WHAT IT IS: As crazy over cleansing oils as I am? High five, Shu Uemura’s sensational new Blanc:Chroma Brightening & Polishing Gentle Cleansing Oil should be right up your beauty alley.
If you’re a newly inducted member of the cleansing oil club, then this particular product ought to do very nicely as a gateway product indeed.
Here’s why. First, the Blanc:Chroma Brightening & Polishing Gentle Cleansing Oil is in many ways a conventional cleansing oil, by which I mean it works by binding with “bad” oils as you massage it into your mien face. Then, when you work warm water onto your skin, the oils “emulsify’ – that is, the liquid envelops the tiny globules, turning into a milky solution – which can be rinsed right off.
So far, so familiar. What sets Shu Uemura’s Blanc:Chroma Brightening & Polishing Gentle Cleansing Oil apart from the rest is the J-Beauty brand’s claim of “correcting” the four colours (for the record, said hues are brown, red, yellow and green) thought to contribute to dull complexion.
Right, that sorts out the “brightening” benefits alluded to in its name. What’s really exciting IMO is the “polishing” part: This baby boasts a clarifying clay extract and a mild exfoliant, both of which promise to work in tandem to scour off surface spots and such for comfortably clean, incredibly incandescent skin.
WHY I LOVE IT: We all know that taking off our makeup before bed is the most basic of beauty basics, but much like Mum badgering us to eat our veggies, the soundest advice often goes unheeded, right?
Which is why the Blanc:Chroma Brightening & Polishing Gentle Cleansing Oil is such a game-changer in my books. It transforms a tedious everyday chore into a relaxing me-time ritual by virtue of its skin-tinglingly sensuous texture, sort of like liquid cashmere caressing your face.
This fancy facial oil, besides boasting a carefully calibrated botanical blend designed to calm discolouration, also does a neat job of actually wiping out your warpaint. Shu says the formula has been rejigged to remove the most waterproof of mascaras, and I’m happy to report that it delivers on that front: Spidery clumps come straight off without any tugging and toiling on my part.
Top tip: Get the most mileage out of your oil by applying it with inexpensive drugstore wipes. What I like to do when grappling with glitter-heavy makeup is to grab a cotton pad and fold it into quarters before sprinkling it with my cleansing oil. Press the wipe over the glitter-festooned area for about five seconds to loosen the adhesives, then sweep off in one deft, decisive stroke. Less product, less waste!
What else? Honorary mention must surely go to the subtle scent and perfectly posh packaging – the violet vial this elixir comes in is heart-stoppingly pretty! – making up all the thoughtful little touches the J-Beauty brand is justifiably renowned for.
Bottom line: This oil is a crackin’ good choice if you’re looking for a deep clean and the sort of “poreless porcelain princess” complexion (a friend's words, not mine!) that yours truly has been blessed with. Have fun beauty shopping!
GET IT AT: Shu Uemura Blanc:Chroma Brightening & Polishing Gentle Cleansing Oil, $55 for 150mL and $125 for 450mL, will be available from March 1, 2015 at all Shu Uemura counters. For more information, visit shuuemura.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram at @shuuemura_sg and #shuuemurasg.