FANCL Cleansing Oil: Blue vs Black & Smooth in Japan

Start with blue if you prefer a rich, cushioned cleansing oil. Consider Black & Smooth if stubborn pore plugs and pore debris are your main concern and you prefer a more fluid texture. Both remove waterproof mascara, and both need rinsing followed by a separate face wash.

I’m Irene, a Taiwanese-born, Japanese-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. If those blue and black FANCL pumps have you pausing at the shelf, let’s narrow the choice down to texture, cleansing focus and the routine you want.

This guide compares the two 120 mL Japanese cosmetic formulas renewed in 2026. Information checked 18 October 2026. Match the Japanese product name when buying abroad, since local names and versions may differ.

Blue or black? Four useful comparison points

FANCL’s direct comparison focuses on pore care and texture. Blue also targets pore plugs; black is not an automatic upgrade for every skin type. A simple “blue for dry skin, black for oily skin” rule misses the actual choice.

Match the current Japanese bottles

• Light-blue bottle: マイルドクレンジング オイル, 120 mL.
• Black bottle: マイルドクレンジング オイル＜ブラック＆スムース＞, 120 mL.

The renewed versions launched through FANCL’s direct online and store channels on 17 March 2026, followed by drugstores and selected convenience stores on 1 April. Both have 115 mL refills. A refill is another pack size for its matching formula, not a third cleansing oil.

What does Black & Smooth add?

Blue: a richer, more cushioned starting point

FANCL describes the blue formula as dense, smooth and cushioned. It still aims to remove makeup, pore plugs and excess sebum. If you want a general cleansing oil and like a thicker feel between your fingertips and skin, blue is a sensible starting point. Waterproof mascara alone is not a reason to switch to black.

Black: a more fluid oil with a pore-cleansing focus

Black & Smooth adds FANCL’s “角栓クラッシュテクノロジー,” its approach to loosening stubborn pore plugs. The current ingredient list identifies charcoal and sea silt as adsorbents. The black-rice ingredient is listed as rice-bran extract (コメヌカエキス), with a moisturising role. Those different jobs are more useful than treating every dark ingredient as an abrasive scrub.

If pore debris around your nose is your main shopping concern, black is the more targeted option to compare. Its less-visible-pore claim concerns the appearance after cleansing; it is not an acne treatment or a promise to shrink pores permanently. There is no need to keep rubbing until you can feel plugs coming out.

How to use both: the face-wash step still matters

1. 1Dispense 2 pumpsThe amount is the same for both. Wet hands are allowed; gently blot excess water first if your hands or face are very wet.
2. 2Work gently through makeupUse your fingertips without forceful rubbing or pulling around the eyes. For lash extensions, check the adhesive condition below.
3. 3Rinse thoroughlyUse water or lukewarm water. FANCL says there is no need to add water and massage until the oil turns white before rinsing.
4. 4Use a separate face washFANCL instructs users to follow both oils with facial cleansing, then continue with their moisturising routine.

No separate emulsifying step does not mean no second cleanser. You can move straight to rinsing, but FANCL still calls for face wash afterward. If skipping that extra wash is your priority, the Softymo oil and liquid cleanser comparison covers options explicitly labelled for that routine.

Lash extensions, contact lenses and irritation

Remove contact lenses before taking off makeup. This is general advice from the Japan Ophthalmologists Association to avoid getting cleanser on the lenses; an eyelash-extension claim does not make the oil safe to get in your eyes. Consult an eye specialist if eye discomfort persists.

“Additive-free” is not a guarantee against irritation. Check the full ingredients if you know you react to a particular substance. Stop using the product if redness, swelling, itching, irritation or another abnormality develops, and consult a dermatologist when needed. Repeated inflammation or discomfort is not a reason to seek stronger cleansing.

Check the refill and freshness dates

• Match the current formula and bottle. Blue refills specify a used マイルドクレンジング オイルf bottle; black specifies マイルドクレンジング オイル ブラック＆スムースa. Do not pour one into the other or into an older-version bottle.
• Do not wash the empty bottle before refilling. Follow FANCL’s instructions to refill it as it is, then replace the bottle after two refills. Keep water out of the container during use.
• Use within 120 days of opening. FANCL lists an unopened freshness period of three years; check the manufacturing date. A 120 mL bottle is about 60 uses, and a 115 mL refill about 57 uses.