Uriage Xémose Cleansing Oil

Benefits: The Uriage Cleansing Oil cleans thoroughly while staying exceptionally gentle, using a soap-free, oil-based formula that lifts away makeup, sunscreen, and impurities without disrupting the skin’s natural lipids. Its unusually high 25% glycerin content floods skin with moisture and leaves behind a light protective layer, so skin feels smooth and comfortable long after rinsing—never tight or squeaky. Formulated at a skin-respecting pH of 5.5, it helps preserve the acid mantle and reduce irritation, while a blend of mild surfactants cleans effectively without harshness. Developed alongside dermatologists, this true face-and-body cleanser suits all ages and skin types, including sensitive, eczema-prone, post-treatment, and winter-dry skin, offering lasting hydration and barrier support with every wash.

Size and ingredients: The Uriage Cleansing Oil is a dermatologist-designed, face-and-body cleanser built specifically for dry, sensitive, and barrier-compromised skin, distinguished by its unusually high 25% glycerin content and physiological pH of ~5.5, which allows it to cleanse without stripping. Using a gel-in-oil technology, it applies like an oil and transforms into a creamy lather with water, dissolving dirt, sunscreen, and makeup while leaving behind a soft, hydrating film thanks to glycerin and Polyquaternium-10. Its multi-surfactant system combines mild, plant-derived and amino-acid cleansers with gentler Sodium Laureth Sulfate to balance effective cleansing and skin comfort, making it suitable for eczema-prone skin, post-retinoid routines, and winter dryness. Soap-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free, and dye-free, it cleans thoroughly yet leaves skin feeling noticeably softer after washing—not tight or “squeaky clean”—which is why many users replace both their face wash and body cleanser with this single product.

Description: The Uriage Cleansing Oil is a dermatologist-developed alternative to harsh soaps, designed to cleanse without stripping the skin barrier, making it ideal for dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin. Instead of relying on alkaline soap, it uses a gel-in-oil formula that dissolves dirt, sunscreen, and makeup with oils, then emulsifies into a creamy lather with water, leaving skin softer after washing—not tight or itchy. Its standout feature is an unusually high 25% glycerin concentration, which replaces moisture lost during cleansing and leaves behind a protective hydrating film, while a physiological pH of 5.5 preserves the skin’s acid mantle and prevents irritation. A blend of multiple gentle surfactants cleans effectively without aggression, allowing it to be safely used on both face and body by the whole family. The result is a cleanser that breaks the damage-and-repair cycle caused by traditional soaps, delivering true cleanliness alongside lasting comfort, softness, and barrier protection.

Conclusion: Uriage Cleansing Oil is a dermatologist-designed face-and-body cleanser that gently removes impurities while preserving the skin’s natural barrier. With a high 25% glycerin content and a physiological pH of ~5.5, it hydrates deeply and leaves a protective film that prevents tightness or dryness. Its gel-in-oil formula emulsifies into a creamy lather, lifting makeup and sunscreen without disrupting lipids. Though it contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, the irritation risk is offset by its glycerin-rich base and gentle surfactants. Suitable for all ages and skin types—including sensitive, eczema-prone, and post-treatment skin—it’s a smart, soap-free alternative that delivers luxury-level care without the luxury price tag.

3 high-quality notes:

1. Labeled “Luxury” Without Luxury Pricing
Amazon places Uriage Cleansing Oil in the luxury beauty category, even though its pricing is far from luxury-tier. This classification is less about cost and more about brand heritage: Uriage is a French pharmacy (dermo-cosmetic) brand developed with dermatologists, similar to Avène or La Roche-Posay. In European markets, this medical-pharmacy positioning signals prestige and credibility rather than exclusivity. The result is clever perception management—users feel they’re buying high-end, dermatologist-backed skincare while paying a very accessible price per ounce.

2. The 25% Glycerin Strategy: Powerful but Context-Dependent
A 25% glycerin concentration is extremely rare for a cleanser and signals Uriage’s aggressive hydration-first philosophy. In humid environments—like a steamy shower—this works beautifully, pulling moisture into the skin and leaving it comfortable after rinsing. However, glycerin can behave differently in very dry climates, where it may draw moisture out of deeper skin layers unless sealed in. Uriage counters this risk with film-forming agents that help trap hydration, but users in arid regions may still benefit from applying a moisturizer afterward. It’s not a flaw—just a formula that performs best under the right conditions.

3. The Sulfate Debate: Formulation Over Fear
Although marketed for sensitive skin, the cleanser uses Sodium Laureth Sulfate as its main foaming agent—an ingredient often criticized online due to its association with harsher sulfates. The distinction matters: SLES is significantly milder than SLS, and Uriage further reduces irritation risk by combining it with multiple gentle surfactants, maintaining a skin-friendly pH, and offsetting dryness with high glycerin content. This choice reflects a science-driven approach rather than “clean beauty” ideology, prioritizing overall formulation performance over avoiding controversial ingredient names.