Shu Uemura • High Performance Balancing Oil - enriched version • Cleansers

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Takumi on 12/1/2011 1:06:00 AM more reviews by Takumi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I use the pink version and i love the mild scent of sakura..after using this every night i will skip the foam wash and directly to the toner my skin feel refreshed, tighten ( a little) and soft..i cant say it improve my pore appearance because my skin condition differs throughout the month

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*TOP REVIEWER* DrMAC on 4/24/2010 10:41:00 AM more reviews by DrMAC

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This is a great cleansing oil for my dry skin! I think it is a little thinner in consistency than the regular (green bottle one) but it takes off all my makeup, even waterproof. I usually use it prior to getting in the shower so I can rinse it off really well and it leaves my skin baby soft.. I think by softening my skin it has rehydrated and reversed some fine wrinkles around my eyes. I will repurchase for life.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ximachikenx on 4/23/2010 9:55:00 PM more reviews by ximachikenx

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

My mom had a pack of three small size different Shu Uemura cleansing oils awhile back and she gave me the enriched version to me to try. For a VERY long time I didn't touch it, as the idea of cleaning my face with oil was appalling. Recently I read good reviews on this and I decided to try this.

I never really needed a cleansing oil before but I've started to wear foundation, and I find this cleanses my face REALLY well of my makeup. Once I wash the oil off my face it actually feels a little dry! I follow up with a foaming cleanser to clean up anything I might have missed as well. I started to break out a little while after I started to wear my foundation but if I cleanse my face with this oil I don't break out. It also smells fantastic :) Not sure I would buy the full size version as it is very expensive for a student like me but I really like this stuff.

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darlie on 4/23/2010 9:18:00 AM more reviews by darlie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I got 2 samples of High Performance Balancing Oil - enriched version from Shu when I bought makeups. Being a big (but not always loyal) fan of Shu, i was very keen to try it.

This oil is thicker than other Shu cleansing oil formula I have used: cleansing oil light (discontinued), fresh (pink bottle), the whitening one (light blue bottle) and the basic one (yellow bottle).

Like all versions of Shu cleansing oil, It has a fantastic removing power. I find the smell pretty nice. Shu cleansing oils have never cause any break-out or rash to my very sensitive skin.

I would not buy the enriched version, because I think the fresh version in pink bottle and the basic one in yellow bottle suit my skin better than this one. Plus i do not like the thickness of this oil. However, I wouldn't mind using the enriched version if i got it for free. Because there's nothing wrong with this product really. I would highly recommend it to people with dry skin.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pencilpleat on 12/2/2009 12:52:00 AM more reviews by pencilpleat

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

I love cleansing oils in general and this is one of my absolute favourites especially on lazy evenings when I don''t want to OCM with my own concoction. It gets ALL make up OFF of my face - all sunscreen, w/p mascara, gel liner etc. I have sensitive, acne prone skin and this has not caused any breakouts or erruptions of any kind. If anything, it has helped make my skin better and clearer. Will continue buying as long as they make it.

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serenitydicarpio on 9/29/2008 9:17:00 AM more reviews by serenitydicarpio

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Shu really is in a league of its own. This is my first cleansing oil, and it really does make a difference. I recently made some minor changes to my skin care routine, including this, and I am seeing overall improvement in the appearance of my skin. It cleans extremely thoroughly and doesn't leave skin dry or tight. I once forgot to remove eye makeup before hopping into the shower and I thought, o well, I will just do it after I clean my face with Shu. But when I came out of the shower, I had no vestige of eye make-up at all! The Shu took it all off, including waterproof mascara. Imagine how thoroughly it must have cleaned the rest of face. HG for sure.

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*TOP REVIEWER* alba75 on 9/24/2008 11:13:00 AM more reviews by alba75

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

Upon buying the products from Depsea Line, I got a generous sample of High Performance Balancing Oil (enriched). This oil does leave the face absolutely clean by removing impurities. Although the website claims that the given product is suitable for dry skins and drier climates, it made my skin feel unpleasantly tight and had some patches along my jawline. Perhaps this Shu Uemura's cleansing oil was unsuitable for my skin type. I might try Brightening Cleansing Oil because the latter is said to be "gentle cleansing oil [that] leaves the skin appearing more even-toned, translucent and smoothed". Given my bad luck with cleansing oils in general, I try to find a sample before buying a whole bottle.

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streeetdoll on 8/31/2008 9:14:00 AM more reviews by streeetdoll

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I used this religiously for over a year, I purchased the giant bottle and that lasted a long time... so price wise it's definitely worth it. This is a great makeup remover, it takes everything off and makes my skin feel clean without tightness. The thing is, a few facialists at different places have all told me the same thing: mineral oil enlarges pores over gradual use and shu uemura uses this particular type of oil. And one of my biggest concerns is large pores........ so it's goodbye to this product. And although I love this texture and it does the job of a cleanser well enough, the best thing for combination/sensitive/acne-prone skin like mine is to use a milk cleanser for taking of make up followed by a gel cleanser, like Mario Badescu's Enzyme cleaser (see my other review).

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glossybrowneyes on 7/30/2008 2:24:00 PM more reviews by glossybrowneyes

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I love this cleanser! I think it works so much better than the MAC Cleanse Off Oil (which I did like). It takes off all of my eye and face makeup. I have dry skin and I love how it leaves a light moisturized feel afterwards. I don't follow up with a cleanswer afterwards as I feel this is sufficient.

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*TOP REVIEWER* JC1976 on 4/23/2008 3:24:00 PM more reviews by JC1976

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I was so hoping this would be the one because the very pale oil (I can never distinguish which ones is called what) was too drying for my skin. Good thing I got a sample before taking the plunge, because this broke me out big time in 2 days of usage. I am now moved on to the green oil and hope it works.

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knappellen on 3/4/2008 1:12:00 AM more reviews by knappellen

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Have used it now for a month and absolutely love it. Makes my skin feel fresh and clean without drying it out. I've tried numerous other products and finally found the right one. My skin is extremely dry and sensitive and I have to be very careful , so I need to use pure high quality products. This oil definitely fits the bill. I've already stocked up and bought a bigger bottle.

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*TOP REVIEWER* violet978 on 2/23/2008 8:42:00 AM more reviews by violet978

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I have oily, acne prone skin, and this works very well with it. I have also used DHC deep cleansing oil, which is a bit more drying than this product. This review is for the orange coloured Shu oil.

It removes makeup, doesn't dry and doesn't cause acne. I purchased the largest size, which is fairly expensive, but it will last you well over a year using it once a day. Mine also has Japanese artwork on it, so it makes a great addition to any vanity. It also has a pleasant scent, unlike DHC which smells just like olive oil.

I will purchase this agian, but next time I may get the green tea one for something different.

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*TOP REVIEWER* desertmom4 on 12/6/2007 1:00:00 AM more reviews by desertmom4

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I received a decant of this cleansing oil in a swap, and previously have been faithful to my MAC Cleanse-Off Oil, but figured it was time to mix things up a bit out of boredom and curiousity. I know there are many different variations for Shu cleansing oil, and the one I have been using is the orange one ~ Enriched Version. Just like MAC's, I would apply the Shu oil on my dry, made-up face and rub it into my skin (I did notice a slight aroma which was not offensive as I generally like a little scent in my products). The overall consistency of the oil was a little runnier than MAC, but it didn't "drip" out of my hands. Next I would add a little water to "activate" the cleansing properties...and I could see my make-up dissolve. I did rub it into my eye area as to help take off my eye m/u and it didn't irritate my eyes. After I rinsed my face of the oil, my face did look fresh and clean, and did not feel dry or tight. I also did not feel like there was a film on my skin either. For reference I have normal/ dry skin not prone to breakouts. The only thing that I did notice is that this cleansing oil did not remove my eye m/u as effectively as MAC does. But that's ok as I always use a MAC wipe afterwards to remove any traces of dirt or m/u left on my face. There were no traces of m/u on my MAC wipe except for one time when I wore my EL DW foundation...not sure if I didn't use enough oil or if the EL DW foundation was just clinging on to my skin for dear life **EDIT** 12-22-07 this stuff did NOT remove my EL DW foundation again as major traces of foundation were still left upon my MAC wipe after I used the oil...I had to literally use 3 wipes to get the foundation off my face...

I can't comment on the price of this oil a I received it in a swap, but looking on Sephora's site, the X-large size retails for a whopping $63...IMO all though this cleansing oil was overall an ok product, I will finish what I have left and will not be purchasing this item...I have since ventured onto L'Occitane Almond Apple Cleansing Oil...that's a whole other review soon to be written.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ECMac25 on 9/15/2007 9:16:00 AM more reviews by ECMac25

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This was my last attempt at finding a Shu Ueumura cleansing oil that my sensitive skin could tolerate. Sadly, even this one didn't work out (I've tried all the others...fresh, light, regular, AO). Irritation that I've had with other cleansing oils is usually because of either lavender or rosemary extract that is added in. In this case, it's the blend of oils used that my skin is sensitive to ~I liked the richer consistency & tangerine-like scent and my skin didn't feel taut or dried out after rinsing, but the following day I noticed small breakouts on my cheeks and forehead -- areas that normally do not get inflammed unless sensitive to a new cosmetic. Oh well....the search for the perfect cleansing oil continues! ~~~INGREDIENTS: paraffinum liquidum/mineral oil/zea mays/corn germ oil, polysorbate 85/safflower seed oil, sorbitan trioleate, ethylhexyl stearate/jojba seed oil/avocado oil, sea water, glycerin, tocopherol, limonene/canola oil, linalool, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, dicapryl carbonate, isopropyl myristate, ethyl oleate/rapeseed oil, butylphenyl methylpropional/bitter orange peel extract/tomato extract/capsicum annuum fruit extract, parfum/fragrance

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*TOP REVIEWER* jennstarr on 7/23/2007 1:37:00 AM more reviews by jennstarr

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

450mL. $62


I've been using this product consistently for the last 3 years and I love it. I actually prefer the Enriched over the other 3 formulas...even if it isn't formulated specifically for my skin type.


What makes the Enriched better is that it has a heavier natural oil content and less mineral oil. The result is easier makeup removal, cleaner feel (without dryness) and no irritation. Its not to say the the other formulas aren't good...they are, but this is just better and is attached to less issues.


Across the board, this is a customer favorite. Even my oily acne prone sister uses it with great results.


The trick is to use a good amount (at least 3-4 full pumps), massage thoroughly (it takes a little longer than a foam if you want good results) and requires a good rinsing (at least 10x with lukewarm water or in the shower).

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julianrei on 5/18/2007 1:51:00 PM more reviews by julianrei

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

Shu's cleansing oil removes eye makeup more easily than DHC. A 150ml bottle retails for about US$28, which I think is a little costly. Nonetheless, I have been using 1 bottle for at least 2.5 months, so it does have some mileage. I would repurchase, since it removes my eye makeup, foundation and sunscreen effectively.

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Hammurabi on 4/22/2007 6:15:00 AM more reviews by Hammurabi

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Having use this for 6 months, it is much better than any of make up wipes on the market i have tried (e.g. johnsons, dove, almay etc) three pumps for the face and it takes absolutely everything off, though i still use a separate eye make up remover for my eyes first (need to see when i clean my face heh)
it doesnt clog pores or anything, its simply an oil base cleanser, but I have the normal version, NOT the enrich one, in fact i am not sure how does the enrich preform, but the SA suggested this to me first so i went with this.

very very good make up remover, 6 months use i am only 1/4 through the bottle (i wear make up at least every second day). it cost $450 HKD when i bought it while travelling (about $58USD/$75AUD).

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verarespirawho on 3/14/2007 8:29:00 PM more reviews by verarespirawho

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This was one of the first cleansing oil products I tried. This is a heavier type cleansing oil which rinses clean for effective sunscreen/makeup removal. Unfortunately, my skin reacted to this product with hives so I stopped immeidately and did not give this product a long-term run. I have thus moved onto Fancl's Mild Cleansing Oil (see review). This product is a thinner type cleansing oil for effective. Available at dept. stores at a steep price, pump package lacking because head gets stuck (at least this is my experience with the packaging of the "light" version).

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1LUCKY on 11/27/2006 9:49:00 AM more reviews by 1LUCKY

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is the best cleanser I've ever used!!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Eleven on 11/10/2006 7:51:00 PM more reviews by Eleven

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Another brand that isn’t available in Australia so I got this as a sample when on holiday in London recently. This is an oil that you apply to dry skin, gentle rub in, including on eye makeup, and then you add water to emulsify. The first action is apparently to gentle dislodge makeup and once water is added it helps to gently wash the debris away. It definitely is gentle on my skin but the process take a bit of getting used to as it’s not like a regular cleanser. I also found it isn’t that effective on eye makeup. You only need a small amount so it’s cost effective if you purchase a large bottle. I prefer to stick with a regular style cleanser but have no doubt this is a good product.

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