From The Catalogue: Cleanser Edition

I’ve been on a mission to find my perfect products. The beauty scene is such a saturated market that me and my skin are sick of trying the next best thing when all I really need is consistency and some damn good products. I’ve been keeping my thoughts (and products) organised in what I like to call my Catalogue. I document everything I’m currently using, everything I want to try and everything I’ve tried and whether I liked it or not. After a few years I’ve built up quite the repertoire and I’ve been the go to friend for a product recommendation for some time now and I figured why not start a guide for you, for them and for me to refer back to and compare notes.

We’re starting this series off with cleansers, the first section in my Catalogue. At the moment I’ve tried over 60 cleansers on my journey to find my perfect cleanse, some very good and some very very bad (you only get the good ones though!).

I have narrowed down that I like 3 cleansers on hand to keep my skin happy: an oil or a balm cleanser to remove makeup, a gel or cream cleanser for a second cleanse and a morning cleanse and an exfoliating cleanser whether that be physical or chemical, I’m not too picky there.

So this is my guide on my favourite cleansers I’ve used so far.

For reference I have combination skin, it’s sensitive and acne prone, dry, dull and oily all at once! Genetically blessed. For this reason I find myself gravitating towards more gentle, hydrating formulas but also making sure the exfoliant I use can put in the work every once in a while. Sometimes I do switch out cleansers seasonally, gel types for the hot months and more creamy cleansers for cooler months. I have it all down to a science over here.

I have linked every cleanser for you and ordered them by category and sub-ordered them in order of how much I love them.

My Favourite Oil and Balm Cleansers:

Bioderma Micellar Cleansing Oil - This cleansing oil is so lightweight but packs a punch. It breaks down even the most stubborn makeup, sunscreen and grime with ease. It’s non-comedogenic and doesn’t leave you with a film of oil on the face afterwards. No eye sting or blurred sight after either. I think I’m on my 4th or 5th bottle of this stuff and I really look forward to using it every night. Not very travel friendly which is a minus for me. A really great introduction to an oil cleanser if you’re just starting out with a skincare routine.

$20.39 at Chemist Warehouse.

Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm - A very creamy cleansing balm. This balm breaks down layers of spf, dirt and makeup effortlessly. It also washes off with no film, eye sting or blurred vision left behind and I do like how smooth and hydrated my skin feels after I use this. I also appreciate the included exfoliation from the papaya enzymes and all the other inclusives like vitamin c and antioxidants. The cleanser is scented but nothing too overpowering, a slight fresh papaya scent that sort of smells like a tropical holiday. And very travel friendly, perhaps for a tropical holiday.

$53 at Mecca.

Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter - This is a more buttery (as the name suggests) cleanser, not a solid balm. It left my skin feeling squeaky clean and I really felt like it got all my makeup/spf/dirt from the day off easily. I definitely did notice a difference in the brightness of my skin whilst using this too which was nice. I also didn’t find it to sting my eyes or give blurred vision if a little got in there. No clogged pores in sight too! A very luxury purchase for me, but sometimes you need that.

$69.30 for 90g at Cult Beauty.

Frank Body Gentle Cleansing Oil (previously Anti Makeup Cleansing Oil) - Simple but very effective in removing makeup, dirt, grime etc! A super lightweight oil in a nifty airless pump dispenser, which makes travelling a breeze with it. No eye sting or blurred vision with this one either. This cleanser is another very budget friendly one too.

$26 at Mecca.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil - Last but not least, this one may not be for everyone and you most certainly have to double cleanse with this one. This cleanser is the thickest cleansing oil I’ve tried. Containing organic olive oil, vitamin e and rosemary leaf oil which does mean it smells quite heavily like rosemary and definitely does feel like you’re rubbing olive oil onto the skin. But trust it removes everything like a dream and the scent is quite spa like. It does leave a slight film on the skin and can get into the eyes, but that rinses away quite quickly as long as you double cleanse.

$36 at W Cosmetics.

My Favourite Gel Cleansers -

Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser - This cleanser is a perfect gel cleanser. True jelly like consistency, not runny or watery. It applies evenly to the face and foams lightly for that super clean feel without making your skin feel tight or dry afterwards. Packed with skin loving ingredients like amino acids and vitamin e to really respect your skin. It also smells like a jelly bean dream.

$63 at Mecca.

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser - This cleanser was born out of a question asked to the readers of Into The Gloss: What’s your dream cleanser? They really nailed this one. Milky Jelly was my go to cleanser for a long while. It’s a perfect combination between a gel and cream, and one that leaves skin feeling super clean without feeling dry or stripped. Also perfect at removing makeup, even the toughest waterproof mascara. It’s formulated with the same cleansing solution used for contact lenses so it’s super safe for the eyes. Scented with subtle rosewater that doubly soothes skin and creates a spa like cleansing experience.

$37 for 177ml at Mecca.

CosRX Low-pH Gel Cleanser - This gel cleanser is very similar in texture to Glossier’s Milky Jelly. It spreads evenly over skin and provides a good cleanse without leaving skin feel dry or stripped. Not the best as a second cleanse so I prefer this one in the morning. Also slightly exfoliating with BHA’s and tea tree oil, great for acne prone skin.

$18 for 150ml at W Cosmetics.

My Favourite Gentle Cleansers -

Honey Health and Wellness Cleanser - This gentle cream cleanser is packed with skin loving ingredients to fight inflammation, redness and irritation. It’s a lightweight cream consistency that can be used on wet or dry skin. I used this cleanser when I was dealing with a bout of hormonal cystic acne and I do credit this to helping resolve that issue with no turnaround (scarring, pock marks etc). Honey is a great ingredient for acne prone skin, it’s naturally hydrating, cleansing and anti microbial. A really great do it all cleanse!

$55 for 120ml from Honey Health And Wellness.

Tatcha The Rice Wash - This cleanser makes your skin feel so squeaky clean without feeling dry or stripped afterwards thanks to the Japanese Algae and Hyaluronic Acid. The cleanser is a thicker cream consistency with a slight soft grit in it too for a light exfoliation. It’s a perfect second cleanse as it lightly foams up to a soft foam to really get into every nook and cranny. Tatcha also have their very own trademark of superfood ingredients for the skin in their products, Hadasei-3™. The combination of fermented rice, green tea and algae moisturises and exfoliates the skin lightly whilst keeping your skin healthiest it can be. And a little goes the longest, longest way.

$58 for 120ml from Mecca.

Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser - An aptly named and very budget friendly cleanser. Probably one of my top favourites at the moment. A gel-lotion texture with Avène’s signature thermal water to soothe and hydrate problematic skin plus minimal ingredients specifically selected for how gentle they are on the skin. This cleanser was designed with skin reactivity in mind so you don’t actually need to rinse this one off, although you definitely can if you’d prefer to. The reason being is that water in Paris can be so harsh on the skin and can sometimes cause adverse reactions if you have super sensitive skin, this cleanser negates the use of water to keep skin soothed.

$27.99 for 200ml from Chemist Warehouse.

Caudalíe Vinoclean Instant Foaming Cleanser - I’m not a typical fan of foaming cleansers like this because often I find them to be very drying. I was pleasantly surprised with this cleanser and now it’s one of my top picks. The lotion that turns into the soft foam is soap free and packed with sage, chamomile and grape water to purify, soothe, hydrate and boost radiance. I prefer to use foaming cleansers like this one for the morning only.

$42 for 150ml from Sephora.

My Favourite Exfoliating Cleansers -

Caudalíe Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser - A top pick for acne prone skin. This purifying gel cleanser is non comodogenic and helps with blackheads, enlarged pores, acne and overly oily skin. It contains a natural salicylic acid which helps to unclog pores and really draw out any impurities in the skin whilst also balancing oil production and refines the skin’s overall appearance. Caudalíe’s iconic grape water is also an essential part in the cleanser to keep skin hydrated and soothed making this cleanser not overly drying or stripping on the skin. The subtle eucalyptus scent of this made the whole in shower experience very spa like too.

$41 for 150ml at Sephora.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip - The science of this cleanser is the best thing about it. French green clay pulls out impurities from the pores and white rice oil protects the skin with antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids to nourish and moisturise the skin. TLDR: Bad stuff goes out, good stuff goes in. This cleanser feels a bit like a lotion on the skin, it’s a thin consistency which means a little goes a long way and you can leave it on as a in shower flash mask. It’s also plant based!

$58 for 150ml from Mecca.

Aesop In Two Minds Facial Cleanser - Another non drying gel cleanser I could recommend. Aesop’s formulas are always very well thought out, I appreciate the delicacy and softness of this cleanser. The cleanser is perfectly suited to combination skin as it contains a mild astringent in the form of witch hazel, plus sage leaf which can boost collagen and also salicylic acid to clear out any dirt from pores. Although if you’re especially sensitive to fragrance or essential oils, skip this one.

$59 for 200ml at Aesop.

Glossier Cleanser Concentrate - I like to this of this cleanser as the BFF to Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser, completely opposite on the spectrum of a cleanser but work so well as a team. You can use this standalone too. Glossier’s Cleanser Concentrate contains a balance of acids and niacinamide to tackle clogged pores, uneven skin tone and texture whilst also including soothing ingredients like camomile and calendula to keep skin happy. Glossier also added a plant based alternative to a surfactant, amino acid surfactants. As well as being great for the environment they’re also a lot less sensitising on the skin. Amino Acid Surfactants help the active ingredients stick onto the skin whilst cleansing so you can get the most out of the cleanse. The cleanser itself foams up to a soft lather, perfect for getting that clean feeling without stripping the skin.

$45 for 100ml at Glossier

The best of the best (at the moment)! There’s still a lot out there I’d love to try so consider this part one of however many come along <3