I got this sort of by accident and it turned out to be the most unexpected multi-tasker. My FACE SHOP Rice cleanser went missing after some sleepover and I ended using up my Clean & Clear Deep Pore Purifying Cleanser which took awhile (big tube) and at the end my skin started feeling tight or bored with it and sought rotation. When I finished that one at the same time I had also run out of makeup remover. At PCX I spotted this St. Ives Fresh Skin Moisturizing Olive Cleanser and saw that it was about Php220+ for a good size, 200ml the thing was I THOUGHT it was an emulsifying oil cleanser like the Shu one (I was obviously in a rush). It turned out not to be but it’s a foaming cleanser that contains Olive Oil Peg-7 Esters and Olive Leaf Extract which contains super anti-oxidants. What impresses me is, I’m not kidding, it actually removed my makeup and most of my mascara (Benefit They’re Real mascara was dribbling down on contact with this) without making me cry!
“KEY INGREDIENTS: Both OLIVE OIL and OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT are rich in skin-softening glycerides, which means they not only cleanse gently, they can help to improve your skin’s appearance with easily absorbed moisture. They also offer multiple benefits.
With all natural anti-oxidants • Non-irritating • dermatologist-tested • 100% natural extracts • Formulated without parabens and phthalates • does not contain animal ingredients.”
The bottle does say at the back ” avoid direct contact with eyes”. Once the cleanser foamed up I had it all over my made up face (not reading lol) because stupid me, I thought it was an emulsifying OIL CLEANSER right, the appearance and packaging is a bit confusing because it doesn’t say foaming or oil, but it looks like an oil inside. I noticed my Benefit They’re Real Mascara began coming off super fast as the cleanser began gently foaming, so did my foundation and powder, and hey, that mascara is quite water resistant/waterproof as many girls who’ve reviewed it have said. I also slowly realized my eyes weren’t hurting (pls. note it may be different in your case), even when I took the foaming cleanser with my fingers into my lashline, eyes tightly shut, as it quickly removed my eyeliner and eyeshadow. I opened one eye to check and it wasn’t painful. I thought I was imagining things. I washed my entire face and rinsed in disbelief…realizing that I didn’t have to use makeup remover and my face was completely clean, PLUS it didn’t feel tight.
Updated Bottle
“The precious qualities of olive oil are offered in one multifunctional ingredient. Olive Oil PEG 7 Esters are water soluble and provide outstanding emolliency and conditioning with virtually any product—lotions, creams, shampoos, conditioners, scrubs, facial cleansers, etc. In addition, Olive Oil PEG 7 Esters have qualities which allow them to be used as a co-emulsifier (HLB 11) and solubilizer.” – TheHerbarie.com
I have a feeling that the whole experience of my makeup coming off is complete proof that this cleanser does contain olive oil. I can’t explain how a regular foaming cleanser would be able to shift makeup off skin otherwise so the Olive Oil peg7 Esters and the anti-oxidant powers of olive leaf extract take this up another notch. Now the only minor disadvantage this product has is the scent and it isn’t major enough to throw me off because this just leaves my skin so fresh, makeup-free, and soft. The scent isn’t bad but the first note that hits you is mildly funky, kind of like chalky (in scent). It is strange at first because I think they tried to mask or balance the olive extract scent (which is a bit strong) with fragrance and the combined result was a little weird to say the least. It even smells a bit OFF just in the first note but once it foams up it smells nice when the fragrance kicks in and once you wash it off there’s no scent left on your skin. No biggie for me, I’m just saying because it may or may not bother some of you, but in my opinion the fact that it doesn’t smell PERFECT proves it contains natural ingredients that are for real. I purchased this wonder cleanser for about Php225.00 from PCX and I’m so glad that I had no clear idea how it worked because it surprised me in a good way. I recommend still removing eye makeup completely after by going through lashes with a cotton bud/pad and regular makeup remover or lite mineral oil.
