KOSE Softymo Speedy vs Deep Cleansing Oil: What's the Difference and Which One Should You Buy?

Softymo Speedy or Softymo Deep: which cleansing oil should you buy?

If you have ever scrolled past two nearly identical KOSE Softymo bottles and wondered which one belongs in your bathroom, you are asking the same question many shoppers type into Google: what is the actual difference between Softymo Speedy and Softymo Deep? Both are 240 mL pump bottles from KOSE's long-running Japanese drugstore line. Both were reformulated and relaunched in Japan on February 21, 2024. Both list the same headline blend of five organic-certified botanical oils and three botanical seed oils, which KOSE includes for moisture. On the front of the box they look almost interchangeable. Read the official product pages side by side, though, and the two oils turn out to be built for different habits. One is designed around convenience at a wet sink or in the shower; the other is designed around pores. This guide walks through what KOSE itself says about each formula, what Japanese shoppers report on @cosme, and who should skip which bottle before adding it to the cart.

The short answer: pick by where you cleanse, not by the label color

Here is the rule of thumb we landed on after comparing KOSE's official specs line by line. Choose Softymo Speedy if you usually take off makeup in the shower or at a running tap, if you wear eyelash extensions, and if you like the idea of one step: KOSE labels Speedy as needing no follow-up face wash. Choose Softymo Deep if you cleanse at a dry vanity, want a formula that KOSE positions for pore care, and do not mind drying your hands before you pump. Price is not the dividing line here; the product cards on this page show current pricing for both, and they come in the same bottle size. The condition that matters most is water. KOSE's directions for Deep call for dry palms, while Speedy is labeled wet-hands OK. Pick the one that matches the way you already cleanse, and you get the performance each formula was designed around instead of fighting it every night.

What KOSE says about each formula, and what shoppers report

Softymo Speedy is described by KOSE as a fast-melting oil that takes skin back to bare quickly. The official page lists three conveniences: wet hands OK, eyelash extensions OK, and no separate face wash needed afterward. The directions are simple: pump two to three times into your palm, work it into your makeup, then rinse thoroughly with water or lukewarm water. If your hands or face are very wet, KOSE asks you to shake off the excess first, so wet-hands OK does not mean dripping wet. Mineral oil leads the ingredient list, followed by an emulsifier, PEG-8 glyceryl isostearate, which is the kind of ingredient that lets an oil cleanser turn milky and rinse away with water. Water itself also appears in the formula. The botanical side includes olive fruit oil, sesame seed oil, safflower oil, shea butter, baobab seed oil, grape seed oil and jojoba seed oil, with squalane further down the list.

Best for: shower cleansers, eyelash extension wearers and anyone who wants a one-step evening routine.

[[product:kose-softymo-speedy-cleansing-oil-240ml]]

Softymo Deep is positioned differently. KOSE calls it a deep oil built for thorough removal, with a kakusen clear formula; kakusen is the Japanese term for the sebum plugs that sit in pores, and KOSE lists pore care as a focus. It is also labeled eyelash extensions OK. Unlike Speedy, the official page does not say the product can skip a follow-up face wash, and the directions start with dry palms rather than wet hands. The ingredient list is not simply Speedy with a new label. Rice bran oil sits second, right after mineral oil, and the formula also contains orange peel oil, sorbeth-30 tetraoleate and trilaureth-4 phosphate. It shares the same headline botanical blend, including olive, sesame, safflower, jojoba and grape seed oils. In short, Deep is a separately built formula aimed at pores and thorough removal, while Speedy is built around convenience in a wet routine.

Best for: people who cleanse at a dry vanity and want a formula KOSE positions for pore care.

[[product:kose-softymo-deep-cleansing-oil-240ml]]

Japanese shopper reviews on @cosme add useful context, with the usual caveat that these are individual impressions, not lab results. On the Speedy page, recurring themes are how quickly makeup melts off, reviewers saying skin does not feel tight after rinsing, and good value for an everyday drugstore product. On the Deep page, reviewers most often praise how thoroughly it removes makeup, including waterproof formulas. The same page also carries the main criticisms. Some reviewers say skin feels a little tight afterward and recommend following with moisturizing skincare, a few note that certain long-wear waterproof mascaras still took extra effort, and several mention the dry-hands requirement as a limit if they cleanse in the shower. None of this changes what KOSE states about the formulas, but it helps set realistic expectations before you choose between the two bottles for your own routine.

Who should skip which bottle

Skip Softymo Deep if nearly all of your makeup removal happens in the shower. KOSE's directions call for dry palms, and a formula used against its instructions will not behave the way it was designed to. Deep is also worth a second thought if your skin already tends to feel tight after cleansing, since that feeling comes up in some of its @cosme reviews, and if you avoid citrus oils, because orange peel oil appears on its ingredient list. Skip Softymo Speedy if your main goal is a formula specifically positioned for pores; that is Deep's job in this line, not Speedy's. Both oils are built on mineral oil, so if you avoid mineral oil for personal reasons, neither is the right pick. Neither product is a treatment for any skin condition. As with any new cleanser, try it on a small area first, and stop using it if you notice redness or irritation.

How to choose in thirty seconds

Ask yourself three quick questions. First, where do you take off your makeup? Shower or wet sink points to Speedy; a dry vanity makes either one work, and gives Deep the edge if pores are your priority. Second, do you wear eyelash extensions? Good news, because KOSE labels both oils as extension-OK, so this question will not break the tie. Third, do you want a single step at night? KOSE says Speedy needs no follow-up face wash, while Deep makes no such claim, so if you are a committed double cleanser, Deep followed by a gentle foam fits naturally. If you land on Speedy, start with the Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil 240 mL. If you land on Deep, pair the Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil 240 mL with the 210 mL refill. New to the oil-then-foam method? Our Japanese double cleansing guide covers the basics.

[[product:kose-softymo-deep-cleansing-oil-refill-210ml]]

FAQ

What is the difference between Softymo Speedy and Softymo Deep? Softymo Speedy is labeled wet-hands OK, eyelash-extension OK and no follow-up face wash needed, while Softymo Deep is a dry-hands formula with a kakusen (sebum plug) clear formula that KOSE positions for pore care.

Can I use Softymo Deep with wet hands? No. KOSE's directions for Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil start with dry palms, so it is not the best choice for cleansing in the shower.

Do I need to double cleanse after Softymo Speedy? KOSE labels Softymo Speedy Cleansing Oil as not needing a follow-up face wash. Adding a gentle foam cleanser is a personal preference, not a requirement.

Can I use Softymo cleansing oils with eyelash extensions? KOSE labels both Softymo Speedy and Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil as OK for use with eyelash extensions.

Is Softymo Deep fragrance-free? KOSE's official product page does not describe Softymo Deep as fragrance-free, and orange peel oil appears in its ingredient list. Check the label if you avoid citrus oils.

Specs in this guide follow KOSE's official Japanese product pages as of September 2026. Always check the label on your bottle, since formulas can be updated.