Hey everyone!
We’re over the hump! The week has practically flown by with the long weekend, and very soon it’ll be the weekend again! Today I’m going to share 3 cleansers that I have been using with you. I hope I’m not the only one who has several cleansers lining up in the bathroom, but anyways here we go!
Philosophy Purity Made Simple is probably the most heavy-duty cleanser that I have. It has a very creamy texture, and the smell is pretty light. It is supposed to be a hydrating and deep-cleansing multi-tasker: apparently it should replace your makeup remover, eye makeup remover, facial cleanser and toner. It is also supposed to work on both dry or wet face.
I have tried to use this in many different ways, and I can tell you that I wouldn’t use it on dry face, and I wouldn’t replace my eye makeup remover with it either. On dry face, the texture is so thick that it borders on balling up, and I have to rub my face much harder as a result. I also prefer to use Bioderma or a bi-phase eye makeup remover, because it’s better not to tug on the fragile skin around the eyes. As gentle as you might be when you massage a cleanser in your eye area, it is not going to be less aggressive than lightly pressing cotton pads soaked with makeup remover and then wiping the makeup off.
Other than that however, this is really convenient! Before I started testing this, I used a basic face makeup remover followed with my regular face wash. One step of Purity Made Simple however, achieves the same cleansed result (I check by seeing if more makeup comes off with my toner)! I do take a bit of time massaging my face with this, and once I rinse it off my face is clean without being stripped. I reach for this when I wear full-face makeup, when something lighter simply wouldn’t do!
In Belgium, Philosophy is exclusively available at Ici Paris XL.
Sampar is a young skincare brand from Paris, and the concept behind many of their products is for young girls who have just finished their studies and are working in a big city. The products are meant to combat the environmental strain on the skin caused by the urban lifestyle. You can also see this idea from the skyline of Paris on the bottle.
White Velvet Mousse is supposed to remove makeup clarify skin. It contains probiotic enzymes and AHA fruit acids for a daily mild micro-peeling. The foam is luxurious and cushion-y when you pump it out. It has a very light rose scent. I’m a big fan of rose so I am naturally a fan, but for those of you who dislike rose, the scent is so light that I don’t think it will bother the majority of you. The pump works really well, and I personally don’t need a full pump for my whole face.
I don’t use this ALONE to remove my makeup, and certainly not full-face makeup. I mostly reach for this when I have minimal makeup on, like my eyebrows filled-in and some BB cream. It is very pleasant to use, and my skin does feel smoother and brighter with it. However, if I’m wearing more than some BB cream, I don’t think it is effective enough as a makeup remover. I enjoy it enormously because of the scent and texture, but I do think people would resonate better with this product if it doesn’t claim to be a makeup remover.
If all you wear is some tinted moisturizer/BB cream, I would say go ahead and grab this because it makes cleansing such a pleasant experience! Like most mousse I’ve tried, it doesn’t dry the skin out at all, which is a huge bonus. If you do wear foundation/blush/bronzer all the time however, you might want to look elsewhere. I am personally very interested in trying Sampar Daily Dose Foaming Cleanser, for example. Not only does it look like it has better makeup-removing capacity, but it also targets combination/oily skin!
In Belgium, Sampar is exclusively available at Planet Parfum.
I got a tube of La Roche Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel when I purchased Effaclar K (I briefly introduced Effaclar K in the guest post I did for Makeupwithdrawal. Don’t think it’s detailed enough? Fear not. This is a product that I will continue using and hopefully one day I can check back to say all my blackheads are gone). At first I was a little worried about it being drying, but since it is also made for those with sensitive skin, I reckoned it was worth a try. I’m glad to report it does exactly what it promises to do!
I mostly reach for this in the morning when I need just a simple face wash to wash off the night cream and overnight sebum production. It is a clear gel that smells mildly like acid (it does contain citrus acid so it’s not surprising). It is soap-free and with a pH 5.5 that is close to the natural pH of human skin, which means it wouldn’t be too harsh. It foams up pretty well, and when I’m done my face feels fresh and ready for the day! My cheeks are rather sensitive and could react to products that contain acid, but this one is so gentle that my cheeks have not objected!
If you have combination/oily skin and are looking for a basic face wash, I would highly recommend La Roche Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel. It does the job exceptionally well, and the lack of soap and paraben should resonate well even with those who have sensitive skin.
Now that I’m done going through my cleanser line-up, it’s your turn: What is your current go-to cleanser? Do you also have several that you rotate? What do you look for in a cleanser?
Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx
Disclosure: Some of the products mentioned in this review are sent by the PR for my consideration. All opinions are honest and my own. I am in no way compensated for this review. I have always been, and will always be committed ONLY to my readers.