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It is no secret that I love my knitwear. Scarves, cardigans, you rarely see me without them once the temperature drops below 20 °C.
The love for knits runs deep in my family, my mother supplying us with an abundance of handmade garments, dressing my children as well as myself. The one exception? My sister. She loves a chunky knit as much as I do, don´t get me wrong. But she can´t stand the feeling of wool against her skin. Doesn´t matter if it is true wool or a cashmere blend, finely knit or thick meshes, jumper or beanie. Within half an hour she´ll start scratching herself.
She still tries though. Different blends, wearing a long sleeve top underneath, everything to be able to enjoy her knits.
It reminds me a lot of my relationship with shea butter. I just love how it feels on my skin. I slather my whole body in it. But applied to my face, it usually breaks me out.
I am not willing to give up though, and try to see if there is a way to enjoy the silky feeling without the spots. And I think I have found one: The Oskia Perfect Cleanser.
What Oskia claims
A nourishing cleansing balm, rich in youth-boosting vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, essential fatty acids and natural emollients to deeply cleanse, decongest, soothe and restore moisture levels. Once combined with water, this nutrient-rich balm becomes a light milk that penetrates deeply and lifts away pore-blocking impurities to leave your skin feeling thoroughly clean, comfortable and soft. Formulated with OSKIA’s unique dual approach and signature MSM repair & regenerating complex. Suitable for all skin types, particularly dry, hormonal or mature skin.
Facts
Prize and size
One tube contains 125 ml and retails for 36 € here. You don´t need much, so the OSKIA Perfect Cleanser will last you several months.
As much as I am usually a fan of the tube packaging, the thick texture of the cleanser can make it sometimes a little hard to get out.
Texture and smell
I love balm cleansers, but this is the thickest, most nourishing balm cleanser I have ever tried. It is richer than the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (Review), almost too rich for my taste.
The scent is hard to describe, it smells warm and comforting, but not sweet.
Application and effects
Despite the richness it spreads easily when in contact with the warm skin and melts away any traces of makeup. While I prefer to use a wash cloth for removal, I have tried rinsing it with water only and it works, but takes quite some time.
For me this works best as a pm cleanser now that it is cold outside, but for dry skins it would make a lovely morning cleanse as well.
Ingredients
Favorable ingredients
- Sweet Almond (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) Oil: Rich in Vitamin E, emollient
- Glycerin: Humectant
- Sesame Seed Oil:Rich in essential fatty acids
- Decyl Oleate: Emollient, might be comedogenic
- Glyceryl Stearate: Fatty acid, naturally occurring in the human body, emollient
- Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride:Occlusive
- Glyceryl Dibehenate: Emollient
- Tribehenin: Humectant
- Glyceryl Caprylate: Emollient
- Glyceryl Behenate: Emollient
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil:Rich in Vitamin E and linoleic acid, anti-inflammatory
- Coco Glucoside: Gentle anionic surfactant
- Shea Butter:Emollient
- Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
- Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (MSM): Oskias signature ingredient, organic sulfur, building block in collagen and keratin syntheses when taken orally, enhances penetration of other ingredients
- Zinc Glycine: Zinc connected to Glycine for better dermal penetration, brightening (inhibits Tyrosinkinase) and lowers sebum production
- Inulin: Humectant, smoothing
- Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide: Emollient, there is evidence that it may support healthy skin microbiome (prebiotic)
- Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil: Emollient, rich in Omega 3 and linoleic acid, thus anti-inflammatory
- Rose Hip Seed Oil: Vitamin C and A, anti-oxidant, promoting collagen production, brightening
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol):Antioxidant, reduces hyperpigmentation and improves skins elasticity
Other ingredients
- Benzyl Alcohol: Preservative
- Dehydroacetic Acid: Preservative
Unfavorable Ingredients
- Fragrance (from natural origin)
- Citronellol, Geraniol
Almost closer to an oil than a balm, this product offers a variety of emollients and a few ingredients aiming to replenish linoleic and Omega 3 fatty acids. Both Shea Butter and Decyl Oleate could be troublesome for blemish prone skin though, I personally did not react with congestion to this product though.
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes.
It is a nourishing balm rich in extra ingredients and rinsing better than expected.
Would I repurchase?
No.
I just don´t think that it is aimed at my skin type (combination/mature/acne prone), even though it is a beautiful product.
Who do I recommend it to?
Anyone with dry skin, especially if they live in harsher weather or face a cold winter.
For skin similar to mine (mature, acne prone, oily) I´d recommend the OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel (Review)
