I realized that I never really talk about face cleansers on the blog or Instagram. But this is an area I actually always get questions about for recommendations. So I thought I’d put together some mini reviews of new face cleansers that I recently tried. My daily routine is usually to use micellar water for light makeup or cleansing oil for heavy makeup. I tend to use a face cleanser in the shower when I already don’t have any makeup on.
I love luxury makeup and skincare but I feel cleansers are an area where you can save. The product only stays on your face for a minute before you rinse off. I think it’s hard to get any additional skincare benefits other than cleansing. Thoughts?
For me, a good cleanser would do the following:
- Smell great
- Have a nice texture
- Does not sting the eyes
- Skin does not feel tight or dry (as much as possible as mine always feels tight)
So with that preface, let’s get started.
Boscia Cryosea Firming Icy-Cold Cleanser
The Boscia Cryosea Firming Icy-Cold Cleanser aims to plump, retexturize and smooth out fine lines. I’ve tried cooling cleansers before but this is definitely the coldest!! If anything, it was too cold for me. The Cryosea blend is red algae, menthol, sea kelp extract, sodium hyaluronate, and sea water. Additionally, the cleanser includes AHAs to resurface the skin. If you want to be woken up from the inside out, this is for you. I don’t think this is gentle enough for a daily use but can be refreshing in the summer if an intense cooling sensation is what you’re looking for.
Pros: Refreshing smell, pump format, nice gel texture
Cons: So cold and I’d imagine this would really sting the eyes
Rating: 2/5
Available for $48 at Shoppers Drug Mart
Innisfree Dewy Glow Jam Cleanser
Innisfree is a Korean skincare brand that is super popular in Asia. I’m excited to see them more accessible in Canada now at Sephora. The Innisfree Dewy Glow Jam Cleanser is a new face cleanser release this year featuring their popular Jeju Cherry Blossom extract. The gel cleanser has a cushiony consistency that makes me understand why they named it “jam” cleanser. There’s a light floral scent which I’m surprisingly not that into. One interesting thing about this cleanser is that it uses Soapbark Extract, a plant extract that produces bubbles to naturally sud up (it lathers well but if you let it rest the foam fades away real quick, quite interesting). This is a good basic cleanser that is gentle enough to use every day.
Pros: Gentle, good price point, nice cushiony texture
Cons: I don’t like the scent
Rating: 4/5
Murad Resurgence Renewing Cleansing Cream
The Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream aims to brighten and renew with apricot and starflower oils to help replenish hydration to the skin. It is touted as their most luxurious and and richest cleanser. This new face cleanser will create a creamy lather but I find that the product feels like it just sits on my skin maybe because it’s so slippery. I’m also not a fan of the clean soap smell. The good news is that out of all of these, my face felt the least tight with this cleanser. I’m not sure if I felt the luxury and $54 is a hefty price. If you go through cleansers a lot, this may still be a good option because there is a lot of product in this.
Pros: Doesn’t dry out the skin, creamy texture
Cons: High price tag, texture feels it sits on the skin
Rating: 3/5
Available for $54 at Murad online
Thayers pH Balance Daily Cleanser
I know there are some loyal Thayers followers out there for their witch hazel toner. If you’re one of them, you’ll be stoked to know about the Thayers pH Balancing Daily Cleanser. This new face cleanser aims to improve the quality of the skin, balance skin’s pH levels and remove makeup and impurities. I feel it’s pretty bold to claim visibly smoother skin texture from a cleanser although clean skin is inherently smoother than dirty skin so maybe they’ve got a point there. I’m quite impressed by the ingredient list with Aloe Vera being the second ingredient. However, I quite dislike the scent. It’s hard to pinpoint but it smells a bit like glue and very much like the Drunk Elephant cleanser. The texture is also quite different with a water texture that spills out of your hands. I do think this is quite gentle and nice for an every day face cleanser if you can get past the smell.
Pros: Good ingredient list, pump format, doesn’t sting out the eyes, affordable price
Cons: Smells terrible, very watery which could be messy
Rating: 3/5
Available for $14.99 at Amazon
Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash
I’ve always seen Origins products at Sephora but this is the first time I’m trying their products. This cleanser uses some innovative ingredients to help balance both oily and dry skin. The Origins Checks and Balances Face Wash includes Broad Leaf Kelp Extract to combat excess oil production and Wheat Protein to protect dry areas. This best selling cleanser is creamy to the touch and provides a nice cushiony feel when lathering. It does not produce much of a foam although did you know that foam is not necessarily a good thing as it tends to dry out the skin? The light mint scent is really nice and quite refreshing. I still think my skin feels dry when I’m done washing, but it’s definitely not as bad and this seems like a decent every day cleanser.
Pros: Minty scent, interesting ingredients, nice texture
Cons: Slightly stings the eyes
Rating: 4.5/5
Available for $33 on Origins online
Overall, the new face cleansers I tried were only okay. The standout ones would be the Innisfree Dewy Glow Jam Cleanser for an affordable everyday cleanser. I also quite enjoyed the Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash for a great smell and interesting ingredients. Hope you liked the mini review format and got to learn about a few new products!