As an unashamed skincare addict, I spend a fair amount of my money on skin-related products and a good part of that cash goes on cleansers. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm utterly addicted to them (even my other half who has no idea why one would need more than one 'face wash'). In the past I found myself tending to flit between different products and not really sticking with any in particular as I was constantly on the hunt for the next best thing that would give me the perfect cleanse, but now I've found some firm favourites.
While I don't have 'perfect' skin (does anyone?!), it's now better than it's ever been thanks in part to a number of cleansers that I regularly use. These are the products that cause a slight feeling of panic in me when I see that they are coming to an end, and they are what I purchase first as soon as I can afford to do so. There are three in total and each serves a different purpose.
*Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - This cleanser is fab, and a real treat to the skin. It's silky, smells gorgeous, and leaves your skin feeling soft and pampered. It can also be used as a mask if you leave it on for 10 or 15 minutes - I would recommend this if you have dry skin. I use this as a second cleanse as it's too luxe and gorgeous to just to take off make-up - it makes me feel like I'm having a spa treatment at home. The ingredients include Vitamin E and Wild sea fennel to soften, and also a host of oils - Orange peel, sweet almond, grape seed, jasmine etc. It can be purchased in Marks and Spencers (53 euros for 100g), Cult Beauty (39 sterling) and FeelUnique (I get mine on FeelUnique France for 49.90 although I never pay full price as I wait until they have 20% off as they often do). You can also buy it in a bigger tub (200ml). The balm comes with a lovely double sided facecloth (although any facecloth will do, think Penneys/Primark). I use it 3 or 4 times a week and you only need a small amount (medium grape size) so even at the price it's worth investing in. My Mom bought me the first tub I'd ever owned and now I'm addicted.
*Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip cleanser - I first received this in the box that Huda Kattan released with Cult Beauty. It's a clay cleanser that contains French green clay, Moroccan rhassoul lava clay, Vitamin C, Black Pepper and essential oils. If you are sensitive to essential oils* I would maybe avoid this (as with EH Moringa Balm), but if not this is a lovely cleanser. To be used as a single or second cleanse, this will really clear out your pores due to the clay content - I usually use it in the morning. It smells...green (sorry, can't think of a better word!) but I actually like it. If you are feeling clogged you can massage it into dry skin and leave it for 3 or 4 minutes. Be careful if you are very dry - even though this cleanser foams slightly it does not contain SLS* but can still leave the skin feeling ever so slightly tight. I'm on my third bottle. It's expensive (35 sterling on Cult Beauty) but as I would only recommend using it twice or three times a week (one pump is enough) it will last you quite some time.
*Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser This is my every day cleanser, morning and/or night. My skin can get red and reactive around the jawline with stress, fatigue etc and this cleanser keeps it calm. It's a cream cleanser that contains Aloe Vera and is quite hydrating. I get mine on QVC France in a set with two toners and it works out at 47 euros, which is great for three prducts. You can also find Alpha H on Cult and BeautyBay. I'd recommend this as a daily cleanser for normal to slightly reactive skin. (This does not contain alpha-hydroxy acid* like Liquid Gold, so safe for everyone). It's not a particularly luxurious product, but it does exactly what it says (cleanses, hydrates). Tom Ogden says it's one of his favourites - and that man knows his skincare!
*SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. A cheap chemical that functions as a surfectant - basically this means that it separates molecules and allows the product to get right onto your skin/hair/teeth. It's also a detergent and is what causes foaming in many products such as cleansers, shampoos and toothpastes. Also used in industrial cleaning agents (engine degreaser!!!!!) and can seriously irritate skin. Causes that unpleasant 'squeaky-clean' feeling you get after using certain foaming cleansers. Has been linked to cancer but so far no concrete evidence. Not something I want on my skin, thanks. (source - slsfree.net)
*Essential oils can be irritating to people with sensitive skin - if you're not sure do a patch test
*Alpha-hydroxy-acid found in fruit and milk sugars (lactic and glycolic being the most popular). They exfoliate the skin, improve roughness, pigmentation (reportedly, I can't say as I don't have any) and are an anti-ageing ingrediant. Found in acid toners, some masks and creams, and many other products such as Alpha-H's signature product, Liquid Gold (I love this stuff).
So those are my ride or die cleansers in a nutshell. Bear in mind that my skin is normal to dry and I get slightly red around the jawline. My best friend has some hormonal acne around her chin and is much more sensitive than me - she loves Dermeden Specific Protocole Cleanser (she says that this literally changed her skin for the better. It's available in French pharmacies and in the US on Pharmaholic.Com - sorry, I haven't found it online anywhere else :/) She recommends using the most gentle cleansers and nothing harsh, and also loves L'oreal Cream Cleansers, Emma Hardie and REN Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser (22 euros on Cloud10Beauty.com).
Have you tried any of these?
You can also find me at https://www.instagram.com/doyouevencleanse/ and https://www.facebook.com/doyouevencleanse/ :)
Thanks for reading!
A x
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