My Dear Klairs cleansing oil review rosacea edition. This one came to me from YesStyle and I’ll be honest, I nearly skipped it. Cleansing oils have been hit or miss for me historically. I have combo to oily skin with Rosacea, and oils can go one of two ways – genuinely brilliant or an absolute breakout-inducing disaster. For context on why oils are trickier with Malassezia-prone skin: my seb derm on scalp vs face post covers my double cleansing approach in detail, including why I swapped away from standard oil cleansers.
Use code NEVEEN15 for a discount on your YesStyle order.
How I’ve been using it
Over a week in at the time of filming, and I’ve barely made a dent in the bottle. I use one pump, or half a pump on days I’m not wearing makeup and just need the sunscreen off.
It’s the first step of a double cleanse for me. Oil first, then a milky or gel cleanser after. At the moment I’m alternating between the Facetheory one and a gel cleanser for that second step.
The texture, and why it matters here
This is a genuinely lightweight oil with a thin consistency, and unscented.
Klairs do another cleansing oil which I haven’t tried, but from what I’ve read that one is thicker. So if you’re choosing between them and your skin leans oily, this is the lighter of the two.
Does it actually take makeup off?
Yes, and it emulsifies beautifully.
I swatched eyeliner, lipstick, eyeshadow and foundation on the back of my hand to test it properly on camera, and it lifted all of it before I’d even rinsed. Water turns it milky straight away rather than leaving you rubbing at your face.
One thing I can’t answer: I don’t wear waterproof mascara or anything waterproof, so I’ve got no idea how it handles that. If you do, I’d take someone else’s word over mine there.
What’s in it
The oils are sunflower seed, grape seed, jojoba seed and blackcurrant. Klairs describe it as moisturising and balancing the skin’s water to oil level, rich in vitamins A, B and C, with antioxidant properties, and they recommend it for combination to oily skin and anyone who finds oil cleansers too heavy.
I’ll take the combination-to-oily part, because I’ve got combination skin and that’s exactly how it behaves. The antioxidant claim I’m less convinced by, mostly because it’s a cleanser. It isn’t on your face long enough to be doing much of anything.
The comparison that made me like it
This is the real review, and it’s about every other cleansing oil I’ve tried rather than this one.
I’ve used cleansing oils from other brands that were far too thick and didn’t emulsify properly. They left a heavy film on my skin even when I double cleansed afterwards, and my combination rosacea-prone skin ended up oily, flushed and red. That’s the pattern I’ve come to expect from an oil cleanser, and it’s why I nearly didn’t bother with this one.
This one didn’t do that. No flare, no breakouts, no extra facial flushing, nothing. On sensitive skin, an oil cleanser doing nothing at all is a result.
It also isn’t expensive next to the high-end cleansing oils I’ve tried, which makes the whole thing easier to recommend.
Would I buy it again?
Yes. I’ll repurchase this when I finish it.
This is my first Klairs cleansing oil, though not my first Klairs product. I’ve used their toner and their calming cream and I liked both, so I’m not exactly shocked that this one worked out too. I seem to get on with pretty much everything of theirs I try. More on the rest of the range in my other Klairs review.
If you’ve used this one and loved it, or used it and hated it, I’d like to know either way.
FAQ
Is Dear Klairs cleansing oil good for oily skin?
The Dear Klairs Gentle Black Fresh Cleansing Oil is formulated to be lightweight and rinse clean, making it more suitable for oily and combination skin than heavier cleansing oils.
Can I use a cleansing oil if I have rosacea?
It depends on the formula. Some cleansing oils contain fragrance or essential oils that can trigger rosacea flares. The Dear Klairs Gentle Black Fresh Cleansing Oil is designed for sensitive skin and is relatively minimal in potentially irritating ingredients. Patch test first.
What is the YesStyle discount code?
Use code NEVEEN15 at YesStyle for an extra 2% to 5% off every order. Stackable with YesStyle’s monthly coupon codes for up to 15%+ off in total. No expiry date.
More K-beauty and skincare
- Trying Some Klairs Skincare – another Klairs review on the blog
- Seborrhoeic Dermatitis on the Scalp vs Face
- 6 Malassezia Safe Moisturisers That Don’t Feel Like Grease
- The Anua Azelaic Acid Serum Review
- My Current Discount Codes – including YesStyle code NEVEEN15
