Cleansing – can you even have a proper skincare routine without it? Whatever treatments you apply on your skin, they will not be very effective if you don´t first take care of the layer of buildup already there. We all know that cleansing is essential to keeping our skin as healthy and smooth as it can be, but not everyone has the same cleanser needs. I want my skin to be happy, healthy and moisturized. I don´t want to punish my face anymore with harsh soaps that leave me with tight, blotchy skin afterwards. The Lumene Oat Milk Oil Cleanser is so gentle though, could you even still call it a cleanser? Well I think it can definitely be really useful in our routines, provided that it is used correctly.
Table of Contents
What I enjoyed about it
- Perfect for dry skin: gently cleanses without stripping skin
- Perfect as a morning cleanse
- Melts sunscreen and non-waterproof makeup as a first step of a double cleansing routine
- Moisturizing ingredients leave skin feeling soft and supple
- No perfume or irritants
- Suitable for using around the eyes
What I disliked about it
- Taking mascara off requires a bit of massaging
- For the evening routine should be followed by a heavier-duty cleanser
Product claims
- 100% vegan formulation;
- unscented;
- all skin types can use it, however it is most suitable for dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin;
- oil-in-water emulsion that ”gently yet effectively melts away long-lasting face & eye makeup, SPF filters, dirt and other impurities leaving skin thoroughly clean, soft and moisturized”;
- can be used around the eyes;
- supports the moisture barrier and our skin´s natural flora through additional ingredients derived from Nordic oat and birch sap, with moisturizing and prebiotic potential.
Ingredients
- gentle surfactants, such as caprylyl glucoside, which is obtained naturally from vegetal sources;
- various types of emollients and humectants, which improve the overall skin moisture level, such as:
- glycerin and xylitol – powerful humectants which are generally well-tolerated and have been shown to support skin health;
- sweet almond oil, canola oil, sunflower seed oil – emollients that soften and smoothen the skin;
- oat-derived ingredients, such as Oat Kernel Oil and Oat Kernel Flour – oat has been known for centuries to be an effective skin-soother. It is moisturizing, with antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Helpful in treating itchy, red and dry skin, thus being used including in the management of eczema;
- Vaccinium Myrtillus (or bilberry) fruit juice, with antioxidant, antiredness and calming properties;
- Betula Alba (or birch) extract, which exhibits astringent effects, meaning it can help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. It is also a source of antioxidants and has been shown to reduce transepidermal water loss;
- Rosemary leaf extract, antibacterial and antiinflammatory, with added benefit of protecting against oxidative stress in the skin.
About my skin type
- Acne prone
- Combination skin type – oily around nose and normal to dry everywhere else
- Sensitive
- First signs of aging starting to appear
My experience with the product
I have been reading some reviews online in which a few people complained about this product. They think that the Lumene Oat Milk Oil cleanser is too ineffectual and it doesn´t leave you with that feeling of ”squeaky-clean”. After looking at the claims and the ingredients, however, you can definitely see that this product is supposed to be a gentle, non irritating milky oil that has never pretended to be a heavy-duty formula. Being more gentle however doesn´t mean that you need to be any less effective. In fact it is exactly why the double cleansing method works so well, because by combining two gentle, but different cleansing products you can achieve perfect results without sucking all the moisture out of your skin.
The Lumene Oat Milk Oil cleanser comes with a pump (which I like) and has the texture of a thicker, silky milk. It has no significant scent that I can perceive, maybe perhaps a faint cosmetics kind of smell. I apply one pump, always over dry skin (remember, we are using oil cleanser to emulsify fatty substances on the surface of the skin, to which water would stand in the way). I gently massage it using circular motions for an amount of time proportional to how much stuff I have on my face at that moment (e.g. makeup, sunscreen, sweat). I use it in the evening to help melt off makeup and sunscreen, then I rinse it and go in with a second cleanser, like the Cerave Oil Cleanser or Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker. It works well around the eyes, but I do find that I have to insist for a little bit to remove the ten layers of mascara that I usually apply. As I don´t use waterproof mascara I cannot pronounce myself on the subject.
What I also like about the Lumene Oat Milk Oil cleanser is that I can use it as a gentle morning cleanse, or for days in which I have had a lazy day in bed and only applied moisturizer – it leaves my skin so soft and pleasant, without stripping it. I am acne prone and I feel it cleanses well enough, without causing me to develop clogged pores or pimples. I would however not use it on its own when I have been sweating a lot or when I feel I need a very good cleansing, as I believe it is too gentle. It is a godsend to me on cold winter days when my skin is acting up, dry and flaky and I want to wash my face without it getting irritated.
Conclusion
I think the Lumene Oat Milk Oil Cleanser is beautiful just the way it is – a delicate, soothing and moisturizing step in my morning routine or a helpful hand in removing makeup and sunscreen in the evening. Its moisturizing ingredients leave my skin feeling soft and do not strip it of all its life. It is also particularly gentle to the thin, sensitive skin around the eyes. If you are severely oily or are looking for a very potent cleanser this might not be a product for you. Especially if you want a one-and-done cleanser. It can however be an effective first step in a double cleansing routine and you can count on its lack of irritating ingredients and effective antioxidants to help protect your skin against environmental stressors.
