The old DHC Deep Cleansing Oil smelled like a health food store and removed three layers of waterproof mascara in one swipe. The 2026 version? Smoother. Less olive-y. But I caught my cotton pad doing an extra pass — and that never happened before.
This matters because DHC just changed the ratio of olive oil to surfactants. Translation: less slip, more rinse. Some people will love that. Others will feel betrayed.
🧴 **What Actually Changed**
It’s still ¥1,800 for 200ml. Still one of the cheapest oil cleansers that actually works. The claim is “same power, better skin feel.” I call BS — the power shifted.
1. **Thinner texture** — Pours like a light cooking oil now. Old version was thick enough to massage for 90 seconds.
2. **Rinses faster** — Emulsifies in 5 seconds flat. No filmy residue unless you use four pumps.
3. **Scent downgrade** — The old olive-pomace smell is gone. Now it’s… nothing? Weirdly sterile.
⚖️ **Ingredients — The Real Story**
The hero swap is olive oil (still first) but they boosted squalane and added vitamin E. Less pore-clogging potential, less slip. Smart on paper. Drier on skin.
– **Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil**: Still the main event — dissolves sunscreen like a dream
– **Squalane**: New addition — lighter feel, less greasy aftermath
– **Tocopherol (Vitamin E)**: Fragile skin barrier protection — but it’s low on the list
– **PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate**: The emulsifier they tweaked — makes it rinse cleaner but strips faster
💬 **First Impressions vs. Reality**
First pump — it felt like I was pouring water on my face. Massaged 30 seconds, added water, and it turned milky instantly. Rinsed off faster than I could blink. My skin felt… tight. Not dry, but *alert*.
Two weeks in, I noticed fewer clogged pores on my chin. But my cheeks felt stripped if I double-cleansed. The surprise? It actually removes glitter eyeshadow better now — less micro-scrubbing.
💡 **One Thing**: Shake the bottle before each use. The olive oil separates from the surfactants faster than the old formula. No shake = uneven texture.
📊 **Did It Deliver?**
My mascara removal time stayed the same: 10 seconds. But my skin’s moisture barrier took a tiny hit — I needed a richer second cleanser. Blackheads on my nose? Same as before. Not better, not worse.
✅ **Buy if** you have oily/combo skin and want a fast rinse
⏭️ **Skip if** your skin is dry or sensitive — the old version was kinder
💰 **Worth it?** Yes, at ¥1,800. But buy the travel size first to test the new formula.
🏆 **Final Call**
Better for oily skin, worse for dry. The reformulation is a lateral move — not an upgrade.
**7.2/10** — Lighter but less indulgent
🛍️ **Where to Buy**: DHC Japan site or Amazon JP. Grab the 60ml travel size for ¥600 before committing to the big bottle.