DHC Deep Cleansing Oil review

DHC has been a hit-or-miss for me, mostly likely due to the age of their target audience (30+). However, the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (a bestseller) has been one I’ve had a positive experience with. Why I never reviewed it in depth, I don’t know, but better late than never!  Pin

What is it

A makeup remover that completely dissolves all traces of dirt and cosmetics—even waterproof mascara and eyeliner, while nourishing your complexion with antioxidant-rich olive oil.

How to use

Dispense into dry hands, then massage onto dry face to dissolve makeup, dirt and other impurities. Add water to turn it into a milky emulsion and then rinse thoroughly.

First impression

Standard packaging (not pictured) is a clear pump bottle which makes dispensing the product easy and hygenic. It feels and smells exactly like you’d how expect it to – a medium oily texture with a faint olive scent.

Best suited for

Normal, dry, or dry-combination skin types

Ingredients

olive fruit oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, pentylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, tocopherol, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil

The main ingredient here is olive (fruit) oil, which we all know is great in cooking, but in skincare it can be comedogenic for some people. However, it does contain fatty acids which can be beneficial for those with dry skin. The second ingredient, caprylic/capric triglyceride, is a fatty acid derived from coconuts and has great moisturizing and skin-repair abilities. Unlike olive oil, it’s not comedogenic and suitable for even sensitive skin types. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is also in there, but it’s pretty low on the list (and after phenoxyethanol, a preservative). Overall nothing especially exciting or terrible in the ingredient list, so it really comes down to how your skin type and how it reacts to olive oil. Mine seems to like it, so it’s a win for me in this aspect.

Overall Experience

This was one of the first oil cleansers I’ve tried and what really got me hooked on to oil cleansers. Though I wish it had a more pleasant scent, I did like that it didn’t feel too heavy for my combination-dry skin. It emulsified very nicely which made rinsing this off a breeze. It didn’t leave any film or residue, and I could definitely skip my second cleanse on days I didn’t wear makeup. Unlike most cleansers, it didn’t make my skin feel tight or dry afterwards, which is a huge plus.

But…it’s kinda boring. I know this is a terrible reason to not like a product, but one’s skincare routine should be an enjoyable experience. For me, a big part of that is using products that are exciting – packaging, ingredients, or even scent-wise! The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil fails to deliver in all 3 aspects, which is why I’ve been hesitant to repurchase.

Final Rating

Where to purchase

DHC – $5.50 to $23.50 – If you sign up for their catalog, you’ll receive free samples which often include this bestseller. It’s currently on sale until 03/31!
Amazon – free prime shipping!

Jenny Wu

Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.

Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨