Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil Review

I purchased this a little while back in April because I could not justify spending £19-£25 on the cleansing oils I had fallen in love with e.g. Astalift Cleansing Oil before it went on sale and the Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil which was the first I ever tried out. You can read my review of the Astalift Cleansing Oil here if you are interested but today is a review for the Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil...what a name!! If you are new to the Cleansing Oil Makeup Removing Game (Oh Hello!! I was like you a while ago). Basically, Cleansing Oils are one of the best and efficient ways to remove makeup because oil dissolves most makeup like foundation, concealers, eyeshadows and waterproof makeup in general because it loosens the bonds and breaks them down so when this Makeup+Cleansing Oil symphony (pretty gross) come in contact with warm water, it forms an emulsion which washes off easily from the face with either warm water or a warm flannel. That's my interpretation of how it works!!!






Packaging
I am sure you would agree with me that the packaging is pretty and I was attracted to it in store because it reminded me of Spring/Summer and let's face it, I am very big on packaging. It houses 200 ml of Camomile  Silky Cleansing Oil which means this would last for a long time and it sure has because this is how much I have left since April when I purchased it. It has a pump which is handy although you have to be careful when trying to dispense this because it has splashed all over me a few times when I was less than careful.

What Body Shop Says
They describe this as a silky soft cleansing oil which effortlessly removes makeup from the whole face quickly and effectively, leaving the skin feeling clean, refreshed and free from impurities. They also claim it is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin and contact lens wearers and even removes waterproof makeup. I find most of their claims true but I have a few reservations which I would explain further into the post. I have combination/oily skin which is prone to acne and blemishes but I have not experienced any untoward effect while using this cleansing oil and no breakouts as well which is really refreshing to know because that is exactly what I am trying to prevent.

Formula/Fragrance/Texture
As expected from the name, it contains Camomile Essential Oil which is very good for calming the skin as well as other qualities. It also contains some other oils such as  Sweet Almond Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Soyabean Oil and a host of others which help nourish the skin while removing your makeup. As the name also implies, it feels really rich and silky which may be off putting if you are terrified of applying any extra oil to your face but it's totally fine, I promise. I have read a few reviews where a lot of people said they love the scent/fragrance but I really don't like it. It just smells like cooking oil (I am terrible I know) and if it did not do such a good job, I would have binned it. Personally, if a product (skincare especially) wants to have fragrance, then I think it should be pleasant but hey!that's just my personal preference.

Application
I just squirt a few pumps into my hands and massage across my face full of makeup which may sound very grime/gross but the results are worth it. I let it sit for a minute and wipe it off with a warm/hand-hot flannel and it does justice to removing my makeup and I get ready for  my second cleanse. I find it quite rich/thick which feels a little overwhelming compared to the Astalift version which was really light and felt pleasant to apply.



Results/Reservations
I have to admit, we did not get on well at first because I did not use a flannel to take it off which is pretty dumb (I know, I know but I did not have to use a flannel with the Astalift one). I tried to rinse it off with just warm water sans flannel and I still had some residue on my face which made me a little cross and it did not feel good until I went back to read the instructions and found that a flannel should be used. I tried it and it was like a dream; very good results. It does the job effectively including removing waterproof makeup like mascaras which are such a nightmare to take off

Comparison to Astalift Cleansing Oil
I know you must be sick of hearing me make reference to the Astalift version in this post (I'm sowi) but I thought a quick comparison would be good and I could not help comparing both of them even as they sit side by side in my bathroom. In terms of texture and fragrance, I definitely prefer the Astalift Cleansing Oil because it is lighter and smells much nicer. To be honest, the Astalift one does the job better and I don't need a flannel for removing it. In terms of cost and availability, the Body Shop version has to win because it is much cheaper and easily available online and in-store and we all know how generous Body Shop are with their discounts.

Price
It retails for £10 which I think is a bargain for the quality and the amount of product that you get plus Body Shop always have this massive sales and discounts and I honestly can't recall buying anything for full price in Body Shop. I got this together with The Body Shop Blush Brush at a 40% discount which meant I only paid about £6 for this and that is truly barganiciously amazing!!

Personal Thoughts
I like it but I don't love it. Don't get me wrong; this cleansing oil has received rave reviews from the beauty world ranging from bloggers, magazine editors and YouTube beauty gurus so it is really good. For me, I was not wowed because I had tried two other similar products that were much more amazing. I still use it every other day because I don't want my Astalift one to run out seeing that they have closed up their counters/racks in Debenhams and Elys. Small secret: The Body Shop Cleansing Oil is super amazing for prepping your makeup brushes before you wash them. I once had this very naughty brush that refused to get clean despite washing it a few times with various cleaning agents and I even tried olive oil but it did not budge. In despair, I squirted a few drops of the Body Shop Cleansing Oil and swirled the said brush in it and in a few seconds all, I mean ALL, the dark smoky eye shadow residue were gone. This goes to say this is really effective for removing makeup..That's it folks and see you in my next post..x

Astalift Cleansing Oil Review

Taking my makeup off at the end of the day is one of the activities I look forward to after work every day because it just feels so refreshing and relieving just like taking off my bra at the end of the day :-). The freedom and relief can never be quantified..lol. In the past, I started off with using makeup wipes which I still turn to on extremely lazy days. Then, I  moved on to Micellar waters which are still a firm favourite especially with brands like Bioderma and Garnier creating beautiful Micellar waters.


I recently tried Cleansing Oils and I was in shock as to how all, I mean ALL, traces of my makeup were gone. It was truly like magic. I know cleansing oils have been making the rounds in the beauty world for a while now but I just never wanted to jump on the bandwagon because I was pretty satisfied with my current makeup removers (wipes and  micellar waters). I got to try the first cleansing oil which happened to be a Bobbi Brown version at their counter when I went for a makeover and I was astounded as to how effective it proved to be. Since then, my interest had been piqued and I wanted to try one first before buying one. This opportunity came when I got the newsletter from Elys in Wimbledon (I have spoken about them here) saying there were some free samples of Astalift Cleansing Oil up for grabs. Elys is rapidly becoming my favourite department store –watch out Debenhams!  So here is a my little review..

Brief Background of the Astalift

Just like you, I had never heard about Astalift before now. I had spied them in Debenhams and Elys a little while ago but I was not drawn to them and I am not sure why. I guess I thought they looked expensive or I thought it was only for older ladies due to the "Lift" in their name which is partly true. They are experts in anti-ageing skincare but they also have products for younger skin and most skin types so I was not particularly wrong. According to the Astalift Website, they describe themselves as a premium anti-ageing skincare brand which combines unique technological expertise in skincare with advanced molecular research and patented innovation to become specialists. Astalift is a registered trademark of Fujifilm Corporation. I know, I was surprised myself thinking what does photography have to do with skincare? But I guess it’s the research and technology behind their products that shows this relationship and I have been very impressed with this cleansing oil so I guess Fujifilm must know their onions both in skin care and photography.

Packaging

Honestly, I find the bright orange/red/blood orange colour a bit overwhelming but I am not too fussed about it. It was enclosed in this lovely pouch which i quite like and I am impressed by the overall presentation of the sample; I think it shows good effort on the part of Astalift. I loved it so much that I bought the full size so I can also comment on the packaging of the full size. The packaging is quite similar to the sample except it is obviously bigger and also has a pump which is amazing as it makes application of the product really easy and minimises waste and any accidents. You only need a pump as a little goes a long way.

Formula/Texture

I am in love with this cleansing oil and I even love it more after trying a cheaper version (The Body Shop Cleansing Oil). It has the lightest texture of oil I have ever come across and It does not feel oily and greasy if that makes any sense. Of course, it’s an oil so it definitely has an oily texture but nothing unbearable. To match the bottle, the oil itself is also a light orange colour which is quite different to any oil out there. It also has a nice fragrance which is a plus for me.  The Astalift Cleansing oil smells really nice and I don’t think the fragrance interferes with the skin if you are particular about fragrances because you have sensitive skin.

How I use it

Easy Peasy. I release one pump of this into my palms and gently massage across my face with my makeup on. To be honest, I am only getting used to it because using oils with my makeup on is just not my thing at all. It feels messy but it gets better every time and the best thing is the results you get. Trust me, it is so worth it and having used this for a few weeks, I think I have gotten over that messy feeling somewhat. I massage this all over my face and spend a little more time around my eye areas if I wore any eye makeup. I let it sit for about 30 seconds and take it off with either warm water or a damp muslin cloth/flannel depending on how I feel.

Results

Ladies and Gents (oh hello gents if you are reading), all and I mean every single trace of makeup goes off with this cleansing oil. I may have to say this is the best way to take my makeup off. I am not saying just this brand but good cleansing oils seem to be the best way to remove all traces of makeup with minimal effort. The science behind this is that the oil breaks down the makeup effectively much more than just water, wipes and even micellar water. Most foundations have some element of oil in them to help keep them preserved and the cleansing oil breaks down these bonds including dirt, grease, grime and facial oils which accumulate on the skin during the course of the day. I wonder why it took me so long to try this. It’s super

Cost

This is where things goes a bit downhill. It retails for £19 which is quite steep for a makeup remover but remember it is premium skin care brand so it would be odd to expect any less. Generally, cleansing oils are not cheap even Body Shop’s version is £10 and Bobbi Brown is £20 and I think same with the DHC and Shu Umeura versions which are equally good. The good news is Debenhams has this Astalift Cleansing Oil and other products from their range on half price offer so, go, go, go and grab yours while stocks last.  I picked mine up for £9.50 and I almost squealed for joy. Word on the street is they were moving from Debenhams which is so sad because I was just beginning to fall in love with the brand but I think the counter in Elys Wimbledon is still there but it is full price. UPDATE: Debenhams is currently running 10% off all Beauty and Skincare so with the half price offer, you would be getting this about £8.50 or so and if that's not a bargain. I don't know what is.

Cons

1. Full Price is quite expensive but most Cleansing oils are quite pricey

2. I personally feel the packaging is just too bright and overwhelming and it would have been nice to put in more effort in the packaging

3. It is not readily available and may become worse if they move from Debenhams. You can still buy online but sometimes, it is great to go to a counter and try products rather than buying online

Personal Thoughts

I am in love with this product and this prompted me to buy the full size and thank goodness it was on sales. If I had not tried the sample, there is no way I would have thought of trying the brand. I am so glad I did which is yet another reason why brands should keep investing in samples for their customers to try out. I was even prepared to pay full price because the sample was so good. I definitely recommend it and I use this almost every night although I still love my Garnier Micellar Water but this does a better job.
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See you in my next post....xx