I bought this in 2014 because it looked like a melted strawberry milkshake and I was 23. Ten years later, it’s still in my shower. That’s longer than three of my relationships combined. The texture hasn’t changed. The scent hasn’t changed. It’s the same weird, warm, slightly herbal pink gel that everyone said was overpriced in 2009 — and they were wrong.
Most cleansers from that era smell like regret and stripped moisture barriers. This one still has a waiting list at Space NK.
🔬 **What Actually Is This Stuff**
It’s a milky gel that turns into a light oil, then emulsifies into a milk. Costs £36. Oskia claims it’s a “nutrient-boosting” cleanser — which is skincare-speak for “we put vitamins in it so you feel less guilty about spending £36 on soap.” I tried it because a facialist told me it was the only thing that wouldn’t wreck my retinol skin.
1. **pH-Balanced Gel-Oil Hybrid** — Cleans without that tight, squeaky feeling. You know the one.
2. **Warm-Activated Texture** — Thickens slightly on wet skin. Feels like a mini facial massage.
3. **No Foam, No Sulfates** — Zero bubbles. If you need bubbles, move on.
💎 **The Ingredient Tea**
It’s basically a salad dressing for your face. Pumpkin enzyme eats dead skin without scrubbing. Marshmallow root soothes irritation — which is rare in a cleanser. Borage oil has more omega-6 than your diet. The hero is MSM (sulphur) — sounds scary, smells slightly medicinal, but actually calms rosacea and acne without drying you out.
– Pumpkin Enzyme: Gentle chemical exfoliation — no burn, no waiting
– MSM (Sulphur): Anti-inflammatory that actually works on redness
– Marshmallow Root: Calms irritation better than aloe
– Borage Oil: Fatty acids that don’t clog pores
📊 **The Texture Report Card**
First pump: feels like a thick, jelly-ish gel. Rub between wet hands — it warms up and turns into a silky oil. Smells like a spa that forgot to air out. Not floral, not clean laundry — just warm, earthy, vaguely medicinal. I liked it immediately. My boyfriend asked if I was “washing my face with soup.”
Week 3: I stopped needing moisturizer after cleansing. That’s weird. My skin usually screams for cream post-wash. This left it… comfortable? Not dewy, not tight. Just normal. The biggest surprise: my chin texture (those tiny bumps) halved. I didn’t expect a cleanser to do that.
💡 **One Thing** — Massage it on dry skin first for 30 seconds, *then* add water. The pre-emulsification phase is where the enzymes actually work.
✅ **The Real Verdict**
After 4 weeks: pores look smaller (not gone, just less dramatic). Redness around my nose is down by maybe 40%. No new breakouts. But — and this matters — it didn’t fix my blackheads. Nothing does. Also, I still need a separate eye makeup remover. This won’t budge waterproof mascara. Don’t ask it to.
– ✅ **Buy if** — You have sensitive, reactive, or retinized skin that hates foaming cleansers
– ⏭️ **Skip if** — You wear heavy makeup daily or need a single-step routine
– 💰 **Worth it?** — £36 is steep for a cleanser, but it lasts 4-5 months with daily use. Cheaper per wash than most drugstore options that wreck your barrier.
🗣️ **Final Call**
This is not a miracle. It’s a really, really good cleanser that has earned its spot by being boringly consistent for 15 years. If it ever gets discontinued, I’ll genuinely mourn. That’s the highest praise I can give a product that costs £36 and smells like soup.
8.2/10 — Still the benchmark for gentle cleansing
🛍️ **Where to Buy** — Direct from Oskia or Cult Beauty. Get the travel size first — £12, lasts a month, confirms if you’re a soup person or not.