Shu Uemura's BlackOil Pore Purifying Fresh Cleansing Oil review: 'Within 15 secs, all the makeup residue vanished before me'
The oil doubles as a cleanser and makeup remover and is suitable for oily and combination skin.
Japanese brand Shu Uemura has been a trailblazer in the makeup and skincare industry for years, and we've been blessed with a ton of functional and cool beauty products to use. But did you know the story of how it all began?
Mr Shu Uemura started out as a makeup artist in Japan for multiple famous actresses, and in 1955, he was hired as a makeup artist assistant for the Hollywood movie Joe Butterfly, depicting the post-war in Japan. Soon after, he began a fascinating career journey in Hollywood in 1962, when Shu Uemura turned US actress Shirley MacLaine into a geisha for the movie My Geisha.
About the same time, Makeup artist Mr Shu Uemura pioneered his namesake brand in 1967. He launched his first beauty product, a cleansing oil that acted both as a cleanser and a moisturiser. The rest, they say, is history.
This quarter, Shu Uemura debuts another version of the cleansing oil: the BlackOil Pore Purifying Fresh Cleansing Oil. This beauty product fuses the power of Japanese black charcoal with precious black rice. The oil doubles as a cleanser and makeup remover and is suitable for oily and combination skin.
Let's find out how effective this new cleansing oil from Shu Uemura is.
Overview of BlackOil Pore Purifying Fresh Cleansing Oil
Designed for oily and combination skin, this lightweight, fresh cleansing oil contains premium Japanese black charcoal and black rice, known to contain more than 18 amino acids that are designed to support healthy skin balance.
The product also contains AHA/LHA, gentle exfoliators that deeply cleanse the skin. AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acids, and LHA stands for lipo hydroxy acids. Their functions are to reduce blackheads and pores and help remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface.
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The scent and texture of the BlackOil Pore Purifying Fresh Cleansing Oil
The fresh and clean scent upon the first whiff can be attributed to a hinoki-inspired scent, a Japanese Cypress native plant that invokes a sense of calmness and uplifting. I can't get over how elegant this scent is.
The texture is light, non-soapy and non-oily considering the product is marketed as a cleansing oil. Amazing!
How to apply the cleansing oil
The makeup advisor shared that three pumps are enough to cover the whole face. Pump three drops onto your palms, add a dash of water to rub the combination together, and gently apply it in a circular motion to your face.
Within 15 seconds, all the gunk and makeup residue vanished before me! As you can see from the video, eyeliner and lipstick residues melted away instantly.
I've been using this cleansing oil to remove sunscreen residue, and my skin feels clean and smooth. As I have sensitive skin, I can honestly say the product doesn't irritate nor cause redness after a week's usage.
Is the BlackOil Pore Purifying Fresh Cleansing Oil worth the buy?
The cleanser is priced higher than the normal price range and it's worthwhile to note the combination of the ingredients and scent gives it an elevated luxe feel. I don't think you'll run out of the product seeing how just a few drops are needed to wash your entire face, plus you won't need to spend your money on additional facial wipes to remove makeup residue.
