Cleanserpalooza 2018: Episode I
Like I mentioned in my last post, I have a tendency to put too much on my plate. I thought I would write one super long blog post talking about allll the cleansers I want to try out this year. There are only several ginormous flaws with that plan. 1) I don't want to write a 20k word ode to cleansers in one post. 2) Nobody would want to read that. and 3) I have no idea how long it will actually take me to test and review all of these said cleansers. So instead I'm taking the sensible route and splitting this ish into parts.
So far I have 16 cleaners to review on my list. Out of that, I've tried about 10. Today, I'm talking about the first 5 I tried at the beginning of the year.
I was initially going to include pH results in the post but I think there's something off with my process. I don't know if it's the water, or the strips, or how I'm testing it but either way the results I was getting was completely inaccurate. Hopefully this weekend I will sort things out and update the post with pHs!
Ingredients: Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Brassica Oleracea (Kale) Leaf Extract, Spinacea Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Brassica Oleracea (Kale) Leaf Oil, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Packaging: Glass bottle with a pump. In the initial packaging, it comes with a screw top lid with the pump on the side.
Texture: A thick, runny gel. Gently foams up.
Scent: Very green! It smells very similar to their moisturizer and mask. Personally, I am all about the scent. As I've said a hundred times before, it's like a salad for your face! No synthetic fragrance or essential oils.
Review: A little of this cleanser goes a long way. I usually only use a pump or a pump and a half. For reference I usually use 3 or 4 (or sometimes even 5) pumps of most cleansers in my stash.
I love how it gently lathers and foams up! A lot of times when I use gel cleansers with my foreo luna, the cleanser doesn't foam. This one does! It rinses off clean without any residue or waxiness. My skin is okay afterwards. The cleanser isn't drying but it also doesn't add any moisture back to my skin. I could use this everyday for a week in the winter and not worry about stripping my skin. That's a win in my book.
I don't use most cleansers in my eyes because they're uber sensitive. But accidents do happen and I've accidentally splashed cleanser into my eyes. I'm happy to say this one doesn't irritate my eyes! I wouldn't go ahead and purposefully apply it to my eyes, but I can be less deligent about avoiding my eyes when I use it.
I like that it has a relatively simple ingredient list. If you're unfamiliar with the brand, they make their products in small batches in California. Everything is vegan and cruelty-free!
Ingredients: *Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water(58,748mg), Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-32, Lauramide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fragrance, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, C12-13 Pareth-23, Disodium EDTA, C12-13 Pareth-3, Cellulose Gum, Panthenol, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Verbena Officinalis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract Compagnie Coloniale® Black Tea Water
Packaging: Pink squeezy tube. Simple but effective.
Texture: Whipped mousse. Easily lathers up and creates a foam.
Scent: Sorta like sweet tea. I dig it! Contains essential oils and fragrance.
Review: I'm really not a foam cleanser person. Give me a gel any day and I'm a happy camper. Foams, not so much. That said, for the most part I enjoyed this cleanser. Despite the foam texture, it didn't get too bubbly.
Sadly, it burns my eyes a lot. But as long as I'm stringent about avoiding that general area all is good.
Even though I haven't had a chance to pH test this, I can take a guess that it probably has a relatively high pH. It gives my skin that squeaky clean feeling I often get with high pH cleansers. I always have to follow up with a toner on a cotton pad afterward to balance my skin. Because of this, it's not something I would repurchase but something I will use up. I couldn't use it every day in the winter because it would inevitably dry my skin out. But in the summer, I could use it more regularly-- especially in the mornings as I usually wake up with an oil slick on my face from sweating.
Doesn't hurt that the bottle totally fits in with my Instagram aesthetic 😆
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Lactose, Milk Protein, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Yogurt Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Olus/Vegetable Oil/Huile Végétale, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool
Packaging: Blue squeezy tube!
Texture: A slightly sticky gel. Most of the time when I use it, it doesn't foam up. But if I purposefully rub it between my hands, it can create a gentle foam.
Scent: Something familiar that I can't seem to name. Sorta powdery. Not a fan of it. Contains essential oils and fragrance.
Review: This was a surprise hit! Most of the time when I hear "purifying" in a product I think drying. But this wasn't drying at all!
The texture was a little bit off-putting at first. It's tacky and takes a little bit of effort to work into the skin. But once you get used it, it's not a big deal. 9/10 times I use this it doesn't foam up. As someone who is not big on foaming cleansers, this was a perk.
It rinses away clean without any residue or waxiness. It actually even does a pretty good job at removing makeup. On days where I was lazy, I would use a makeup wipe and follow up with this cleanser. For the most part, it would wash away the makeup and sunscreen leftover from using the wipe! Unfortunately, this does slightly irritate my eyes so I make sure it keep it away from that area.
I was able to use this daily for two weeks without drying out my skin. In January! To me, that's a true testament to its gentle nature. I can't say if I would repurchase it or not, because while I did like it I didn't *love* it. It was good but sorta boring.
Ingredients: Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-10, Ethoxydiglycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Chloride, Butoxydiglycol, Diglycerin, Glycereth-26, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Diethoxydiglycol, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Butylene Glycol, Octanediol, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA
Packaging: White squeezey tube!
Texture: Goopy gel. It wasn't the most visually appealing texture at first but I've become accustomed to it.
Scent: Earthy but not super noticeable-- I'm ambivalent to it. Free of both essential oils and synthetic fragrance.
Review: Sadly I did get on well with their exfoliating toner, but I can totally join the cleanser fan club!
I've touched on this subject earlier, but it's amazing how skincare bloggers are kicking ass and creating innovative brands and products. Krave Beauty was founded by Liah Yoo, but you probably already knew that because you probably already follow her on Youtube. And if you don't, you should. The whole point of that schpiel is to point out that the founder is committed to gentle skincare as evidenced by the fact that it's a topic she extensively covers in her videos.
This cleanser is so so gentle. While the goopy consistency is sorta weird, it makes for a very smooth cleansing experience. To quote Fiddy Snails "This cleanser feels like rubbing lightly lathered lube all over your face, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s zero drag, zero pull on skin." She's 100% right!
Despite the weird texture, it rinses away easily. There's no waxy or lotion-y residue leftover. It also doesn't irritate my eyes.
It's gentle, affordable, and comes in easy to use packaging. The only downside is that it's so popular that it sells out! At the moment, they're taking pre-orders for their next shipment.
Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Aqua, Cetearyl Olivate, Sucrose Laurate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Palmitate, Parfum (Natural), Geraniol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Citronellol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactobacillus/Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Ferment Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Linalool, Retinyl Palmitate, Ci 77491, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Packaging: Opaque, airless pump topped with a cap! Pros: sanitary and good at preserving the product. Cons: you can't tell how much is left. Also, some of the text on the bottle started peeling off after about a month of use.
Texture: A whipped gel that melts into an oil as you massage it into your skin. No foam.
Scent: Light and floral-- kinda rosy. I LOVE the scent. It smells v lux and bougie to me. It really wakes me up in the morning. Contains fragrance (not sure if synthetic or blend of EOs.)
Review: It's just my luck that the priciest cleanser in this post is my favorite. The heart wants what it wants.
I love everything about this product. The pump is easy to use. It comes with a pump so you can throw it into your bag!
The texture is a dream. It instantly melts into your skin like a cleansing balm. It's been my go to morning cleanser over the past two months. I picked up a tip from @goalstogetglowing and leave it on my skin for 10 to 15 minutes like a mask. It rinses off clean easily. Afterward, my skin is so soft! It's honestly the best way to start off my morning skincare routines.
You made it to the end of this post! And that is the end of cleanserpalooza season I. Hope you all have a lovely weekend 💖 Let me know if you've tried any of these cleansers or now have plans to do so!
So far I have 16 cleaners to review on my list. Out of that, I've tried about 10. Today, I'm talking about the first 5 I tried at the beginning of the year.
I was initially going to include pH results in the post but I think there's something off with my process. I don't know if it's the water, or the strips, or how I'm testing it but either way the results I was getting was completely inaccurate. Hopefully this weekend I will sort things out and update the post with pHs!
Youth to the People Superfoods Age Prevention Cleanser (Dermstore PR gift)
8 fl. oz for $36 via Dermstore, Sephora, Anthropologie, & NordstromIngredients: Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Brassica Oleracea (Kale) Leaf Extract, Spinacea Oleracea (Spinach) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Brassica Oleracea (Kale) Leaf Oil, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Packaging: Glass bottle with a pump. In the initial packaging, it comes with a screw top lid with the pump on the side.
Texture: A thick, runny gel. Gently foams up.
Scent: Very green! It smells very similar to their moisturizer and mask. Personally, I am all about the scent. As I've said a hundred times before, it's like a salad for your face! No synthetic fragrance or essential oils.
Review: A little of this cleanser goes a long way. I usually only use a pump or a pump and a half. For reference I usually use 3 or 4 (or sometimes even 5) pumps of most cleansers in my stash.
I love how it gently lathers and foams up! A lot of times when I use gel cleansers with my foreo luna, the cleanser doesn't foam. This one does! It rinses off clean without any residue or waxiness. My skin is okay afterwards. The cleanser isn't drying but it also doesn't add any moisture back to my skin. I could use this everyday for a week in the winter and not worry about stripping my skin. That's a win in my book.
I don't use most cleansers in my eyes because they're uber sensitive. But accidents do happen and I've accidentally splashed cleanser into my eyes. I'm happy to say this one doesn't irritate my eyes! I wouldn't go ahead and purposefully apply it to my eyes, but I can be less deligent about avoiding my eyes when I use it.
I like that it has a relatively simple ingredient list. If you're unfamiliar with the brand, they make their products in small batches in California. Everything is vegan and cruelty-free!
A. True Sweet Song Black Tea Miracle Cleansing Foam (Cupidrop PR gift)
5.07 fl. oz for $15 via CupidropIngredients: *Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water(58,748mg), Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-32, Lauramide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fragrance, PEG-100 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, C12-13 Pareth-23, Disodium EDTA, C12-13 Pareth-3, Cellulose Gum, Panthenol, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Verbena Officinalis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract Compagnie Coloniale® Black Tea Water
Packaging: Pink squeezy tube. Simple but effective.
Texture: Whipped mousse. Easily lathers up and creates a foam.
Scent: Sorta like sweet tea. I dig it! Contains essential oils and fragrance.
Review: I'm really not a foam cleanser person. Give me a gel any day and I'm a happy camper. Foams, not so much. That said, for the most part I enjoyed this cleanser. Despite the foam texture, it didn't get too bubbly.
Sadly, it burns my eyes a lot. But as long as I'm stringent about avoiding that general area all is good.
Even though I haven't had a chance to pH test this, I can take a guess that it probably has a relatively high pH. It gives my skin that squeaky clean feeling I often get with high pH cleansers. I always have to follow up with a toner on a cotton pad afterward to balance my skin. Because of this, it's not something I would repurchase but something I will use up. I couldn't use it every day in the winter because it would inevitably dry my skin out. But in the summer, I could use it more regularly-- especially in the mornings as I usually wake up with an oil slick on my face from sweating.
Doesn't hurt that the bottle totally fits in with my Instagram aesthetic 😆
Tula Purifying Face Cleanser (PR gift)
1.7 fl. oz- 6.70 fl. oz for $15.00 - $27.00 via Dermstore, Nordstrom, Tula, Neimans, & Bloomingdale'sIngredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Lactose, Milk Protein, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Yogurt Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Olus/Vegetable Oil/Huile Végétale, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Polyquaternium-10, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Juniperus Mexicana Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool
Packaging: Blue squeezy tube!
Texture: A slightly sticky gel. Most of the time when I use it, it doesn't foam up. But if I purposefully rub it between my hands, it can create a gentle foam.
Scent: Something familiar that I can't seem to name. Sorta powdery. Not a fan of it. Contains essential oils and fragrance.
Review: This was a surprise hit! Most of the time when I hear "purifying" in a product I think drying. But this wasn't drying at all!
The texture was a little bit off-putting at first. It's tacky and takes a little bit of effort to work into the skin. But once you get used it, it's not a big deal. 9/10 times I use this it doesn't foam up. As someone who is not big on foaming cleansers, this was a perk.
It rinses away clean without any residue or waxiness. It actually even does a pretty good job at removing makeup. On days where I was lazy, I would use a makeup wipe and follow up with this cleanser. For the most part, it would wash away the makeup and sunscreen leftover from using the wipe! Unfortunately, this does slightly irritate my eyes so I make sure it keep it away from that area.
I was able to use this daily for two weeks without drying out my skin. In January! To me, that's a true testament to its gentle nature. I can't say if I would repurchase it or not, because while I did like it I didn't *love* it. It was good but sorta boring.
Krave Beauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser (PR gift)
4.05 fl. oz for $16 via Krave BeautyIngredients: Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Methyl Gluceth-10, Ethoxydiglycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Sodium Chloride, Butoxydiglycol, Diglycerin, Glycereth-26, Xanthan Gum, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Diethoxydiglycol, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Decyl Glucoside, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Butylene Glycol, Octanediol, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA
Packaging: White squeezey tube!
Texture: Goopy gel. It wasn't the most visually appealing texture at first but I've become accustomed to it.
Scent: Earthy but not super noticeable-- I'm ambivalent to it. Free of both essential oils and synthetic fragrance.
Review: Sadly I did get on well with their exfoliating toner, but I can totally join the cleanser fan club!
I've touched on this subject earlier, but it's amazing how skincare bloggers are kicking ass and creating innovative brands and products. Krave Beauty was founded by Liah Yoo, but you probably already knew that because you probably already follow her on Youtube. And if you don't, you should. The whole point of that schpiel is to point out that the founder is committed to gentle skincare as evidenced by the fact that it's a topic she extensively covers in her videos.
This cleanser is so so gentle. While the goopy consistency is sorta weird, it makes for a very smooth cleansing experience. To quote Fiddy Snails "This cleanser feels like rubbing lightly lathered lube all over your face, and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s zero drag, zero pull on skin." She's 100% right!
Despite the weird texture, it rinses away easily. There's no waxy or lotion-y residue leftover. It also doesn't irritate my eyes.
It's gentle, affordable, and comes in easy to use packaging. The only downside is that it's so popular that it sells out! At the moment, they're taking pre-orders for their next shipment.
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
3.4 fl. oz for $48.00 via Barney's, Net-A-Porter, Goop, & Cult BeautyIngredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Aqua, Cetearyl Olivate, Sucrose Laurate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Palmitate, Parfum (Natural), Geraniol, Dimethyl Sulfone, Citronellol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactobacillus/Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Ferment Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Linalool, Retinyl Palmitate, Ci 77491, Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Packaging: Opaque, airless pump topped with a cap! Pros: sanitary and good at preserving the product. Cons: you can't tell how much is left. Also, some of the text on the bottle started peeling off after about a month of use.
Texture: A whipped gel that melts into an oil as you massage it into your skin. No foam.
Scent: Light and floral-- kinda rosy. I LOVE the scent. It smells v lux and bougie to me. It really wakes me up in the morning. Contains fragrance (not sure if synthetic or blend of EOs.)
Review: It's just my luck that the priciest cleanser in this post is my favorite. The heart wants what it wants.
I love everything about this product. The pump is easy to use. It comes with a pump so you can throw it into your bag!
The texture is a dream. It instantly melts into your skin like a cleansing balm. It's been my go to morning cleanser over the past two months. I picked up a tip from @goalstogetglowing and leave it on my skin for 10 to 15 minutes like a mask. It rinses off clean easily. Afterward, my skin is so soft! It's honestly the best way to start off my morning skincare routines.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You made it to the end of this post! And that is the end of cleanserpalooza season I. Hope you all have a lovely weekend 💖 Let me know if you've tried any of these cleansers or now have plans to do so!
If you'd like to keep up with my posts, follow along on bloglovin' | instagram | pinterest | twitter