🇩🇪Germany

Shu Uemura cleansing oil for dry skin

Average

  • HighDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate benefits for your dry skin, as mineral oil and squalane provide emollient and occlusive actions to smooth intercellular lipids and reduce water loss. Camellia japonica seed oil offers additional hydration and antioxidant support.
  • The formula effectively dissolves makeup and impurities, cleansing gently without causing irritation to your dry skin.
  • The product is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.

How to apply

  • Use this makeup remover in your PM routine every evening to gently clean your face. Always pair with a gentle cleanser afterward.
  • Apply this makeup remover as a pre-cleanser step before using your regular cleanser and moisturizer.
  • Gently wipe a small amount of makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid any harsh rubbing on dry or flaky skin.
  • Apply the makeup remover directly onto dry skin to easily dissolve makeup without stripping your natural moisture. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
  • Avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before first use. Discontinue use if irritation occurs.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cleansing oil is highly praised for its luxurious texture that effectively melts away makeup and impurities, making it ideal for dry, normal, and aging skin types seeking a soft, hydrated, and plump outcome. Some users with acne-prone or sensitive skin report issues with its heavy fragrance and potential to cause breakouts due to comedogenic ingredients.

Highlights

  • Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
    • “dissolves makeup very quickly, washes off cleanly”
    • “removes all traces of makeup, mascara included”
    • “very effective at removing all makeup, including eye makeup”
    • “breaks down even waterproof makeup within 30 seconds”
  • Softens and hydrates Often Mentioned
    • “leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated”
    • “leaves the skin feeling plump and soft”
    • “my skin feels ultra smooth and plushy”
    • “moisturizes continually even after use”
  • Expensive price tag Often Mentioned
    • “Quite a large initial outlay”
    • “This thing is pretty expensive”
    • “The price is the only thing keeping it from being an unreserved recommendation”
    • “priciest amongst Shu's cleansing oil variants”
  • No greasy residue Sometimes Noted
    • “rinses clean away and doesn't leave behind any oily or greasy feel”
    • “rinses cleanly without residue”
    • “doesn't leave any heavy, greasy residue”
    • “washes off cleanly”
  • Strong floral fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “has a really heavy floral smell”
    • “fairly strong scent which my nose was a bit sensitive to”
    • “non-starter for fragrance-sensitive”
    • “pretty strong floral scent that is left even after it's rinsed off”
  • May cause breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Caused some milia”
    • “acne-prone users can break out”
    • “Really want to love this but it broke me out”
    • “thick consistency may clog pores”

Sources: lovi.care, shuuemura-usa.com, sephora.sg, reddit.com, thebeautylookbook.com, musingsofamuse.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does shu uemura cleansing oil work for dry skin?

Shu uemura cleansing oil works moderately well for dry skin, helping to smooth and soften while washing away makeup without irritation. To fit dry skin better, a makeup remover needs multiple types of hyaluronic acid and rich nourishing oils to provide deep hydration and optimal moisture levels.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?

Mineral oil and squalane help smooth dry skin and lock in moisture by keeping water from escaping, while camellia japonica seed oil provides extra hydration. A makeup remover for this skin type needs deep hydration from multiple types of hyaluronic acid and rich nourishing oils.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007

What does Mineral Oil do for dry skin?

Mineral oil helps soothe and soften dry skin by locking in moisture and protecting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is effective at keeping the skin smooth and hydrated.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012

What does Camellia Seed Oil do for dry skin?

Camellia seed oil helps dry skin by locking in moisture and keeping the skin barrier strong so it stays soft and smooth. It reduces water loss and keeps hydration levels high without causing irritation, making it very gentle and safe for daily use.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Scientific Reports, 2023

Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before a cleanser. Dry skin needs a makeup remover that uses gentle oils and soft moisturizers to dissolve impurities while keeping moisture locked in.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this makeup remover in the evening before your cleanser, and follow it with a retinol treatment and moisturizer. This type of routine needs a barrier-enhancing cleanser with nourishing plant oils and ceramides to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007

How often should I use it?

You can use shu uemura cleansing oil in your evening routine to remove makeup and impurities gently without causing irritation. For dry skin, this product works moderately well, but an ideal makeup remover for this skin type needs extra rich nourishing oils and deep hydrators to lock in moisture and prevent water loss.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, though complaints about this are low. To avoid clogged pores, dry skin needs lightweight oils and non-greasy hydrators like squalane that melt away makeup without heavy residues.

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Camellia japonica oil activated the human COL1A2 promoter, induced type I procollagen synthesis, inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity, and reduced trans-epidermal water loss without inducing adverse reactions in human skin.

    Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007
  • Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019
  • Liquid crystalline emulsions formulated with camellia seed oil and four different surfactant combinations reduced transepidermal water loss and increased skin hydration without causing skin irritation, with the formulation containing Lecinol S-10 and Tween 80 demonstrating the best clinical results.

    Scientific Reports, 2023
  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

Ingredients

Mineral Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Squalane, Tocopherol

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

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Prices checked 17 Oct – 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Germany.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.