Cleansers: November 2014.

It is hard to believe that four months has passed since I last talked about my cleansers in any detail. I've been away from home a fair bit since then and I have also been trying to use up samples. This, coupled with the milder weather we have been having until very recently means that these aren't a full on Winter/cold weather edit. This cleanser selection is somewhat random and it's either what I am enjoying at the moment or trying to use up.

Without further ado here's a look at the selection of cleansers that I am currently using on a daily basis.

May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion.

This small bottle of cleansing oil has been around since my Spring round up of cleansers!

It's intended as a cleansing oil and although I do very occasionally use it as a second cleanse I mostly use this as a treatment oil to balance my skin. Once or twice a week I press a few drops of it into my face before I step into the shower where the steam helps it absorb. (I find a facial oil used in this way to be very beneficial if my skin feels at all congested.) This oil leaves my skin softened and cleansed and as an extra benefit I enjoy the aromatheraputic effect of it's comforting herbal/cocoa scent.

Lately I have been mixing this into a gentle physical exfoliator once a week as well, to make a gentle scrub even more gentle.

Repurchase?

Hmmm, perhaps.

I do like this - it is expensive but when I use it in this way it lasts a very long time. However, another cleansing oil that I like to use as a treatment is MV Organics 9 Oil Cleansing Tonic. This is even more expensive but it suits my skin better and gives even more impressive results than The Pendulum Potion does. When I do finally need to replace this I think the extra splurge on an even more expensive cleansing oil will be worth it.

Rodial Glamtox Balm.

I've been using this almost every night to remove make up and sunscreen, sometimes doubling up and using it for a second cleanse as well. It's a brilliant product for a first cleanse and removes everything effectively leaving my face feeling soft, clean and comfortable. This balm is a perfect consistency for facial massage as it is very easy to move across skin without any pulling or tugging and it warms up a little on the skin which ups my enjoyment levels no end! As you would expect it is super effective at dissolving make up and everything rinses away easily leaving no trace. The pump bottle cleanly dispenses exactly the correct amount you need to cleanse with each time so there's no waste and it has a refreshing light fragrance.

Repurchase?

I would get this again in a heartbeat if I could but it has been discontinued. I have a back up bottle in my stash but once that has gone that's it I'm afraid.

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser.

This is the same bottle from my last cleanser post and it's probably my favorite cleanser of all time! The Purifying Cleanser is a lightweight non foaming gel with an uplifting grapefruit-y fragrance which contains fruit enzymes to exfoliate oh-so-gently. I like to use this as second cleanse or as a morning face wash. It leaves my skin feeling very clean and fresh but not tight or dry at all. This isn't the cheapest cleanser around but you only need to use a very small amount so a bottle doesn't work out as expensive as you would think.

Repurchase?

Hell yeah!

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel.

This wallet friendly cleanser is an old favourite of mine. It does a pretty good job of removing make up but really comes into it's own as a second cleanse or a morning facewash for me. Like Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser this contains gently exfoliating fruit acids and I swear that my skin looks brighter and clearer whenever I use it. Don't let the fact that this comes in an ugly bottle, is bright green, and smells like an old lady's handbag put you off - this actually is an excellent cleanser at an unbeatable price.

Repurchase?

Yes.

Dr Dennis Gross Colorsmart Cleanser and Mask.

I bought a couple of tubes of this to use when traveling as the packaging was so practical and it worked as both a cleanser and a quick skin brightening mask. I recently pulled this out of my travel bag to try and use it up before it goes off. It's a nicely textured cream but it's an oddly beige colour which becomes bright orangey-yellow when you massage it into your face and neck. 

I don't find that this does all that good of a job as a make up remover and so it is better suited to being used as a second or morning cleanse. My main gripe though is that it is simply very messy to use and it is terribly difficult to remove every last trace of it from my hands and face (it leaves a terrible stain on flannels and towels).
One good thing about this is that it does leave my skin looking bright and clear so I'm trying to use it up as a morning in-shower face wash but it's a cleanser I'm reaching for with great reluctance...

Repurchase.

No, I'm thankful that I bought this on sale rather than paying full price however.

I've some very nice balms and oils waiting in the wings at the moment and these will be what I will be opening to replace empty cleansers over the next few months, as we head into colder weather and my skin needs more nurturing and moisture...