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mad hippie cleansing oil review

This may sound weird but… I love cleansing my skin with oils. I know what you’re thinking: Oils?! Don’t they turn your skin into a greasy mess and invite pimples to party on your face?Not when done right. There’s nothing like a good oil cleanser to remove all makeup and impurities from your skin quickly. Plus, it’s a time-saver. Oils double up as moisturisers too. 😉 My new crush is Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil. Here’s why it should be yours too:

The packing of this cleaner has changed, but the formula inside is still the same. This review was updated in February 2024, so everything mentioned here is very current and applies to the current version in the shops.

Key Ingredients In Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil: What Makes It Work?

NATURAL OILS TO CLEANSE SKIN

Oil cleansing works thanks to the “like attracts like” principle: the oils in your cleanser attach to the oils in your makeup, sunscreen and anything else that’s on your skin, taking them on a journey down the drain. The main oils in Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil are:

  • Safflower seed oil: High in linoleic acid, a fatty acid with moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties. It makes skin soft and smooth, reduces irritations and even helps treat acne.
  • Squalane: Very similar to human sebum, it’s very moisturising, fast-absorbing and non-comedogenic. It’s safe for fungal acne, too.
  • Rosehip oil: A natural source of retinol, it helps moisturize skin, fights wrinkles and reduce acne.
  • Pumpking seed oil: Rich in antioxidants and zinc, it moisturises skin and helps prevent wrinkles.
  • Oat kernel oil: A soothing oil that calms down redness and irritation.

Thanks to their superpowers, these oils cleanse and moisturise skin at the same time. Chances are, you may even not need a moisturiser afterwards!

Related: What’s The Oil Cleansing Method And Why Should You Use It? 

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.

  • Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
  • Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
  • Red: What is this doing here?!
  • Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract: The extract coming from ginger. It has powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Tocopherol: A form of Vitamin E, it has antioxidants properties that fight wrinkles. It also helps the oils in the formula last longer.
  • Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract: A natural extract with a powerful antioxidant blend that fights free radicals, reduces UV-induced inflammation, and soothes redness.
  • Steam Distilled Citrus Aurantifolia Extract: It makes the cleanser smell citrusy, but may irritate sensitive skin.

Texture

Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil IS an oil, so it does feel a little greasy when you first massage it into your skin. But it’s very light and doesn’t make you look like you’ve just dipped your head into a frying pan.

Fragrance

Technically, it’s fragrance-free. But it has natural extracts that make the cleanser smell like pumping pie served with freshly squeezed orange juice. Who else is hungry now? It smells divine, but the citrusy extracts may irritate sensitive skin.

How To Use It

For me, using Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil is a pampering treat every time. Here’s the ritual:

  1. Gently massage a generous amount of oil into your skin for one minute.
  2. Drape a warm, wet washcloth over your face and let it cool down.
  3. Lightly pass the washcloth over your skin, gently wiping away dirt, makeup and excess oil.

It takes only a couple of minutes and it’s so relaxing.

Packaging

This oil cleanser comes in a dark bottle with a practical pump applicator that dispenses just the right amount of product you need without making a mess.

Performance & Personal Opinion

I use Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil at night to remove my makeup and cleanse my skin. When I wipe it off with a washcloth, my makeup comes off easily. Just a couple of swipes and my skin’s rid of all the excess oil, impurities, foundation and everything else I have on. You can use this oil as the first step of double cleansing but I don’t. No need to. It doesn’t leave any greasy film or oily sheen on my skin.

I don’t even need to use a moisturiser. After I wipe it off, my skin feels so soft and smooth. Mind you, if your skin is dry you may still need one. But if you’ve got normal or oily skin and love a minimalistic routine, Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil can do double duty.

Related: Do You Need To Double Cleanse?

mad hippie cleansing oil

How Does Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil Compare To The Others Cleansers From Mad Hippie?

Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil isn’t the only cleanser Mad Hippie makes. That may be confusing at first, but different skin types have different needs and need different cleanser. So, here’s how to choose the best Mad Hippie Cleanser for your skin type:

  • Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser ($16.99): An oil-based formula enriched with shea butter and antioxidants to remove every last trace of makeup and impurities without drying out skin. Ideal for dry skin that doesn’t like the feel of cleansing oils. Available at iHerb and Ulta
  • Mad Hippie Jelly Cleanser ($17.99): A jelly-to-milk cleanser that removes impurities and makeup without drying out skin. It’s the mildest of all the cleansers, but it still does a good job. It’s best suitable for oily and combination skin. Available at iHerb and Ulta

What I Like About Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil

  • Effortlessly remove every last trace of impurities and waterproof makeup.
  • Moisturising, leaves skin softer and smoother.
  • Doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind.
  • Cleanses in one step – no need to double cleanse.
  • Beautiful packaging.

What I DON’T Like About Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil

  • It’s an oil, so it does feel oily.

Who Should Use It?

Everyone can use it, but it’s most suitable for dry skin, natural skincare lovers and anyone who wants to double cleanse in one go.

Does Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil Live Up To Its Claims?

CLAIM TRUE?
Radiance boosting blend that softens & smoothes while gently removing impurities & imperfections True.
Non-comedogenic & perfect for naturally removing makeup! True.

Price & Availability

$17.99 at iHerb and Ulta

The Verdict: Should You Buy It?

If you’re into oil cleansing, this is one of the best oil cleansers I’ve ever tried.

Dupes & Alternatives

  • Botanics All Bright Bi-Phase Facial Oil (£5.99): An oil-based cleanser that removes all traces of impurities and makeup. The citrusy scent can be irritating, but if your skin isn’t sensitive, it’s an affordable option to consider. Available at Boots
  • Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil (£29.00): Another oil-based cleanser with a citrusy scent. It’s not as hydrating as Mad Hippie, but cleanses well. Available at Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Medik8, and SpaceNK

Ingredients

Organic Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil (High Linoleic), Squalane (vegan), Organic Rosa Canina (Rose) Fruit Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Organic Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract, Steam Distilled Citrus Aurantifolia Extract

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.