.

I recommend this to anyone who wears makeup on a daily basis and is looking for an easy and gentle way to remove it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* dddoxie on 1/21/2013 12:18:00 PM more reviews by dddoxie

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I got a very large sample size of this with my last Shu order. I've been using it for quite a few weeks now and I still have plenty left in the bottle. I use a small amount of it and it removes every speck of makeup on my face. I wear contacts and I like how this doesn't irritate my eyes or make my contacts blurry.

Has never broken me out or caused any other sort of irritation. The smell is quite 'nutty' but not offensive. Feels great while on the skin and after it's washed/wiped off your skin feels clean. I always follow-up with another cleanser or exfoliator just to get rid of all the oil residue.

I will consider repurchasing after my trial size is finished.

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avaglitters on 1/19/2013 1:54:00 AM more reviews by avaglitters

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I bought the special Seoul edition of this cleansing beauty oil premium A/O formula on the plane coming back home from Korea. The only difference in this special edition is in the packaging - it's lovely and whimsical with a drawing of a girl dressed in a hanbok set against a backdrop of purple and green flowers, a tower, and a couple of pagodas.

This is pricier than any makeup removers I've used (I've tried Marcelle and Loreal makeup removers), but I won't go back to those. Other makeup removers require me using a cotton pad over my face and over delicate eye areas. And, even when I wash my face after removing my makeup and then use a toner with a cotton pad to prepare my face for serum and moisturizer, I can still see some leftover make up residue on the pad using other removers. So, I end up washing my face again, and this dries my face out, even though I've been VERY thorough with washing my face (foaming cleansers and scrubs).

I don't ever have that problem with this cleansing oil. I'm especially happy I don't have to use a cotton pad on the delicate skin of my eye area. This oil removes ALL makeup. No makeup residue!

I cannot rave enough about this oil. It acts as a makeup remover that feels nourishing at the same time. This is the second time I've bought the green tea formula. The first time, I was at the shu uemera counter buying a makeup brush and the beauty associate introduced me to the oil. I was skeptical and thought she just wanted to sell me another product. I decided to give this oil a chance and glad that I gave in to my self-indulgence.

At first, it took some getting used to... the feel of putting oil on my face made me nervous because I thought my skin might break out and also, that it might leave an oily residue. BUT IT DID NOT! As soon as you put water on your face after smoothing and massaging the oil on your face, the texture changes and feels like water, turning into a light milky white colour. It easily washes off and there is no oily residue... just soft, clean skin!
.
The application directions suggest 3-4 pumps; I only need 1-2 pumps and it literally removes all makeup (including waterproof and water-resistant mascaras). Using a circular motion with my fingers, I gently massage and smooth the oil on my dry face. Then, I put some water on my hands and smooth the water over my face - the water begins to emulsify the oil on my face and turns a translucent watery white. If some of the oil accidentally gets into my eyes and it's emulsified by water, I find my vision gets a little cloudy, but if I rinse thoroughly the oil washes out easily and my vision clears. I have sensitive eyes and this oil doesn't bother me at all.

I would absolutely buy this product again or this line of cleansing oils. I'm curious about the whitefficient and ultim8 sublime oils - will definitely try those when I run out of this one.

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Whend1212 on 10/19/2012 1:19:00 PM more reviews by Whend1212

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This product made me breakout consistently for the two months I was using it. Tiny little bumps appeared all over my forehead and bigger pimples popped up on my chin. At first I didn't think that it could be this product causing the problem because the reviews were so good, the sales person had assured me that the oil base wouldn't clog my pores and I rinsed really thoroughly after each use. I thought it must be other products so I changed those products and kept using the oil and the pimples persisted. I finally stopped using the Shu Uemura oil cleanser and the breakouts disappeared. To be fair, it's a very efffective cleanser. It removed dirt and took off makeup very well, and the packaging is beautiful. But it just didn't suit my combination skin.

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lilmangogirl on 10/9/2012 4:55:00 PM more reviews by lilmangogirl

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This has been my HG for over seven years, and I absolutely swear by it.

Please don't be put off by the word "oil" - it leaves my skin feeling anything but oily! I use only one pump at a time, and I only use it at night, which makes the bottle go a long way for me. It spreads easily on my face, feels lovely and smooth as I work it in, and takes away makeup as well as whatever else that happens to collect on my face after a long day. I have never been able to get it to "foam up" with water, but with some splashes, some more massaging, and a face cloth, my face feels squeaky clean!

Although it starts out as an oil, once water is added, it's just like any other cleanser - easy to wash away without residue. I love how clean it makes my face feel, without drying out my skin or leaving it feeling greasy. I'd describe my face afterwards as velvety smooth and clean. The best part? I don't even need to invest in an extra make-up remover product because it pretty much does the job!

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shaaralee on 9/27/2012 12:05:00 AM more reviews by shaaralee

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Really impressed with this oil cleanser. I find it does everything that I expect of it and somehow aids in reducing redness that I am prone to on my t-zone. It is a little pricey I suppose, but for me it works so well that I can overlook that aspect. It is suprisingly light for an oil cleanser and has a pleasant smell. Thumbs up.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lunalove on 8/18/2012 11:19:00 AM more reviews by lunalove

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I am def. a believer in oil based cleansing for the whole face and have tried many other brands- MAC, DHC, Boscia, Clinique TTDO, Dermalogica, etc. and Shu's is actually not expensive when you look at the per oz cost comparison.
I have oily acne prone skin and will try the pink oil next. This green one is suitable for all skin types as it leaves you clean but not stripped. I always follow with a wash off cleanser to make sure I got everything.
I use 2 pumps and work it in really well, both dry and then with a bit of warm water to emulsify and it takes off all of my makeup. I wear a lot- primer with spf, liquid foundation, bright colors, mascara and finishing spray, and 2 pumps worked in gently takes it all off.
My complaint is that I dont smell anything in this oil! Mac and dermalogica both smell really good but not this one.
Dermalogica is actually my favorite but its more expensive than the shu for the same amount, so Ill stick with shu.

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planetnars on 7/25/2012 3:37:00 AM more reviews by planetnars

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

This product will remove your makeup without irritating your eyes and cleanse your skin via the oil cleansing method. My issue with it is that it is incredibly overpriced for a mineral oil based cleansing oil. I got the feeling I was paying for a nice bottle that said "Shu Uemura" on it moreso than the product. I have since switched to EVOO which does the same thing, except my complexion is nicer since using that.

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XpugsX on 7/17/2012 7:11:00 PM more reviews by XpugsX

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

It's strange to be one of the reviewers that this product did not work for. It is especially strange because the product simply did not do what it was supposed to. I did exactly what I was meant to do which was apply the product dry and massage well into my face and eye area for a good couple of minutes with dry hands. I then applied water to emulsify the oil and rinsed off. What I was left with was that dark circle look under the eyes that effectively meant that my eye make up had not been removed properly. My facial makeup was also not removed effectively. I tried using it again over the next couple of weeks because it is an expensive product and massaged it for a bit longer and even watched a few tutorials to make sure I was doing it right. It simply does not clean very well. The other problem I had with it, was the fact that it is very drying. I didn't like how my skin felt after a few days of using this and I don't usually have too many issues with my skin. It was irritating. This product seems to work well for a lot of people, but I would be very cautious if you wear a lot of makeup! I wont repurchase. This is one of the worst cleansers I have used!

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msalsera on 5/3/2012 1:14:00 AM more reviews by msalsera

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I really wanted to love this, but after about a week and a half of washing twice a day, it started to dry out my skin. By the next week, this it made my skin look so dull and congested that I stopped using it. However, I was convinced that the "oil" couldn't be the culprit, so I restarted using it and...my skin has never looked so awful. I tried talking to customer service but they didn't respond to my email (service wasn't like that at their stores!) and so I'm stuck with an almost full bottle.

I did read online that some people were experiencing drying because of the emulsifier. Possibly. Perhaps my skin would better with another of their cleansing oil formulations, but I'm too scared because it's just not worth the risk. It has taken me quite some time to rebalance my skin.

I'm happy for those that it works for, but this isn't for me.

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jchoi128 on 4/19/2012 5:17:00 PM more reviews by jchoi128

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Just got my first Shu Uemura cleansing oil today. I've been a loyal user of the MAC Cleanse Off Oil for more than six years and decided to finally try the best cleansing oil in the market. And I really wish I had tried it earlier. I want to throw away my backup bottle of the MAC cleanse off oil because the shu uemura cleanse off oil is so much better. The thing I love about this oil is that it gets off makeup better than the MAC cleansing oil. I used to use about two pumps of MAC and I only need one pump of shu uemura oil. Shu Uemura oil smells better than the MAC oil. Also, when you emulsify the oil by adding water to your face, the MAC oil doesn't seem to come off completely. I always need to cleanse again with a foam cleanser to feel CLEAN. Shu Uemura oil doesn't need another foam cleanser after. I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT!!

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snozzle on 3/25/2012 4:06:00 PM more reviews by snozzle

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is the best for removing makeup. I don't really like the oily feel when it goes on, but after washing it off your skin feels perfect. Nothing else takes mascara off so well.

The fact that you have to apply it dry is a little annoying because you can't use it in the shower. But it really is the best face cleanser.

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*TOP REVIEWER* LeMinx on 3/24/2012 2:32:00 AM more reviews by LeMinx

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I initially bought about six small sample sized bottles of this on eBay about two years ago to get an idea of how it would work. Even though I have incredibly acne prone skin, something about this product intrigued me. After I learned how to use it properly (apply on dry skin, then add water to emulsify), I really fell in love with it. I ended up buying a big ol' bottle of it because of the results.


While I do love this cleansing oil, I only use it to remove eye makeup. After horrendous experiences with other oil based cleansers, I know better than to slather this all over my face thinking it won't break out. It does seem like an expensive eye makeup remover, but this oil actually removes waterproof mascara and any kind of eyeliner you can throw at it. I have never found an eye makeup remover that could do that without leaving my eye area very oily or my eyes bleary. Even the best eye makeup removers left some mascara residue while Shu Uemura oil never leaves any (even if I'm somewhat sloppy in my removal process).


Even though this is fairly expensive and I don't use it as totally intended, I will repurchase it because it works. Since I only use a tiny amount, a huge bottle lasts forever for me. Definitely HG status.

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*TOP REVIEWER* meluvcosmetics on 2/27/2012 7:51:00 PM more reviews by meluvcosmetics

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Black    

Love Shu's cleansing oil. None comes close, not even SK's.

I've been a user of Shu's range of cleansing oils for the past 15years. It removes all makeup including waterproof mascara and sunblock in one step. Not harsh and suits my dehydrated skin very well.

However, until about 2 years ago,perhaps a new ingredient in the improved formula, this now gives me very puffy eyes in the mornings. Bad to the extent I had to use ice cubes to bring down the swelling EVERY morning. (and yes, it took me 2 years to realise the culprit but how could I have suspected this fella when we both had such a faithful relationship for more than 10 years!)

So I know use this oil with utmost care avoiding my eye area. It's disappointing tat I need to use a separate eye makeup remover. So for this reason, I might have to terminate this long relationship.

I still give full marks for its performance - just avoid eye area if you have very sensitive eyes.

Edit: Dec 2012
Funny. Somehow the oil doesn't not irritate and cause swelling in my eyes anymore. Yay!
As what I said above, I was using a separate eye makeup remover, but I ran out and didn't get a new bottle in time. Well, I had to remove my waterproof mascara so I had no choice but to use the cleansing oil to remove my eye makeup as what I had done right in the beginning.
Surprisingly, my eyes were Okay the next morning. No swelling, no puffiness and I didn't have to use ice-cubes to bring down any puffiness.
Weird.. but I am happy!!
So, it is confirmed. This might stay with me for life!

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*TOP REVIEWER* stl on 2/13/2012 1:04:00 AM more reviews by stl

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I love love love this cleansing oil. Removes makeup quick and efficient. It feels smoothing and mild. My skin (which is combination) doesn't feel greasy. And I like the fact that you rinse it off, and do not need to use cotton pad. I use this to remove my eye makeup as well.
But I do follow up with cleanser and Clarisonic.

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yiptee on 1/8/2012 8:31:00 PM more reviews by yiptee

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Didn't like this product at all. I have dry/combination skin and this is far too oily to be even considered as a daily cleansing product. Though I must admit it's a good looking product with clear plastic bottle and the coloured viscous liquid inside - and it looks great on the bathroom counter. But as a cleanser totally worthless. Didn't do any positive thing for my skin. So I have stopped using it as a general cleanser and now only use it to remove stubborn waterproof eye makeup. And even then I only use a very small amount of it and follow it up with my usual cleanser.

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RussetBrunette on 10/18/2011 10:47:00 PM more reviews by RussetBrunette

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Got a sample of this when I bought the Face architect smoothing fluid foundation (HG!) I already had a set routine with my skin care and didn't think this was going to change anything, oh how wrong i was. The SA did warn me I would fall in love with this stuff. and she was right! It takes off my makeup, cleanses my skin, and leaves it incredibly smooth! I mean my face feels like brand new skin, soft, supple, an smooth. I have been converted.

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