Since the first year I truly dove headfirst into skincare, I've tried and tested a number of skincare products. Of them, there were products repurchased, and politely passed on a fair share of products. Here’s a roundup of some of the cleansers that stood out for better or worse, along with some notes on what I’m hoping to explore in the future.
Skin Type : DRY. I was on Accutane a few years ago, so lingering dryness is a constant. I still get the occasional breakout, and right now my main focus is fading hyperpigmentation. My skin’s pretty resilient so most products don’t irritate or break me out easily.
CLEANSERS
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
Rating : 5/5 | Will Repurchase
My holy grail cleanser. Despite being labeled as foaming, it’s never dried out my skin, which is rare for this type of formula. It leaves my face feeling genuinely clean without stripping, and while it doesn’t remove makeup as effectively as an oil cleanser, it does a decent job. A little goes a long way, and I’ve been loyal to this one for years.
Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil
Rating : 5/5 | Will Repurchase
Another favorite. This was my first oil cleanser, and it completely changed how I view the cleansing step. I used to crave that squeaky-clean feeling, but now I appreciate the added moisture an oil cleanser provides. This one is lightweight, budget-friendly, and breaks down makeup easily. My only gripe is that I need to use quite a bit to cover my whole face. Still, it’s a winter essential for me.
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
Rating : 4/5 | Would Not Repurchase
This one was... fine. It performs similarly to the Simple oil cleanser and is slightly better at makeup removal, but it’s thicker, more expensive, and I needed to use more product due to its texture. It’s not bad as it’s just not better enough to justify the switch.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Rating : 4.5/5 | Might Repurchase
The gentlest cleanser I used all year. I mainly used it as a second cleanser or when my skin was extra dry and flaky. It doesn’t leave that clean feeling, which I usually prefer, but my skin never broke out or reacted badly, so clearly it was doing its job. I’d recommend this to anyone with sensitive, dry, or eczema-prone skin. Also great for tattoo aftercare!
Muji Sensitive Skin Cleansing Oil
Rating : 3.5/5 | Would Not Repurchase
This was a bit too greasy for my liking. Similar to The Ordinary’s cleanser in texture, but not as effective. It does remove makeup decently and I'd rank it second out of the three oil cleansers I tried, but the scent threw me off as it’s a kind of odd, vegetable-y, cotton-y smell. I’m curious about trying the non-sensitive version, but overall, this one didn’t win me over.
Thanks for taking time to my review, and if you have any question, let me know!
Next time I'd bring my sunscreens experience so stay tuned!