"You guys are so good with your oils; we need a cleansing oil," Miranda Kerr, founder of Kora Organics, shares her customers' requests over a recent Zoom call. For the past four years, the clean skin-care brand's lineup has been comprised of a number of nourishing oils, including the Allure Best of Beauty-winning Noni Glow Body Oil. However, one specifically for cleansing faces was noticeably absent — until now. 

Meet the Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil, a dual-phase, oil-to-milk cleanser formulated to soothe skin and remove dirt, oil, and makeup — without leaving it feeling stripped and tight. I personally find the dual-phase formula's shaking step to be an engaging component. It's a welcome wake-up call that I can't fall asleep with makeup on, no matter how exhausted I am. 

Some 12 years into her official Kora Organics journey, perfection is a standard Kerr is long used to. "It took about five or six iterations — a little over a year — until I was 100 percent right with [the cleansing oil]," Kerr shares. 

Milky Mushroom Cleanser is meant to be a two-in-one product, says Kerr. It removes makeup while also lifting away dirt and grime. As with other Kora Organics products, noni fruit extract is featured in the Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil, but the star ingredient, as hinted in its name, is none other than silver ear mushroom (also known as snow mushroom). Board-certified dermatologist and director of dermatologic surgery at Metropolitan Hospital in New York City, Dendy Engelman, previously compared snow mushroom's ability to pull moisture into the skin to that of hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Hyaluronic acid is also a key ingredient to guard skin against external stressors, like face coverings. Snow mushroom has it beat in one particular area, though: The "particles [of snow mushroom] are smaller than hyaluronic acid, so it penetrates the skin more easily," Engelman noted. 

To further nourish skin, babassu and sunflower seed oils were also added to the formula. The result is a gentle, oil-based cleanser that isn't overly rich or heavy and leaves skin feeling soft-to-the-touch, hydrated, and soothed. Because I'm devoted to double cleansing, I always follow up with a water-based cleanser (I'm currently into Superegg's Gentle Elements Cleanser), though. On its own, I can confirm it does oust any evidence of the light-to-medium-intensity makeup I occasionally wear, though. 

Whether you ask Kerr, Allure editors, or essential health care workers, all are sure to tell you skin care has become an important part of their self-care practices during the pandemic. Kerr's routine consists of cleansing (of course), indulging in wash-off masks while showering, spritzing her face with a rose mist, layering on serums laced with vitamin C in the morning and then alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) at night, and slathering on a sleeping mask to seal it all in. 

On the subject of crystals, Kerr says all Kora products are touched upon rose quartz crystals, which impart soothing and loving energy, during the manufacturing process. Oftentimes, Kerr will go in with a gua sha carved out of rose quartz to provide a quick, manual massage. "I'm very much into the whole mind-body-skin connection," she explains, which is why the Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil is additionally infused with clear quartz to enhance clarity and calmness. 

As far as 2021 goes, Kerr is keeping busy with three additional Kora Organics launches. She teases one due in April (which was supposed to launch in the latter half of 2020 but couldn't, due to certain manufacturing restrictions) that has refillable pods as part of the brand's ongoing commitment to sustainability. You'll notice this cleanser comes in a glass bottle, which was an intentional choice as part of Koras' sustainability efforts.

So if you're in the market for a softening, nourishing cleansing oil that does a great job at removing all of your makeup, then pick up a bottle of Kora Organics' Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil at sephora.com or koraorganics.com for $40 starting today, February 15.

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