Finding the right facial cleanser for your skin is the first step to a great skincare routine.
I have been trying many across the years including cleansing milk, micellar lotions, washes… and my heart had settled on one that I thought was the perfect candidate for my needs: Garnier Skin Naturals PureActive 2in1 Purifying gel + make-up remover.
Given my skin is combination and prone to blemishes, I have always been looking for products that would be very effective at cleansing and removing impurities, whilst not drying skin so much that it would put it out of balance. I also like the feeling of a proper wash using water so I can feel my face is fully refreshed and clean. Plus, I like a good multi-tasker, and this Garnier product is so gentle that you can also use it to remove all make-up including on the eyes without the slightest uncomfortable feeling despite cleansing effectively, which is a very tricky balance to achieve.
Presented in a convenient pump format, the formula is specifically developed for oily and combination skin, with salicylic acid to treat blemishes, and also boasts high tolerance with a no added fragrance, ophthalmologically and dermatologically tested formula (and zero parabens for those who care, though I personally still believe parabens are a necessary ingredient to allow longer conservation of formulas). It has a nice, translucent texture with a smooth, slightly sticky-on-skin texture making it easy to apply and easy to wash out too. The results are great every time – great clean feeling, and absolutely no make-up left. Love it !
“But what’s is the catch ?”, I hear you cry.
Well, I can’t find it anywhere anymore except online, as I guess it was discontinued from stores… That’s the issue with Garnier Essensials-type ranges: they keep bringing innovation, taking products out or repackaging them. Such a shame when they had absolutely nailed it in my humble opinion (I guess I was probably the only one to think that if it did not sell well enough to keep its space on the line-up). It can still be found online, though If you see this product stocked anywhere on a physical shelf, let me know !
So, as I am mourning my Garnier cleanser, I’ve had to change tactics and I bought 2 new cleansers yesterday to give them a try:
First up, I finally bought the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish with Hot Cloth Cleanser (£13.5 for £100ml and 2 free muslin clothes).
I went to the Liz Earle shop in Sloane Square in London, and received lovely service from their beauty consultant, with specific advice on skin type, a demo on how to use the cleansing system, a free trial tube of a new light moisturiser and a pretty bag with wrapping paper. Happy days 🙂
I have heard a lot of great things about this cleansing system, and it certainly won a lot of awards, so I wanted to check what the hype was all about. They had just launched a limited edition with Orange Flower and Chamomile for Summer 2014, with a lovely flowery design, which I was told is milder than the original formula. I kept to the original for my first trial, especially as the formula contains Eucalyptus Essential Oil and Rosemary, which are great for combination skin for their antiseptic properties.
I tried it as soon as I came home – here again, the big plus is that the product acts as a cleanser and a make-up remover all at once.
The product comes in a pump bottle (it also comes as a 200ml tube but I find pumps are more convenient and also help keep the formula stable, effective and clean for longer). The texture is white, very thick, creamy and rich, almost balmy. The scent has a natural freshness to it given the essential oils in it and is not overpowering.
The idea is to use 1 or 2 full pumps on dry skin and massage the texture on skin with dry fingertips in small circular motions, finishing with the eyes (to keep the “panda eye” effect to the end and limit the amount of eye make-up going onto the rest of the face).The next step is what makes the ritual unique: you need to dampen a piece of muslin cloth under warm water, and then rub it carefully in circular motions onto your face to remove the product. This massage has a gentle polishing effect due to the imperfect surface of the muslin cloth which acts as a subtle scrub. The feeling of the warm cloth on skin also triggered holiday feelings as they reminded me of the lovely hot towels that I got given when traveling in Asia (or alternatively when going for dim sums in China Town, but that’s not as exotic). Finally, the finishing touch is to rinse out your face with a big splash of cold water to close the pores, followed by a gentle padding of the face on a clean and dry towel.
The results ? I actually found that the final water splash is not to be neglected: the first time I tried the routine, I failed to properly rinse out the full product and I felt it remained on my skin afterwards, a bit like a coated effect. The second time I tried it in the morning, I was more careful with that last step and I eventually felt very satisfied with the clean feeling of the whole experience, and also the nice glow that the gentle polishing effect gave to my skin. It also did not dry out my skin at all. So overall very positive, plus I found that the ritual aspect of it helps to bring back focus on the fact cleansing is such an important gesture to allow the skin to breathe properly and be healthy.
In my cleansing shopping franzy, I also bought L’Oreal Paris Skin Perfection Soothing Gel-Cream Wash (£4.49 for 150ml) which is proven to remove make-up and impurities and reveal a better skin texture, with no feeling of dryness.
I have been impressed by L’Oréal Skin Perfection range, especially their serum, so I have great hopes for this one. I have not tried it yet as I am investing in my Liz Earle test right now… but will give it a try shortly, let me know if you have tried it and what you have thought about it !
With love,
Your skinologist x
The skinologist 