Once You Go Pai, You’ll Never Go Back: Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser Review

One of the 5 most important things about beauty I learnt in 2012 is that technology and skin evolve, therefore so should one’s routine. I used to like cleansers that make my skin feel “squeaky clean,” and I couldn’t imagine using a cream cleanser until I took the step with Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. Guess what? Once you go Pai, you’ll never go back! There is a great reason why this baby is Pai’s bestseller, and I’m going to let you in on this secret that will keep your skin happy in winter!

Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser comes with an airless pump. You can’t really tell how much there still is by looking at the bottle, but at the end you will feel the product is coming out with a little difficulty, and that’s your cue for replenishing the stock! The pump works really well. The instructions say 2-3 pumps each time, but I mostly go with one and a half or two.

Pai claims this can be used as an eye makeup remover, but unless you don’t wear anything waterproof, I still think it’s easier to have a separate remover at hand. I use this as the second step of my double-cleansing at night (I wipe most of my makeup off with Bioderma Sensibio first), but it also works well for some quick cleansing in the morning. I first splash a bit of water my skin, pump the cleanser out, and start massaging away. The cleanser has the right consistency. It doesn’t slide off the skin to make a mess, but nor is it so thick that it requires a lot of effort to massage it around. It doesn’t really have a specific smell. I would say it smells just like cream, and maybe a tiny hint of something herbal but that is all. Pai specializes in sensitive skincare, so rest assured there wouldn’t be artificial fragrance involved!

Once you are done massaging (I like to take my time and do it for a minute or two), you can wipe it off with Pai Organic Muslin Face Cloth or any other face cloth or muslin cloth of your choice. I didn’t have any so I ordered this one with the cleanser, and I like it enough to order two more so I can wash them frequently enough. The benefit of a muslin cloth is that you won’t risk dehydrating your skin by splashing it repetitively with water, and it provides some gentle exfoliation so your skin will be very smooth. Just remember to use a gentle circular motion instead of rubbing it all over your face with force!

The result? Pai isn’t kidding about this being a hydrating cleanser! Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser leaves no residue once it has been removed, and it gets the cleansing job done exceptionally gently. My skin is not only clean but also incredibly soft, supple, and plump. It is almost as if I have already applied lotion. It is also very soothing and calming. There is never a trace of slightly red or irritated skin with this one, and I can literally see every sign of environmental stress and makeup lifted off. I never imagined I would be so excited about a cleanser, but even after two months I am practically giddy whenever I use this!

Pai deserves a lot of praise for laying the ingredient list out in plain and simple English. Even if you don’t want to Google all the words that you can’t even pronounce (what? Am I the only one?), you can easily find out what’s actually in there. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free. You won’t find SLS, paraben, or alcohol anywhere. All in all a very conscientious company that makes gentle and effective products!

Bottom line: If you have never tried a cream cleanser, I would urge you to make Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser your first one. It is incredibly gentle and kind to the skin, and the fact that it leaves no residue makes it less likely to weird you out. It is versatile. You can both get a relatively quick wash out of it as well as taking your time to massage and de-stress. Especially if your skin is sensitive or have problems handling the weather, this is a cleanser you don’t want to miss out on!

What type of cleansers do you prefer? Have you tried any cream cleansers? Do you have a favorite cleanser (foaming or otherwise)?

Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx

PS: To learn more about Pai, check out their website. A 50ml bottle will set you back 18 euros/25 USD, and you might just get hooked!