New Cleansers I Am Trying
Laurel Skin: Effortless Cleanser
One Love Organics: Botanical B Enzyme
Free + True: Moonlight Milk: PM Balm to Milk Cleanser
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser
de Mamiel: Brightening Cleanser with Exfoliant
Recently I have been experimenting with some new cleansers to add to my arsenal of potions and lotions. I think sometimes it is just my nature to want to try something new especially after using the same old things for quite a while. So here is a review of some of the purchases I have recently made and my thoughts on the products - if you have any thoughts to help me or our readers on a particular way of using a product - or a product suggestion - please share!!
And as always before trying anything new on your skin, please consult a professional.
Laurel Effortless Cleanser…..$56.00
I bought this cleanser as a sample and have been really enjoying it on my skin. A nice gentle cleaner that leaves my skin happy. Made locally in the SF Bay Area. This is a non-foaming, gentle facial cleanser that does not leave the skin feeling striped and/or dry. This is also recommend for dry, normal and mature skin.
About the product: This Cleanser is a delicately blended combination of whole plant extracts, teas, hydrosols, oils and honey – all working together to not only cleanse the skin but also soften, plump and restore. California grown Calendula and Rose Geranium help to tone and refine, paired with Rose, Rosehip and Myrrh resin to repair. - Laurelbeauty website.
Ingredients: Rose and Calendula extracts along with honey, licorice and rosemary really beautify the skin and leave it feeling gently cleaned.
Usage: Wet face before putting product on. Add product and massage into skin. Rinse and then pat dry.
Verdict: This cleanser is a great steady, workhorse in your beauty arsenal. I will definitely put on my to buy list. The scent of this product is very subtle.
One Love Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil…..$42.00
This is another sample that I have been trying and so far I really like it! Gentle enough to leave my skin soft and clean after rinsing- but still gets the eye makeup and dirt from the day off my face!. I was intrigued that it was both an oil as well as an enzyme and it cleansed too! So I had to try it! I like that it contains natural enzymes that can aid with the smoothing of the skin! Recommended for fine lines and dry skin as well as oily and mature skin.
About the Product: One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover removes makeup, dirt and any other impurities. The gentle formula helps restore the skin's moisture and pH balance. Pumpkin oil, rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids, keep the skin youthful and radiant. Vitamin E protects against environmental damage. - Dermstore Verbiage
Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, pumpkin seed oil and papaya seed oil to name a few.
Usage: Use one or two pumps, rub between the palms and then apply to a dry face. Add water and watch the cleanser transform. Rinse then pat dry.
Verdict: I really like this cleanser. It leaves my skin soft and yet also hydrated. I want to do more research on the ingredients - but definitely thinking of this as a future purchase.
Free and True Moonlight Milk PM Balm Cleanser…….$45.00
This was a bit of a wild card for me…this is a somewhat new brand from the Bay Area and I hadn’t heard much about it. Unlike most of the others I had sampled them prior to buying - but decided to take the plunge and just try this one: especially since the price point wasn’t so high! At first I wasn’t sure of the product -my skin seemed a bit too ‘squeaky clean and tight’ after the initial usage (probably not using the cleanser balm correctly the first go around) -but now my skin has really taken to it. I for one, am not keen on the tight feel of cleansers - I like a more gentle clean, whichI feel over all is better for my skin. This product is considered a makeup remover, cleanser and mask all in one.
A bit about the product: Prepare the skin for its most regenerative hours with a nourishing balm-to-milk cleanser. Camellia oil, black cumin oil, and a dollop of mango butter melt away heavy makeup and remove impurities without stripping the skin or leaving behind an oily residue. Jasmine oil provides an uplifting experience while a synergistic blend of botanical extracts are soothing and regenerating. The ultimate multi-tasker, Moonlight Milk is a makeup remover, cleanser and mask in one. - verbiage from Sweet + True Sugaring Co.
Ingredients: Camellia Tea Oil, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba oil and Mango Oil to name a few of the key ingredients, along with Black Cumin and Vitamin E. And the scent is BEAUTIFUL soft but not overpowering.
Usage: This one is a bit different from the others: first you rub the balm between your hands (at least I do!) and then rub it over the face helping the product to lift dirt. After you wet the tips of your fingers with water and apply the water to your face - and watch the balm become more of a milky cleanser.
Verdict: This is one I will definitely buy again…my skin looks hydrated and feels soft in the morning.
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser…….$45.00
Another sample that I bought was the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser. To be honest I have tried a couple of the Dr. Alkaitis products and have never been blown away. However I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my sample - and I really liked the price point. Dr. Alkaitis is a cult favorite among many organic beauty bloggers. I guess like most things, it is all about finding the right products that work for you. A little blurb about the company: Dr. Alkaitis’s wife one day asked him if her skincare was safe for her skin. As a highly respected researcher in physical chemistry at UCLA, Dr. Alkaitis could see the long term health concerns that numerous chemicals in conventional skincare would have on the body long term. Thus the brand was formed.
A bit about the product: Dr. Alkaitis' non-drying organic face cleanser gently but thoroughly melts away impurities, leaving your skin dewy, soft and radiant. Strengthens your skin and aims to balance and restore your skin's natural pH-balance. Recommended for all skin complexions. Contains Vitamin A from organic Carrot and Marigold Extract and Vitamin C from Camu Camu and Acerola extracts. - verbiage from Dr. Alkaitis website This product is suitable for all skin types.
Ingredients: Cold press olive, shea, jojoba and coconut oil pack on the moisture of this product - and the sea wrack and Atlantic seaweed are a natural hydration that plumps up the skin along with smoothing out fine lines.This is just a small sample of the organic ingredients that are in this product.
Usage: Wet the product first to change the consistency into more of a white, creamy cleanser. Put on the skin in circular motions, to lift off makeup and impurities and then rinse away. Pat dry.
Verdict: I was wonderfuly surprised at how much I liked this cleanser. Really soft and hydrating to the skin. And the ingredients list is quite impressive for the price point. I think this would be a good product to travel with and they have a travel size. So much better for you than grabbing something off the CVS shelves!! Travel size as listed on website is: $5.50 - you can’t beat that!!
de Mamiel Brightening Cleanse and Exfoliate…..$70.00
Probably the most lavish cleanser in the bunch was my leap into buying de Mamiel. The reviews online for the product are wonderful - and the smell an elusive cocoa scent (like a having a chocolate facial) was very enticing. Beautiful packaging: from the outside box with a lovely blue ribbon, to the tall, dark, glass bottle - lovely.
A bit about the product: The ultimate tool for skin regeneration, this superfood powder for the face contains healing clays, and plant and gem extracts to clear away dead cells and reveal smooth, radiant skin. The wonderfully delicate rose aroma encourages deep breaths and relaxation. Use as a mask when your skin needs an extra boost; this allows more time for the mineral packed ingredients to work more deeply to soothe, stabilize skin and protect it from free radicals - Detox Market verbiage online.
Ingredients Include: Moroccan clay, rose clay and white clay along with Hawaiian sea salt and vanilla bean powder to name a few of the ingredients listed on the box.
Usage: This comes out as a powder that you add water to and then use either as an exfoliate - or if you want to keep it on longer as a mask. I have only used it as an exfoliant. The next time I try it - I will put it on as a mask and see if I like it better……
Verdict: Everything about this exfoliating cleanser, I wanted to love: smell, packaging and performance…but unfortunately in my couple of times testing this product I have found it very drying to my skin. I think this may be a product that is ideally for oily/combo skin, as opposed to my maturing skin…not sure? Will give it a couple of more trys before I come to a final verdict.
And lastly here is a blurb I found online from Eminence Organics on how to wash your face: https://eminenceorganics.com/ca/blog/2018/08/21/how-wash-your-face-are-you-doing-it-wrong Our washing of our face is a ritual most of us have been doing for years but some times when we do something so often we need a gentle reminder on the optimum way to do it. In the above link there are a few good suggestions to remember when cleansing the face: using a clean wash cloth every time, cleaning your hands before you begin to wash your face and using a not too hot water temp in order not to dry out the skin. These are things we all forget about, as we hastily try to get to bed, and end our day. Making our skin care routine into more of a fun, or calming ritual can help us to beautify our skin and end our day on a positive note!
And isn’t the ultimate goal: to show yourself love and care?
Enjoy!