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! 
- 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
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
- Packaging7.5/10
- Ingredients7.5/10
- Texture/Application7.5/10
- Performance8.5/10
- Price7.5/10
The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil may be a little boring, but it's also a solid oil cleanser for non-acne prone skin, and I can see why it's a bestseller in its category (1 every 10 seconds!). So if you just want a sensible oil cleanser that works well, you can't go wrong with this one.
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!
Great review! :)
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Hey, just wanted to say that I really enjoy your website and posts.
Frequent here when I have the free time.
Love the focus on skincare products, because I’ve been trying to find good products for my skin. Thanks for your awesome reviews!!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Spire, it really means a lot! I’m so glad to hear you enjoy my posts and reviews, and I hope they’ll help in your product search! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or even email me, I’d be happy to help :)
I’ve been breaking out more recently because of stress, but I remember you saying good things about oil cleansers a long time ago. I tried the one from Neutrogena (because it’s cheaper) and though I really don’t like rubbing oil onto my skin, my skin has felt really great after touching that up with a foam cleanser. :)
Oh no! The same thing happens to me too when I’m stressed >_< I double cleanse as well, and it makes my skin feel much cleaner + softer than just using regular cleanser!
This is a pretty garbage review if the product lost points for being unscented, fragrance is terrible for the skin and it should be avoided as much as possible. Also skincare reviews that include packaging should be based off of whether the packaging works for the product and gives a sanitary experience, this product for example has a pump which is perfect for an oil cleanser and makes it easy to use, and you don’t contaminate any of the product while using it, sounds like 10/10 packaging to me. How it looks shouldn’t matter too much. If you want your skincare routine to be exciting you’re not quite doing it for the right reasons, besides a nice oil cleanser IS exciting! It’s a unique way to cleanse and get lots of dirt out of your skin, I don’t know what could be more exciting than that! I think this product deserves at very least a 9 it works beautifully and does it’s job wonderfully, it clears my pores and leaves my combo skin so smooth and soft!
Fragrance can be irritating and should be avoided by those with sensitive skin. However for many people, including me, light fragrance can add aromatherapy benefits and enhances the usage experience, especially when it’s something like cleansers that are only on the skin temporarily. Also news flash, every oil cleanser comes in a pump because it’s what makes the most sense. I’m comparing it to other oil cleansers, some that come in more aesthetically pleasing containers, which is why DHC’s basic bottle is a 7.5 in comparison. If cleansing oils came in a jar or any other packaging trust me, the score would be much lower. Sounds like you love this cleansing oil, and good for you. But sorry to burst your bubble, not everyone is going to agree with you because guess what, people have different preferences when it comes to skincare products. As someone who has tried a lot of cleansing oils, I stand by what I said about the DHC one being reliable but boring. You don’t need to agree, but to call someone else’s opinion “garbage” because they feel differently is just rude.