The deep-cleansing version of Ma:nyo's Pure Cleansing Oil. It is a first-step cleanser designed to dissolve sunscreen, long-wear makeup, sebum and particulate pollution that water-based cleansers leave behind, and it is aimed particularly at blackhead-prone and congested skin.

The mechanism is straightforward chemistry: oil dissolves oil. Sunscreen filters, sebum and most makeup pigments are lipophilic, so a surfactant foam cannot lift them efficiently without being used aggressively enough to strip the skin's own lipids too. A cleansing oil dissolves them directly on dry skin, and the emulsifiers then convert the mixture to a milky emulsion when water is added, so it rinses away cleanly instead of leaving a film. Taking time over the nose and chin is what softens and draws out hardened sebum plugs.

The base is built on Spanish grape seed oil, with sunflower, hazel and black cumin seed oils. The brand's own testing claims removal of 99.74% of surface pollution and dust.

Key ingredients

• Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil — the primary carrier oil; light, high in linoleic acid and low on the comedogenicity scale.
• Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil — replaces moisture during the cleanse so skin is not left tight afterwards.
• Corylus avellana (hazel) seed oil — a light, sebum-regulating oil that hydrates without occluding pores.
• Fermented plant extracts — Ma:nyo's signature ferment content, included to support skin comfort during cleansing.
• Bergamot and lavender essential oils — provide the scent; worth noting if you are fragrance-sensitive.

How to use

1. Apply two to three pumps to completely dry hands and face; water blocks the oil from binding to sebum and makeup.
2. Massage in circular motions for 30 to 60 seconds, spending longer on the nose, chin and blackhead-prone areas.
3. Add a little lukewarm water and keep massaging until the oil turns milky and fully emulsifies.
4. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
5. Follow with a gentle foam or gel cleanser to complete the double cleanse, then toner and moisturiser.

Recommended frequency

• Anyone wearing sunscreen or makeup — every evening, as the first cleansing step.
• Blackhead-prone or congested skin — nightly, with a longer massage over the nose and chin.
• Timeline — skin feels genuinely clean rather than stripped from the first use. Softer, less visible blackheads generally take three to six weeks of nightly use.

Best suited to

Suited to all skin types as an evening first cleanse, and particularly useful for congested, blackhead-prone and combination skin, and for anyone wearing high-SPF sunscreen daily. Those with a fragrance or essential oil sensitivity should be cautious, as the formula contains bergamot and lavender.

Specifications

• Format — emulsifying cleansing oil, pump bottle
• Volume — 200ml
• Key actives — grape seed, sunflower seed, hazel seed and black cumin seed oils, fermented plant extracts
• Texture — fluid oil that emulsifies to a milky lotion on contact with water
• Origin — made in Korea

Good to know

Contains bergamot and lavender essential oils, so it is not fragrance-free; patch test if you are prone to contact reactions. Emulsify fully before rinsing, as incompletely emulsified oil left on the skin is the usual cause of congestion blamed on oil cleansers. Avoid eye contact; oil cleansers are generally unsuitable with lash extensions. Always follow with a second, water-based cleanse. Store below 25°C away from direct sunlight.