Squeaky Clean! Cleansers: March 2014 Edition

In my search for all things ideal for my face, I've tried a lot of cleansers. Most seem to be usable, but aren't very exciting. Quick thoughts on just a few:

1. For the drugstore-brand price point, Biore's Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser does the trick. It doesn't leave my face feeling transformed, but it gets the dirt out for between $5 and $9.

2. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: Got a deluxe trial of this from Sephora, and read the solid reviews - but I wasn't blown away. The smell is a bit odd, and it doesn't foam very much. It left my skin feeling fairly clean and not tight, but it's SO gentle, I wondered if it was effective enough. Not my pick, at $40.

3. Lancome Creme Radiance: One of the few Lancome products I would buy again! This milky/creamy cleanser turns into a great foam, cleans well, and leaves my skin bright and clear. At $25, it's affordable and worked well with my Clarisonic. A little seems to go a long way, making the tube last longer.

4. SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser: while I WILL fork out the dollars for SK-II's balancing essence/toner, I am not sure the cleanser is worth $70 unless you're REALLY sensitive, irritable, dry, delicate. It's a very gentle, natural, but effective cleanser - just a tad price prohibitive unless you really need this specific type of product.

5. Philosophy's Purity Made Simple: so far, this may still be my favorite cleanser. It's gentle, very lightly/pleasantly scented, and very effective - it removes every trace of makeup (even eye makeup).  It comes in 5 sizes, ranging in price from $10 to $52, but is around $23 for a standard-sized bottle, so it's affordable.  Little goes a long way with this one, as well...I would definitely recommend it.

Overall, I have a lot of cleansers to try, but so far, the Philosophy and Lancome options have been my best experiences. Anyone else tried/liked/hated them?

Stay clean!

Biore Triple Action Astringent

Astringent seems so 1980's, doesn't it?  Regardless, this is an item I've kept in my bathroom for a couple of years now.  It's a cheap product (between $5 and $9) and has helped keep my pores small and my face clear of breakouts, simply by helping remove excess oil, dirt, and makeup.

 

I will say I'm not sure this product would be for everyone.  I am not very acne-prone, and if I break out, it's because I haven't cleansed or exfoliated correctly, or because I used a bad product.  After I cleanse my face each night, I do a quick sweep of this and the cotton pad always has extra dirt and makeup on it that didn't come off with just my cleanser.  The active ingredient is your basic 2% salicylic acid, and there is some alcohol in this.  I don't mind that, and I get a very clean, tight, tingly feeling after using it.  And what's more - I don't break out.

I'm not sure how this Biore formulation differs from the other astringents in this price point (Clean and Clear, Clearasil, etc.), but it works much better, in my experience.  A good add to your medicine cabinet if you just want a little extra clean feeling on your face.