Sandawha Sandawha Camelia

Camellia oil (also known as tsubaki oil in Japan) is cold-pressed from the seeds of Camellia japonica or Camellia sinensis. It is composed predominantly of oleic acid (omega-9), a monounsaturated fatty acid that closely resembles the natural sebum composition of human skin. This similarity means camellia oil absorbs quickly and without the greasy residue common to heavier oils like argan or marula.

Camellia oil has been used in Korean and Japanese beauty for centuries - traditionally for hair conditioning and facial moisturising. The fatty acid profile also includes linoleic acid and palmitic acid, giving the oil conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and barrier-supporting properties. Sandawha sources its camellia from Jeju Island, where the volcanic soil and clean air produce high-quality camellia cultivation. The "Extra Virgin" designation indicates cold-pressing without heat or solvent extraction, preserving the full fatty acid and antioxidant profile of the oil.

The Sandawha Extra Virgin Camelia Face Oil (30 ml) is a pure, single-ingredient facial oil applied as the last step in an evening routine to seal in moisture from the preceding hydrating layers. It absorbs without a heavy film, which makes it practical for normal-to-dry skin types as a nightly nourishment step. At 30 ml, the bottle lasts two to three months at two to three drops per nightly use.

Apply to slightly damp skin after moisturiser - the oil locks in the water-based hydration from previous steps rather than sitting on dry skin as the only moisture source. Warm the oil between palms before pressing gently onto the face. The Sandawha lineup also includes a "New" version of this face oil (also 30 ml) which may reflect a formula update or adjusted camellia oil sourcing - both are Extra Virgin cold-pressed camellia oil products.

The Mild Cleansing Camellia Oil (200 ml) is the first-cleanse step in a double-cleanse routine, designed to dissolve sunscreen, oil-based makeup, and sebum before a water-based second cleanse. Camellia oil is particularly well-suited to oil cleansing because its high oleic acid content emulsifies with skin's natural sebum, lifting it from pores without disrupting the barrier.

At 200 ml, this is sized for two to three months of nightly oil-cleansing. Apply to dry skin - oil cleansers do not work on wet skin because the water prevents the oil from binding to the sebum and makeup. Massage in circular motions for 60 to 90 seconds, then add water to emulsify (the oil will turn milky), and rinse. Follow with a water-based foam or gel cleanser. The mild formula is suited to sensitive and dry skin that reacts to silicone-based micellar oil cleansers.

The Camelia Flower Cream Mask (65 g) is a wash-off cream mask used as a weekly intensive treatment. The cream texture and camellia oil base make this a nourishing mask for dry, dull, or dehydrated skin that needs more than a standard daily moisturiser can provide. The "Flower" in the name suggests camellia flower extract alongside the oil, adding additional antioxidant flavonoids to the base.

Apply a generous layer to cleansed skin, leave on for ten to fifteen minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. Follow with toner and your regular serum and moisturiser. The 65 g jar at one full-face application per session covers approximately twelve to fifteen uses, which at once-weekly use gives three to four months per jar. Use it as the first step of a weekend skin care ritual when you have time for the extended contact time to deliver maximum nourishment.

The Camelia Moisture Soothing Hair Conditioner (400 ml) brings camellia oil into a rinse-off hair conditioner. Camellia oil's high oleic acid content provides deep conditioning without the heavy silicone build-up that many rich conditioners leave behind. "Soothing" in the name indicates the formula also targets a reactive or sensitised scalp rather than focusing solely on hair shaft conditioning.

Apply to towel-dried hair from mid-length to ends after shampooing. Leave on for two to three minutes, then rinse with cool water. The 400 ml format is sized for regular weekly use by one person or bi-weekly use across a household. For very dry or damaged ends, concentrate the application on the last third of the hair shaft and leave on for five minutes before rinsing. The camellia oil base makes this conditioner suitable for fine hair that tends to go limp with heavy silicone conditioners.

The Floral Halo Lip Glow 01 Camelia (3.3 g) is the beauty product in the Sandawha camellia lineup. Lip gloss formats in Korean beauty tend toward a hydrating balm-tint hybrid that combines a sheer tint with nourishing lip care. The 01 Camelia colour suggests a rosy or pink-toned neutral inspired by the camellia flower.

At 3.3 g, the lip glow is sized for daily use as a tinted lip care step at the end of a morning routine. The camellia oil in the formula keeps lips soft and addresses dryness while the tint provides a wearable flush of colour. This product bridges the skin care and makeup categories, making it practical as a lip treatment that also adds a subtle colour effect for days when full lip colour is not needed.

Morning: Mild Cleansing Camellia Oil on the face if double-cleansing - water-based second cleanser - toner - serum - moisturiser - SPF. Optional: apply the Floral Halo Lip Glow as the final step. Evening: Mild Cleansing Camellia Oil as first cleanse - second cleanse - toner - serum - moisturiser - Extra Virgin Camelia Face Oil as the final step to seal in the preceding layers. Weekly: Camelia Flower Cream Mask after cleansing, before toner, as a Saturday or Sunday ritual.

The hair conditioner slots into the shower routine on wash days. Camellia oil appears in all three main areas - face, hair, and lip - so the Sandawha lineup is cohesive across a full personal care routine. For skin that is new to facial oils, start with the Extra Virgin Face Oil applied only in the evening to observe how your skin responds before adding the cleansing oil step in the morning.