Dermalogica Precleanse Oil

Long time readers know of my obsession with the brand Dermalogica and cleansers in general. So you can only imagine my excitement when dermalogica  sent me my own personalized selfie prep pack which consisted of a Precleanse and a Special Cleansing Gel! Both the products are gentle on the skin, highly effective, very pleasant to use and of high quality.

Dermalogica Precleanse Oil is a lightweight cleansing oil that melts away makeup & lifts impurities with ease and leaves skin soft and clean. I was impressed with the clear directions to use- I massage a small amount into my dry skin, and then add warm water to my fingertips and continue to massage. The addition of water causes the oil to transform into a thin milky emulsion that removes all of the makeup and dirt once rinsed off of the skin.

It contains olive oil to smooth and soften skin, apricot kernel oil to soothe irritation, nourish and moisturise the skin and borage seed oil, which is widely used for treating inflammation, eczema, dehydration and scaliness. It also contains vitamin E oil, a rich antioxidant that helps minimise lipid peroxidation in the skin and improves skin smoothness and softness. As with all oil formulations, the texture lent itself well to facial massage.

This is the first time I have used a cleansing oil. Cleansing Oils have a balancing effect on oily and combination skin types, such as mine (I have a combination, acne-prone skin with an oily T-zone, dehydrated areas & sensitivity).  Oilier skin types should not fear an oil cleanse – far from it.  Oil attracts oil – which means that excess oil/sebum on the skin will be effectively removed by a cleansing oil.

I find the essential oils that the precleanse contains very relaxing, I can definitely smell the lavender oil and citrus too, I breathe in deeply when applying it as they suggest that you do when having a Dermalogica facial. According to dermalogica, Precleanse is fragrance-free (according to me it definitely has a mild lavender & citrus-like scent)  , and free from color too – the entire range is.

Precleanse is a product that encourages the highly recommended ‘double cleanse’, because it doesn’t call itself simply a cleanser – the ‘pre’ part reminds us that something is intended to follow. The hydrophilic (water-loving) formula meant that it emulsified into a lightweight milk in contact with water and rinsed away easily, without any greasy residue. The skin is then ready for step two – cleansing. I feel that a double cleanse would be unnecessary early in the morning so I perform a deep cleanse using a precleanse followed by the special cleansing gel at night before bedtime.

I am being careful not to imply that this is simply a makeup remover because it is fabulous for men and women who don’t wear makeup too! Having said that, it is important to mention that this is a fabulous eye makeup remover, with the exception of lash  extension wearers, as oil removes them!

As with all the Dermalogica products, the packaging has a minimalist design which gives a clinical appearance. In the selfie prep pack, I received a travel size 30 ml plastic bottle with a flip top and another 150 ml plastic bottle with the convenience of a pump dispenser which I received at a bloggers’ event organized by Dermalogica. Naturally, the pump dispenser is more practical to use. The only downside to the packaging is that the plastic is opaque so it’s difficult to tell how much product is remaining.

My Verdict:

Overall, I’ve been highly impressed with Dermalogica Precleanse. It’s an effective cleanser which is quick & easy to use and hasn’t irritated my sensitive skin. It is amazing for removing makeup (I’ve found it especially effective for removing my eye makeup) and as the first step in my skincare routine. I love the way my skin feels cool and refreshed after I’ve used it, and am very impressed at how long it has lasted – The 30ml travel size, which I used daily, lasted for almost 3 weeks! And now I’m using the 150 ml bottle. It’s also suitable for all skin types. I’d definitely give this product a double thumbs up. The only downside to this is its high price which might be a bummer for some. But according to me, it’s a total value for money.

The 150 ml bottle is priced at AED 180 and Dermalogica products are available at selected pharmacies across U.A.E.