Clarins Total Cleansing Oil 150ml

80%

20%

Makeup Removal Efficacy

Rinse-Off Performance

Skin Feel After Use

Texture & Application

Scent

Value for Money

Eye & Lip Safety

Skin Barrier Support

Sensitive Skin Compatibility

Packaging & Dispensing

Bottle Longevity

Versatility Across Skin Types

Ease of Use

Brand Trust & Repeat Purchase

Overview

The Clarins Total Cleansing Oil 150ml has built a devoted following among French skincare enthusiasts for good reason — it does two things at once without compromising either. It dissolves makeup, including stubborn residue from long-wear products, while actively working to support the skin's natural microbiota rather than stripping it bare. The texture is genuinely lightweight for an oil, and it emulsifies the moment it contacts water, rinsing away cleanly rather than sitting on the surface. Dermatologist-tested and formulated for all skin types, this cleansing oil sits at a premium price point — worth considering if you cleanse twice daily and go through a bottle quickly.

Features & Benefits

What makes the Clarins cleansing oil stand out in a crowded category is how well it handles the tough stuff. A single application takes off waterproof mascara and full-coverage foundation without tugging — something many drugstore cleansing oils require two rounds to manage. The formula leans on Golden Gentian and Lemon Balm, botanical actives chosen to help protect the skin's microbiota during cleansing rather than inadvertently wiping it out. It covers the full face — eyes and lips included — so there is no need to reach for a separate micellar water. The scent is a soft blend of melon, rose, and green mandarin: subtle and spa-like, not overpowering.

Best For

This oil cleanser is a natural fit for anyone who wears makeup regularly — especially waterproof formulas that resist normal washing. If you follow a double-cleanse routine, this is a strong first step: it clears the surface thoroughly so your second cleanser can actually work on the skin rather than fighting leftover product. Sensitive and reactive skin types tend to do well with it, given the gentle formula and absence of harsh surfactants. It also suits minimalists who want one product to handle both makeup removal and initial cleansing. That said, if you rarely wear makeup, the value proposition is less compelling at this price.

User Feedback

Repeat buyers are probably the clearest endorsement this oil cleanser has going for it — people come back, which says something. Consistent praise centers on how effortlessly it lifts makeup and how skin feels afterward: clean but not tight or dry. On the critical side, bottle size comes up often; 150ml goes faster than expected for daily double-cleansers. Users with oily skin sometimes find they still need a foaming second cleanse to feel fully clean. A smaller group of fragrance-sensitive users flag the scent as stronger than anticipated, so that is worth keeping in mind if you are sensitive to botanical fragrances.

#Makeup Cleansing Oils

#Makeup Remover

#Makeup

#Beauty & Personal Care

Pros

Removes waterproof mascara and long-wear foundation thoroughly in a single application.
Emulsifies cleanly with water, leaving no greasy film on the skin after rinsing.
Safe to use on eyes and lips, replacing the need for a separate makeup remover.
Lightweight oil texture feels comfortable during application without a heavy or suffocating sensation.
Dermatologist-tested formula gives added confidence for sensitive or reactive skin types.
Botanical actives are chosen to support the skin barrier rather than disrupt it during cleansing.
The scent is subtle and pleasant — more spa-like than perfumed, for most users.
Strong repeat-purchase rate suggests buyers consistently find it worth coming back to.
Works for both morning and evening routines, offering genuine flexibility in how you use it.

Cons

The 150ml bottle runs out quickly for anyone cleansing twice daily, raising the cost-per-use noticeably.
Premium pricing makes it harder to justify if makeup is only worn occasionally or lightly.
Oily skin types may find this oil cleanser insufficient as a standalone cleanse without a follow-up step.
Fragrance-sensitive individuals may find the botanical scent blend stronger than expected on skin.
The slim bottle format can make dispensing the right amount tricky — easy to over-pour.
No fragrance-free version is available for those who specifically need unscented skincare.
Not ideal as a budget-friendly entry into oil cleansing given how fast the volume depletes with regular use.

Ratings

The scores below reflect our AI-powered analysis of thousands of verified global purchases of the Clarins Total Cleansing Oil 150ml, with spam, bot activity, and incentivized reviews actively filtered out before processing. Each category is scored independently to give you an honest, granular picture — not a polished average that hides real trade-offs. Both the strengths that drive repeat purchases and the frustrations that cause hesitation are transparently baked into every number.

Makeup Removal Efficacy

93%

Users consistently report that even stubborn waterproof mascara and long-wear foundation come off in a single pass with minimal effort. The oil formula does the heavy lifting on contact, so there is very little rubbing involved — a notable plus for those who wear eye makeup daily and worry about lash damage or irritation over time.

A small segment of users who layer multiple long-wear products — particularly silicone-based primers under matte foundations — occasionally find one application is not quite enough. A second brief massage before rinsing resolves this, but it is a slight inconvenience when you are expecting a true one-pass result.

Rinse-Off Performance

88%

The emulsification on contact with water is genuinely clean for an oil-based cleanser — skin feels fresh rather than coated after rinsing. Reviewers frequently mention this as what separates it from cheaper cleansing oils that leave a noticeable film, particularly around the hairline and jaw where residue tends to linger.

Users with very dry skin sometimes report that the clean rinse feels slightly too thorough, leaving skin feeling stripped if they skip a moisturizer immediately after. A minority of oily-skin users also feel the rinse alone is insufficient and still reach for a foam cleanser to feel fully clean.

Skin Feel After Use

86%

The post-cleanse skin feel earns strong praise from normal, dry, and combination skin users who describe their complexion as soft and balanced — not tight the way a gel or micellar water can leave skin after removing heavy makeup. For those who have previously struggled with a compromised skin barrier, the gentle formula makes a noticeable difference over time.

Oily-skin users are the exception here — some describe their skin as feeling like it needs another round of cleansing, which suggests the formula skews slightly toward richer skin types. Fragrance-sensitive users occasionally report mild tingling around the nose or eyes, likely from the botanical scent compounds.

Texture & Application

91%

The oil spreads easily on dry skin without feeling heavy or requiring a lot of product, which makes the application process feel controlled and pleasant. Multiple reviewers note that it glides rather than drags, which is particularly appreciated when working around the eye area where tugging is a genuine concern for aging skin.

The bottle opening can make it easy to dispense more than needed, particularly if you are used to pump-format cleansers. Some users report wasting product during the first few uses while they calibrate the right amount, which is a minor but real issue given the premium price per ml.

Scent

74%

26%

The majority of users describe the scent as a pleasant, lightly floral and fresh background note — noticeable during application but not the kind that lingers on skin after rinsing. Many reviewers explicitly mention it as an aspect that makes the cleansing step feel more like a self-care ritual than a chore, particularly during an evening routine.

Fragrance-sensitive users represent a consistent minority who flag the scent as unexpectedly strong for what is marketed as a subtle formula. For anyone managing rosacea, eczema, or active skin sensitivities, the botanical fragrance blend is a legitimate reason for caution, and there is no fragrance-free variant available.

Value for Money

63%

37%

For users who double-cleanse and have previously purchased both a dedicated makeup remover and a separate facial cleanser, consolidating into one product can offset the per-bottle cost. Long-term buyers frequently cite the skin results and reliable efficacy as reasons the investment makes sense within a considered skincare routine.

The 150ml volume is simply not generous at this price point, and daily users go through the bottle faster than they expect — often within four to six weeks. Compared to similarly positioned cleansing oils that offer 200ml or more for a similar outlay, the cost-per-use math does not favour this oil cleanser, and that is a common frustration in repeat-buyer reviews.

Eye & Lip Safety

89%

Being able to use a single cleanser across the entire face — eyes, lips, and all — is a practical benefit that a meaningful number of users highlight as a genuine time and money saver. Reviewers with sensitive eyes specifically call out the lack of stinging during and after use as something they did not take for granted after previous bad experiences with micellar waters.

Contact lens wearers need to remove lenses before use, which is an obvious but sometimes overlooked step. A very small number of reviewers report mild, temporary blurred vision if product enters the eye directly during the rinse phase, so careful rinsing around the orbital area is worth emphasizing.

Skin Barrier Support

81%

19%

The Golden Gentian and Lemon Balm actives appear to make a real-world difference for users who have historically dealt with post-cleanse tightness or reactive flare-ups. Reviewers with sensitised or compromised skin often note that switching to this oil cleanser reduced the frequency of irritation they experienced with harsher cleansing methods.

The microbiota-preservation claim is formulation-based and not independently verified through clinical published results, so it should be understood as a protective intent rather than a guarantee. Users with active skin conditions like eczema or rosacea should still consult a dermatologist before incorporating any new cleanser, this one included.

Sensitive Skin Compatibility

82%

18%

The absence of harsh sulfates and the dermatologist-tested status give sensitive skin users a reasonable degree of confidence going in. Reviewers in this category frequently describe the transition from foaming cleansers to this oil as a turning point in managing redness and dryness in their routine.

The fragrance, while botanically derived, remains the one consistent barrier for a subset of sensitive skin users — natural fragrance compounds can be just as reactive as synthetic ones for certain individuals. It is arguably the single most cited reason this otherwise gentle formula does not earn a higher score in this category.

Packaging & Dispensing

67%

33%

The slim, tall bottle has a clean aesthetic that fits neatly on a bathroom shelf or in a toiletry bag without taking up disproportionate space. The overall build feels consistent with a premium brand — there is nothing flimsy about the cap or bottle construction based on user reports.

The dispensing mechanism is a recurring frustration: without a pump, controlling the exact amount poured is hit or miss, and over-dispensing is common. Several users mention that the bottle is also difficult to travel with given the pour-style opening, and a few note the cap can work loose in a toiletry bag.

Bottle Longevity

58%

42%

For users who incorporate this oil cleanser into an evening-only routine or use it a few times a week rather than twice daily, the 150ml volume holds up respectably. Occasional users and those with lighter makeup habits report the bottle lasting two months or more.

Daily double-cleansers frequently note that the bottle is exhausted within three to five weeks, which is short by most standards for this category and price tier. This is consistently one of the most mentioned frustrations across global reviews and feeds directly into the value-for-money concerns already noted.

Versatility Across Skin Types

77%

23%

The formula genuinely performs across a broad range of skin types in everyday use — dry, normal, combination, and sensitive skin users all report positive outcomes, which is not a given for oil-based cleansers that can skew too rich for some. This breadth makes it a practical household option when multiple people with different skin types share a bathroom.

Oily and acne-prone skin types are the clearest exception to this versatility. While it does not break most users out, it also does not fully address the cleansing needs of someone managing active congestion or excess sebum — and expecting it to function as a standalone cleanser in those cases often leads to disappointment.

Ease of Use

84%

The application routine is simple and low-effort: dispense, massage on dry skin, add water, rinse. For users transitioning from multi-step makeup removal involving cotton pads and multiple products, the reduction in steps and waste is immediately noticeable and appreciated in both morning and evening routines.

First-time oil cleanser users occasionally report a short learning curve around the emulsification step — rinsing too quickly before the oil has properly emulsified leads to a greasy residue that gives a false negative impression of the product. Better on-pack instruction around this specific step would prevent a number of early returns.

Brand Trust & Repeat Purchase

87%

Clarins has enough history in the skincare space that buyers approach this product with an existing level of confidence, and the high repeat-purchase rate across verified reviews suggests that confidence is largely validated once someone actually uses the oil. Long-term users often describe it as one of those staples they stop questioning and simply reorder.

Brand loyalty does carry a premium, and some reviewers openly acknowledge they are paying partly for the Clarins name — something that rankles when the bottle runs low faster than expected. New buyers without a prior connection to the brand may feel the bar for earning that loyalty at this price is set reasonably high.

Suitable for:

The Clarins Total Cleansing Oil 150ml is a strong match for anyone who wears makeup regularly — particularly waterproof mascara, long-wear foundation, or heavy complexion products that resist ordinary cleansing. If you already follow a double-cleanse routine, or have been considering trying one, this oil cleanser slots in naturally as the first step, handling surface-level buildup so your second cleanser can do its job properly. Sensitive and reactive skin types tend to respond well to it, since the formula is designed to cleanse without stripping the skin's protective microbiota — a real consideration for anyone who has dealt with post-cleansing tightness or irritation. It also appeals to people who prefer a streamlined routine, since it safely covers the eyes and lips, removing the need for a dedicated eye makeup remover. Buyers who genuinely use a premium cleanser twice a day and care about what goes into their formula will likely find the investment justified.

Not suitable for:

If you rarely wear makeup, or stick to light, easily removed products, the Clarins Total Cleansing Oil 150ml may be more cleanser than your routine actually needs at this price. The 150ml bottle is not particularly large, and daily double-cleansers will work through it within a few weeks — something to think hard about before committing to it as an everyday staple. People with oily or congestion-prone skin should know that an oil-first cleanse sometimes feels incomplete on its own; many users in this category report still needing a foaming or gel second cleanser to feel truly clean, which adds time and cost to the routine. Finally, anyone with a sensitivity to fragrance should approach this oil with caution — the botanical scent blend is pleasant to most, but it is present enough to potentially irritate those who react to fragranced skincare.

Specifications

Volume: Each bottle contains 150ml (approximately 5 fl oz) of cleansing oil.
Item Weight: The product weighs 150g, making it compact enough for travel or a bathroom shelf.
Dimensions: The bottle measures 1.6 x 1.9 x 6.6 inches, with a slim upright profile that fits easily in a toiletry bag.
Texture: The formula is a lightweight, non-viscous oil that spreads easily across dry skin without feeling heavy or greasy.
Rinse Method: The oil emulsifies on contact with water, turning milky and rinsing away cleanly without leaving a residue.
Skin Types: Formulated for all skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin, and tested by dermatologists.
Application Areas: Safe for use on the full face, including the delicate eye area and lips.
Usage Timing: Suitable for both morning and evening cleansing routines.
Key Actives: Contains Golden Gentian and Lemon Balm, botanical extracts selected to help support the skin's natural microbiota during cleansing.
Scent Profile: Fragranced with a blend of Cashmeran Wood, Green Mandarin, Melon, Rose, and Violet Leaves for a light, botanical aroma.
Makeup Removal: Formulated to dissolve long-wearing, heavy, and waterproof makeup, including waterproof mascara and full-coverage foundation.
Microbiota Claim: The formula is designed to cleanse without disrupting the skin's protective microbial barrier, according to Clarins.
Dermatologist Tested: The product has been dermatologist-tested for safety and tolerability across skin types.
Brand Origin: Developed by Clarins, a French luxury skincare brand established in Paris with decades of expertise in plant-based formulas.
Age Range: Intended for adult use only.
Fragrance Present: This product contains added fragrance; it is not suitable for those who require fully fragrance-free skincare.
Packaging Type: Housed in a sealed bottle with a dispensing cap designed for controlled, single-pump or pour application.

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FAQ

No — the correct way to use it is on completely dry skin. Pump or pour a small amount into your palms, massage it across your dry face to break down makeup and impurities, then add water to emulsify before rinsing. Applying it to wet skin first reduces how effectively it dissolves makeup.

Yes, and that is genuinely one of its stronger points. The oil formula breaks down waterproof formulas quickly when massaged gently around the eye area, so you should not need to tug or rub. Just give it a few seconds of gentle circular motion and it lifts away cleanly.

Not for most people. Unlike heavier facial oils that can leave a film, this one emulsifies when it meets water and rinses off without a slick residue. Skin typically feels clean and soft rather than oily afterward, though if you have very oily skin you may still prefer to follow up with a gel or foam cleanser.

Yes, it is formulated and tested for use on the eyes and lips as well as the rest of the face. That said, if you wear contact lenses, remove them before cleansing and avoid getting the oil directly in your eyes.

That depends on how much you use per application, but most people who cleanse once a day get around 6 to 8 weeks from a bottle. If you double-cleanse morning and night, expect to go through it faster — roughly 3 to 4 weeks — which is worth factoring into the overall cost.

It is a reasonable option for sensitive skin. The formula is dermatologist-tested and avoids harsh surfactants, which are a common trigger for irritation. The main caveat is that it does contain fragrance, so if your skin reacts badly to scented products, it is worth patch-testing first or looking for a fragrance-free alternative.

Yes, that is exactly where this oil cleanser fits best. The purpose of a double cleanse is to use an oil-based cleanser first to break down sunscreen, makeup, and sebum, then follow with a water-based cleanser to clear anything remaining. This one handles that first step well and rinses off cleanly enough not to interfere with whatever you use second.

The scent sits somewhere between a light floral and a soft fruity note — melon and rose are the most noticeable elements, grounded by a slightly woody base. Most users find it pleasant and not overwhelming, but if you are particularly sensitive to fragrance you may notice it more than others do. It does not linger on skin after rinsing.

You can use it both morning and evening. In the morning, a lighter application is usually enough to clear any overnight product residue and prep skin for the rest of your routine. At night, a more thorough massage is useful for breaking down the day's makeup and sunscreen.

The main differences come down to formula quality and feel. Budget cleansing oils tend to be heavier and can leave more of a film after rinsing. This one is noticeably lighter in texture and emulsifies more cleanly. The inclusion of skin-supportive botanicals like Golden Gentian and Lemon Balm is also not typical of entry-level options. Whether that difference justifies the price gap depends on how much you prioritize the cleansing step in your overall routine.