I have been using the Clarins Total Cleansing Oil since a year and a half now. Then, when I came across a cleansing oil from Klairs, a Korean brand, I was super excited since my skincare routine these days consists largely of Korean products. I wanted to review it for you but then I thought of comparing both of these in a Face Off post. It has anyway been absolutely ages since I did a Face Off post, so here we go…
Lineage
The Clarins Total Cleansing Oil comes from CLARINS, the huge French beauty house, started in 1954, that has presence in almost every country around the world! In comparison, KLAIRS, is a recently new brand from Korea which is soon becoming everyone’s favourite country for gentle and effective skincare products.
Clarins is known for it’s plant based products which combine scientific technologies with natural plant extracts. Klairs doesn’t divide ingredients into chemical and natural. Instead, they focus on the effect the ingredient has on the skin and uses only those ingredients that are safe and qualified for even sensitive skin.
Packaging
Both the cleansing oils come in plastic bottles with a pump. They both also have a stopper included on the pump so that it doesn’t dispense the oil accidentally. While the Clarins Total Cleansing Oil comes in a totally clear, transparent bottle, the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil comes in a dark brown see through plastic bottle. Since both the bottles are see through, you can easily check how much product is remaining.
While the Clarins bottle looks bigger than the Klairs one, both contain 150ml of cleansing oil.
Texture and Smell
Both the cleansing oils have a similar texture with the Clarins one being slightly thinner and runnier in consistency than the Klairs one. The Clarins Total Cleansing Oil has an “oily” smell (yes, I know it is an oil) and you can detect a faint smell of olives in it. The Klairs Deep Cleansing Oil has a faint sweet fruity smell which I definitely prefer over an oily smell.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients for the Clarins Total Cleansing oil:
See the mineral oil bang in the middle of the list? The presence of mineral oil has always been my gripe with Clarins. The only reason why I still have this oil is because a friend of mine gifted me two of these bottles (she had bought two after reading my review but it broke her out! Perhaps because of the mineral oil???). And this really takes a long time to use up.
Now for the ingredients of the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil:
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate , Isopropyl Myristate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil , Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate , Polysorbate 20, Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil
No mineral oil! Yay!!! And so many other beneficial oils as well (Jojoba, Soybean, Sesame, Black Currant (I guess that’s what gives the nice fragrance), Cranberry) and Shea butter too! The Klairs oil scores high on the ingredients.
Cleansing Efficiency
Both the oils emulsify and become a milky lotion and take off all the makeup very effectively. While I don’t think either oil is meant to be used on the eyes to remove eye makeup, I have used them both on the eyes (you have to check everything while reviewing, don’t you?). The Clarins oil stings my eyes like crazy and makes my vision hazy for a while after using it. Big No-No for the eye area. The Klairs oil, on the other hand, doesn’t sting my eyes and removes my normal eye liner and eyeshadow, if I’m wearing it, very gently and effectively. I haven’t tried it with a waterproof mascara though.
Animal Testing Policy
Clarins unfortunately, still carries out animal testing. Though they prefer to remain mum on this matter, I checked on several animal cruelty websites and the Clarins name does come up as a brand that DOES test on animals.
Since 2009, Klairs has adopted a strictly no animal testing policy and is a totally cruelty free brand. Also, none of it’s products contain alcohol, parabens or artificial colouring either! So Klairs wins this round as well.
Price
The last time I checked, the Clarins Oil was priced at ₹2100 for 150ml. The Klirs Oil is priced at $22.90 for 150ml, which converts to approximately ₹1400. Even if you add the shipping charges, which are around $8 for standard shipping, it still comes to ₹1900 making it a better buy than Clarins.
The Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is available on Wishtrend.com (click on the name to buy)
Verdict
For the multiple oils in the ingredients, the efficacy, the cruelty-free status and last, but not the least, the pleasant fruity fragrance, the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is the Winner!!!
Do you use a cleansing oil to remove your makeup? Which is your favourite cleansing oil?
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I have never used these days…but you have compared them really nicely 🙂
lovely comparison post dear… I am a fan of Korean cosmetics… Wish they were easily available here….
Thanks Revathy. I haven’t tried the MAC one yet though it seems wonderful the way you describe it. I also want to try the Banila Co Clean It Zero which is supposed to be an amazing cleansing balm.
my gripe with clarins also has been “mineral oil” high up in their ingredients list… i was like are u kidding me for a double serum for 4 grands that has mineral oil as its first ingredient to plump my skin!
i m currently using mac cleanse off oil (reviewed in my blog) and on the second bottle….it has similar goodness of multiple oils and removes waterproof eye makeup too…(let me stop here!)….klairs works out to the same price.. i shall deffo give this a try….
i like ur face off posts… nice, detailed yet to the point… keep them coming! 🙂