Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil
Quick-Rinse Workhorse
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Emulsifies noticeably faster than Softymo Deep
- +Lighter sensory feel during massage phase
- +Still removes sunscreen and daily makeup cleanly
- +Silicones help lift silicone-based sunscreens
- +Excellent value at roughly $13 for 230ml
- +Cleaner drydown than mineral-oil-dominant formulas
- −Same sweet drugstore fragrance as the rest of Softymo
- −Slightly less effective on stubborn waterproof mascara
- −Plastic bottle feels utilitarian and cheap
- −Limited international retail availability
- −Not ideal for sensitive or reactive skin
The full review.
Formula
Any Tokyo drugstore stocks the two Softymo cleansing oils side-by-side: Deep in one hand, Speedy in the other. The bottles and prices are nearly identical, leaving you to choose without guidance.
Deep was the long-time default—a heavier, cleansing-focused formula that built Softymo's reputation. Softymo released Speedy around 2010 as a line extension for users wanting the performance of Deep in a lighter, faster, more modern sensory profile. It is now a preferred pick for many Japanese buyers and deserves more credit than the "just the lighter one" label suggests. The main formulation difference is at the top of the ingredient list. Deep leads with mineral oil. Speedy leads with ethylhexyl palmitate, a lightweight ester that changes everything: it feels less oily during massage, emulsifies more eagerly with water, and leaves a cleaner drydown. A smaller dose of mineral oil remains to keep Deep-level makeup-dissolving power, while cyclopentasiloxane adds slip and helps lift silicone-based sunscreens. This matters because Japanese sunscreens are often silicone-heavy and hard to rinse. Jojoba oil adds softening. Both use the same PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate emulsifier, so both convert into a milky wash on water contact. The difference in use is immediate. When you massage Speedy onto dry skin, you feel less of the "slippery oil-slick" sensation found in Deep, and the formula emulsifies almost instantly once you add water. Deep takes noticeably longer to reach the milky stage. For users rushing through a PM routine, Speedy saves seconds without sacrificing the core job. Sunscreen, foundation, and mascara come off. Only the most stubborn waterproof formulas give Deep a slight edge. Everything else removes on the first pass. The tradeoffs are standard. Speedy has the same sweet, synthetic floral fragrance as the rest of the Softymo line. It uses the same utilitarian plastic bottle. It has the same low ingredient-quality ceiling as a mass-market cleansing oil rather than a luxury pre-cleanse balm. Users managing fungal acne should be more cautious with Speedy than Deep; the ester-heavy solvent list is closer to ingredients that some Malassezia-prone users find triggering if not fully rinsed, though the rinse-off nature of the product makes real-world reactions rare. At roughly $13 for 230ml, Speedy is an absurd value. You can spend five times as much on a premium cleansing oil and not get better performance removing daily makeup and sunscreen. If you want the authoritative cleansing workhorse of Japanese drugstore skincare, Deep is the classic. If you want that same capability in a formula that is more pleasant to use at eleven at night, Speedy earns its place on the shelf.Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mineral Oil, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, BHT, Fragrance
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
Speedy's fast emulsification relies on solvent chemistry. Ethylhexyl palmitate is a short-chain fatty acid ester. It has lower viscosity and interacts better with the PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate emulsifier than the longer-chain hydrocarbons in mineral oil. This lowers the energy barrier to form an oil-in-water emulsion when the user adds water, causing a faster milk-turn. Cleansing science literature shows emulsification kinetics depend on the solvent-emulsifier HLB match; ethylhexyl palmitate pairs with PEG-based emulsifiers faster than mineral oil. The cyclopentasiloxane addition serves a different purpose: silicone-based UV filters and silicone thickeners are common in modern Japanese sunscreens. Like-dissolves-like chemistry means volatile silicones work as effective co-solvents to remove them. A 2018 formulation review on cleansing systems in the Journal of Cosmetic Science confirms this: adding volatile silicones to oil cleansers improves removal efficiency for silicone-containing color and sunscreen products. Regarding comedogenicity, ethylhexyl palmitate appeared at moderate levels on some older comedogenicity lists, but those scores used rabbit-ear models that overstate human risk. Modern reviews classify it as low-comedogenic in rinse-off products, which is how it functions here.
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists typically recommend oil or balm-based first cleansers for patients using daily sunscreen or long-wear makeup. These products remove lipophilic residues more effectively and with less mechanical disruption than surfactant-only cleansers. Board-certified dermatologists generally consider ethylhexyl palmitate safe and non-irritating in rinse-off applications, though patients managing fungal acne sometimes avoid fatty acid esters in cleansers out of caution. Fragrance is the most frequent concern for dermatologists treating rosacea or perioral dermatitis patients; these patients often use fragrance-free alternatives like DHC or a simple plant-oil cleanser.
Where it fits in your routine.
Apply two to three pumps to dry skin and dry hands. Massage the face gently for 20 to 30 seconds; Speedy requires less time than the full minute needed for Deep. Wet your fingertips and massage until the oil becomes a white milky emulsion, then rinse with lukewarm water. Use a water-based second cleanse after. For heavy waterproof eye makeup, use a dedicated eye makeup remover first or use Deep instead.
At about $13 for a 230ml bottle, Speedy matches Deep's cost-per-use math — roughly five to six cents per milliliter, much less than premium oil cleanser prices. The Speedy line has no larger size, but the standard bottle is large and lasts three to four months with daily use. The value is simple: if you prefer lighter-feeling cleansers and faster rinse times, Speedy offers the same value as Deep in a formula you will enjoy using at the end of the day. This makes it the right choice for most modern daily routines.
Oily and combination-skin users can use this for a fast, lightweight first cleanse. It removes daily sunscreen and makeup without the heavy feel of traditional mineral-oil cleansers. It works well if Softymo Deep feels too slow or rich.
Fragrance-sensitive users, rosacea patients, and people managing fungal acne need simpler, fragrance-free alternatives. Users wanting maximum cleansing power for long-wear waterproof makeup should use Softymo Deep.
Product details.
A thin, slippery oil that feels lighter than Deep and emulsifies almost immediately with water.
The same sweet floral drugstore fragrance used across the Softymo line.
Clear plastic pump bottle; looks almost identical to Softymo Deep but uses Speedy labeling.
The speed claim is real — add water and the oil turns milky within seconds, faster than almost any competing cleansing oil. Some users miss the slower, more 'massaging' feel of Deep.
Roughly 3-4 months with nightly use.
12 months
All Year
The backstory.
Kose introduced Speedy around 2010 as a line extension of the successful original Softymo Deep, aimed at younger Japanese drugstore shoppers who wanted a faster, lighter version of the formula. It quickly carved out its own following and has sat alongside Deep on Japanese drugstore shelves ever since, with each variant chosen by users based on personal preference between cleansing power and rinse speed.
About Kose
Legacy Brand (20+ years)Softymo is Kose's drugstore line and has ranked high on the Japanese beauty site @cosme for nearly two decades. The Speedy variant continues this with a formula designed for fast emulsification and a lighter feel.
Common myths.
Speedy is just rebranded Deep with new packaging.
The base solvents differ. Speedy uses ethylhexyl palmitate and silicones, while Deep uses mineral oil. The formulas feel different on skin and rinse at different rates.
A faster-emulsifying cleanser must be less effective.
Emulsification speed depends on the emulsifier and solvent balance, not total cleansing power. Speedy removes the same sunscreen and most of the same makeup as Deep — it just works faster.
FAQ.
What's the difference between Softymo Speedy and Softymo Deep?
Speedy uses a lighter ethylhexyl-palmitate-based formula that emulsifies and rinses faster, using silicone for slip. Deep uses more mineral oil and is the heavier, more cleansing-focused variant.
Does it remove waterproof mascara?
Yes, for most waterproof mascaras. It works slightly less effectively than Deep on the most stubborn long-wear formulas, but it removes day-to-day eye makeup cleanly in one pass.
Is it fungal-acne safe?
We flag this with caution for fungal acne. The ethylhexyl palmitate base contains ingredients that trigger some Malassezia-prone users if not fully rinsed. Double-cleanse thoroughly if this is a concern.
How does it compare to DHC Deep Cleansing Oil?
DHC uses an olive-oil base and is fragrance-free; it emulsifies slowly and feels thick. Softymo Speedy costs less, works faster, and has fragrance — choose based on sensory preference and if you want fragrance in a cleanser.
Does it work on silicone-based sunscreens?
Yes — the cyclopentasiloxane in the formula lifts silicone-heavy Japanese sunscreens, which plant-oil-only cleansers sometimes fail to remove.
What the community says.
"Faster emulsification than Deep"
"Lighter feel during massage"
"Still removes sunscreen effectively"
"Budget price"
"Same sweet fragrance"
"Slightly less effective on waterproof mascara than Deep"
"Plastic bottle feels cheap"
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