I've written a lot about Australian skincare products. I always like buying locally when I can: the environmental impact, supporting nearby companies, and, very importantly, being able to actually get hold of the thing again when you love it.
When I moved to London, my skin almost instantly started to break out as well as looking really dull. I have dry skin, so this was not normal for me and I was not happy. The pollution, the trains, the weather, the whole city-on-your-face feeling: my cleansing routine was not cutting it.
Then I discovered Oskia
Oskia London has won a silly number of awards and has a very convincing reputation for natural, active skincare. The brand was founded by Georgie Cleeve, who built the line around MSM, a bioavailable form of sulphur used in the formulas alongside vitamins, enzymes, oils, and botanical ingredients.
I wanted a cleanser that felt like it was doing more than moving makeup around my face, but without leaving my dry skin tight. Something properly cleansing, but still soft. That combination is surprisingly hard to find.
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
The first product I tried was Renaissance Cleansing Gel. It is made for all skin types, with dull, dry, or tired-looking skin very much in its sights. Given the state of my new London skin, this was music to my ears.
It is a rich pink gel that turns into a silky oil when you massage it onto dry skin. The first time I used it, I fell in love with the texture. And the smell. It has that chamomile-and-rose scent that makes washing your face feel like a very small luxury rather than an obligation.
From the first application my skin looked brighter and felt softer. Over the next few weeks, it cleared up too. I've been massaging it onto my face for about a minute and then removing it with warm water and a soft cloth, morning and night. It takes makeup off, wakes skin up, and leaves everything feeling deeply cleansed but still hydrated.
That last bit is what makes it special. A cleanser that removes properly without making dry skin feel punished is a hard thing to find. At this price, it is not an impulse buy, but a little goes a long way and the texture makes it feel worth using slowly.
- Best for: dull, dry, or city-stressed skin.
- Texture: pink gel that melts into an oil.
- Finish: soft, clean, and comfortable rather than squeaky.
The ingredients are doing a lot
The formula leans on vitamins, fermented pumpkin enzymes, starflower oil, and MSM. The product page explains the ingredient story in more detail, but the short version is that this is not a basic face wash pretending to be fancy. It is closer to a treatment cleanser.
A small cleansing caveat: dermatologists still recommend keeping the mechanics gentle. Lukewarm water, fingertips or a soft cloth, no harsh scrubbing. If you're using any exfoliating or enzyme-based product, the point is to let the formula work, not to rub your face into submission.
Oskia Renaissance Mask
After loving the cleansing gel so much, I tried Renaissance Mask. It has the same beautiful scent and that smooth, sensorial texture, but it feels more like a proper treatment. It goes on pink, then turns white once you massage it in properly.
This mask is amazing. My skin feels so soft after I use it and looks instantly brighter. If you commute, wear a lot of sunscreen, or just get that grey city look by the end of the week, it is absolute heaven to put this on and feel like your face has come back to life.
It is expensive, but it is powerful. Use it as an occasional brightening mask, not as a nightly habit. If your skin is sensitive, patch test first and keep the rest of your routine plain that night.
- Best for: a dull-skin reset.
- Use when: skin looks tired but does not feel irritated.
- Do not stack with: other strong exfoliating acids or retinoids on the same night.
Powerhouse cleansing combo
This is an unusually long review for a cleanser and a mask, but I really wanted to talk through them because they are the rare products that feel beautiful and still do the work.
The cleansing gel is the one I would buy first. It is the daily product, the texture you notice, the smell that makes washing your face nicer, and the soft-skin finish that keeps you coming back. The mask is the extra treat. Together, they're a powerhouse cleansing combo.
