(image from www.dhcuk.co.uk)
DHC now joins RMK, Paul & Joe, SUQQU, Shiseido International, and Kanebo International as Japanese brands available in the UK.
DHC is a major cosmetics brand in Japan, where, as far as I understand, still only runs mail/phone/on-line ordering and does not have a physical shop.
But, as we all know, word of mouth has its place in retailing, and when people say something is good, it gets our attention.
(Updated in July 2011: DHC has physical shops throughout Japan.)
DHC’s cult product is Deep Cleansing Oil. Not only is it DHC’s cult product, it is one of the cult skincare products in Japan. It would be slightly bizarre not to see it on a readers’ favorite skincare product list in any Japanese cosmetics magazine. (In the readers’ poll results in Biteki‘s February 2007 issue, it was placed second in the favorite makeup cleanser category, one place above Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil.)
It works just like Shu Uemura’s cleansing oil and removes all makeup, including waterproof makeup, in one go. (There is a good review of it on Beauty Anonymous if you are interested!)
I tried the Deep Cleansing Oil many years ago, but I personally didn’t like it. It did cleanse very effectively, but I was fairly certain that it gave me breakouts. (I have also tried Shu Uemura’s various cleaning oil formulas, but I usually find that they don’t emulsify well enough. For years, I have remained loyal to RMK’s Cleansing Oil and Boots Botanics Cleansing Oil.)
But, since that was many years ago and I live in a different climate now, I might consider giving it another go. Also, many DHC toners are alcohol-free and have simple formulations that have the potential to suit my sensitive skin. They will be the products I will pay more attention to.
So far, only the basic skincare items are sold on the DHC UK site. I hope the stock will be expanded later on. In the meantime, if you would like to see the vast array of DHC skincare and makeup products, do head over to the DHC US website. (But…do ignore the fact that the prices are, yet again, lower in the US…)
Related Posts:
My Daily Skincare Routine
(featuring RMK Cleansing Oil)
All About Japanese Cosmetics
(My love for Japanese cosmetics will never end…)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
They do have a counter inside a Japanese grocery store called Marukai in a suburb of LA (Gardena).
Some other Japanese owned stores also carry some products here and there.
Then again, Gardena is next to Torrance, the home of Toyota, Nissan, and Honda headquarters, so we do have a HUGE Japanese population.
I follow up the cleansing oil with their Mild Soap, because I feel like it doesn’t wash off completely. It may just be me, and most people would be like, “YOU’RE DRYING OUT YOUR SKIN TOO MUCH”, but I have oily skin AND I moisturize!
I have tried the following products of DHC:
(1) Cleansing Oil
(2) Mild Soap
(3) Mild Lotion (toner)
Mild Soap is quite good, though it’s in a soap form, it won’t make your skin dry after using.
For Cleansing Oil and Mild Lotion, I think it’s average.
Oh darn! I’ve always wanted to try to products but they don’t deliver to the rest of Europe. Do you know of any good places that stock alot of their items who ship to europe?
Thanks for your advice!
Grayburn @ blogspot
Hi PJ Thanks for putting blog about DHC.
That was really quick!!
I wasn’t really sure whether you know about it or not.
DHC products I have tried is deep cleansing oil,
FACE UP mask, lipstick eyebrow colour and so on.
Although they highlight their cleansing oil a lot, I
also find it doesn’t suit to my skin either.
Also extra virgin oil either.
Their foundation was quite good.
Hope they do expand more products in near future!!
Hello Gloria,
Thank you for telling me about DHC in Gardena! I am aware that there is a large population in some parts of California.
I do find that DHC Deep Cleansing Oil doesn’t emulsify well enough and leaves my skin slightly greasy. So I have to use a face wash after that as well.
Well, indeed, oily skin needs moisturizing as well…:)
Thank you for your comment again! :)
Hello CC,
Thank you for sharing with me your thoughts on the DHC products you have used!
I am aware that Mild Soap is quite a popular item as well. I might be interested in this…
I might also try one of the toners, but I will probably wait until they include more types of toners in stock.
Thank you very much again! :)
Hello Grayburn,
Thank you for leaving a comment again!
But, at the moment, I am not aware of websites that carry DHC products and deliver to Continental Europe.
If I do come across anything, I will leave a comment on your blog to let you know. Do please also let me know if you find anything. I will put up a notice to let my other readers know about it. Thank you! :)
Hello Humming again,
You are very welcome. More importantly, thank *you* for telling me about it.
Interestingly, you don’t seem to like Deep Cleansing Oil either. I tried a sample of Olive Virgin Oil and I didn’t like it either actually.
Thank you as well for telling me about the DHC products you have used. I do hope they will make more products available in the UK in the future. From what you said, I will be paying attention to the foundation products as well!
hey PJ
i know its a little late to comment on DHC but nevertheless hehe.. i found DHC’s ad on Grazia yday, i was quite surprised to see it there, so i googled it’s website and i also found your article about it!
I actually bought DHC cleanser oil in japan!!! i didnt want to spend like 40pounds on shu uemura so i decided to get a cheaper version.. i think its ok.. it removes my eye makeup without irritating my eyes.
I just checked the price for it, a whopping 16pounds! i am indeed shocked, because i think only bought it for 1200yen, so that means little over 5pounds.. i cant believe how they put up the prices, id rather get shu uemura here, if thats the case!!
Hi Nicola,
I saw the DHC ad on Grazia too! It is good to know that they are trying to get the brand known in the UK.
I double-checked the price of the 200ml DHC cleansing oil in Japan (as of 2008). It costs 2940 yen, which is about 13.7 pounds. I think the UK price is alright. But, still, it is cheaper in the US.
Thank you for your comment! It is never too late to comment on anything! Do feel free! :)