skincare – cleansing/toning

Skincare Review: RMK Cleansing Oil S & Cleansing Balm M

by PJ on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

in -RMK, 2011 Spring, 2011 Summer, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

In April, RMK renewed some of its cleansing products. Cleansing Oil S and Cleansing Milk C replaced the previous versions, and Cleansing Balm M was introduced. Today I am reviewing the new Cleansing Oil S and Cleansing Balm M.

RMK’s Cleansing Oil N is one of my favorite makeup-removing products, and I have been using it ever since it replaced Cleansing Oil (which I also used continuously). Therefore, I was curious to see how different the new Cleansing Oil S was going to be. It turned out that there are some noticeable differences:

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Skincare Review: SUQQU Reset Cleansing Oil & Reset Cleansing Cream

by PJ on Thursday, May 12, 2011

in -SUQQU, 2010 Fall, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

As I mentioned, SUQQU went through a major revamp in Japan last year and many products were discontinued and replaced. Earlier I reviewed Blend Color Eyeshadow in 01 Kakitsubata and Creamy Glow Lipsticks in 07 Asasuou, 09 Hanarenga, and 18 Karakurenai, and today I am focusing on two of the new skincare items.

Reset Cleansing Oil and Reset Cleansing Cream were released in Japan last September (as were the new makeup items from SUQQU). Along with Eye Makeup Remover R, they are the new makeup removing products from the brand. (Extra Off Cleansing Gel, Extra Off Cleansing Milk, Extra Off Cleansing Cream, and Eye Makeup Remover are no longer available in Japan.)

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Skincare Review: Elemis Freshskin Daily Moisturiser, Exfoliating Face Wash, Purifying Face Mask & Quenching Face Mask

by PJ on Monday, May 9, 2011

in -Elemis, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning, skincare - moisturizing/others

Targeted at those in their teens and twenties, Elemis‘ Freshskin range is a major launch from the British skincare brand. It includes daily basics (cleansers and moisturizers) as well as treatment products (an exfoliator and facial masks). Today I am highlighting several products from the range.

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Skincare Review: Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel

by PJ on Wednesday, March 2, 2011

in -Elemis, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

Over the years, I have tried quite a few cleansing oils (and variations of them, such as Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm) from both Japanese and western brands. Overall, except Boots’ Botanics Essential Oil Wash Off Cleanser (which was discontinued), I have not come across a cleansing oil from a western brand that is as good as any of the better ones from Japanese brands.

Launched last month, Melting Cleansing Gel from Elemis is yet another variation of an emulsifying cleansing oil (although it is marketed as a morning/evening cleanser, not a makeup remover).

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Stash Focus: Muji Cleansing Oil

by PJ on Monday, February 21, 2011

in -Muji, all about Japanese cosmetics, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning, stash focus

As I have mentioned, RMK Cleansing Oil is the makeup removing product that I have been using. For many years I have been enjoying using it and I am very glad that it is available in the UK. But, a couple of months ago, while I was at Muji looking for some storage units, I decided to try their Cleansing Oil. (The Japanese name of the product, as you see on the front label, is Mild Oil Cleansing.)

Compared with RMK Cleansing Oil, there are some noticeable differences:

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Skincare Review: Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser

by PJ on Tuesday, January 18, 2011

in -Simple, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

Simple‘s Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash (now Kind to Skin Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash) has been my choice of face wash for about three years now. Today I am reviewing a new face wash from the brand.

Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser comes in a clear liquid form and uses a foaming pump dispenser. The foam is soft and frothy, not dense and creamy (even after working it on the palms).

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Skincare Review: Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

by PJ on Monday, January 3, 2011

in -Liz Earle, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

When it comes to cleansing and toning, Liz Earle‘s product recommendations are very straightforward. The brand only features one cleanser, Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, and one toner, Instant Boost Skin Tonic. Today I am highlighting the toner.

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Skincare Review: Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser

by PJ on Friday, February 5, 2010

in -Elemis, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

(image from www.elemis.com)

Launched this year, Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser is one of the latest products from Elemis.

The cleanser has a very creamy texture and is applied onto dry skin. It is then left for one minute and removed with the cotton mitt (which comes with the cleanser) and warm water. (The cotton mitt also gently exfoliates the skin while removing the cleanser.)

(The Elemis website mentions that warm water can be mixed with the product before application. I think this way of applying the product may suit those who think it is too densely creamy.)

The product contains quite a few ingredients that are in many typical moisturizers, such as caprylic/capric triglyceride, shea butter, cetearyl alcohol, and beeswax. It is mainly these emollients that help dissolve makeup.

The cleanser removes light makeup effectively. However, it is not able to remove waterproof mascara. (I tested it on Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Waterproof, and it was not able to remove it.)

After removing the cleanser with the cotton mitt and warm water, I find that there is an emollient film on the skin, which would not fare well with my oily skin. (I use a face wash to wash off the residue.)

Because of the occlusive emollients that this cleanser contains, I would suggest this cleanser to those with dry or very dry skin. Also, because of the exfoliating action of the cotton mitt, I would suggest this cleanser to those whose skin is not particularly sensitive and can cope with gentle daily exfoliation. (The cleanser itself is relatively gentle. It is the exfoliating action of the cotton mitt that may not appeal to those with sensitive skin.)

(During the launch period, Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser and the cotton mitt come with a 15ml Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (reviewed earlier here).)

(The product featured in this review is provided by Elemis.)

Posts (on other facial-cleansing products):

Can’t Live Without: RMK Cleansing Oil

My Current Staple: Simple Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash

L’Oréal De-maq Expert Velvet Creme Wash Expert Make-up Remover

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Skincare Review: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Gentle Line Smoothing Exfoliator

by PJ on Sunday, September 6, 2009

in -Elizabeth Arden, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

(image from Elizabeth Arden)

Elizabeth Arden‘s Ceramide line is certainly one of the brand’s most noted ranges. The Plump Perfect Gentle Line Smoothing Exfoliator is among the range’s latest products. It is claimed to give skin a gentle deep cleansing and to leave the skin smoother and plumper.

The product uses polyethylene as the exfoliating agent. When finely ground, this synthetic ingredient is often used in facial/body scrubs. The base of the scrub (which holds the exfoliating agent) is very emollient, as coconut oil and shea butter are second and third on the ingredient list. Not surprisingly, the scrub has a rich and creamy texture.

I feel that this is quite a heavy-duty facial scrub, as the base is densely filled with the polyethylene beads. The scrub doesn’t feel harsh on the skin, but the exfoliating beads are definitely working very hard. The scrub does leave the skin polished and conditioned, and it rinses well enough so that it doesn’t leave the skin filmy. However, personally, for my oily skin, I prefer facial scrubs with a less emollient base.

Overall, I would recommend this product to those with dry skin. It is able to create a smoother appearance for the skin while the occlusive emollients are able to condition the skin. For those with oily skin, gel-based scrubs should be more ideal.

Crème de la Mer The Refining Facial

Chanel Huile Confort & Lotion Confort

Nude Skincare Cleansing Facial Oil

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Chanel Huile Confort & Lotion Confort

by PJ on Tuesday, March 24, 2009

in -Chanel, skincare, skincare - cleansing/toning

Last month, a reader asked me whether I could talk about products from the slightly revamped Chanel skincare line. (It is mainly the cleansing and toning products that were revamped.) I happened to have got two 12ml trial samples at my local Chanel counter a few months ago, so I had a chance to try out the products. Today I will share my thoughts on them.

The new Chanel cleansing and toning lineup has three sub-ranges: Confort (for dehydrated and sensitive skin), Douceur (for normal-to-combination skin) and Pureté (for combination-to-oily skin). The two products I tried are both from the Confort range.

– Huile Confort Silky Cleansing Oil

This is a typical cleansing oil that is used on dry skin with dry hands to remove all the makeup at once. It makes sense to me that the cleansing oil is in the Confort range. Cleansing oils should suit all skin types but they can be particularly good for those with sensitive and reactive skin, since there is generally less massaging and tugging involved in the application as opposed to using a cleansing gel/milk.

The texture of the oil is relatively light, and it is quite easy to manoeuvre on the face. However, it doesn’t emulsify very well and leaves the face rather filmy and greasy. A face wash is a must in getting all the oily residue off the face. Overall it doesn’t work nearly as well as a few of the other products I have tried, including RMK’s Cleansing Oil, which is among my favorite cleansing oils.

– Lotion Confort Silky Soothing Toner

This alcohol-free toner has an emollient feel on the skin, but it does not feel filmy. It conditions the skin well and doesn’t irritate my skin. Some of the moisturizing ingredients are sodium PCA, alpha glucan oligosaccharide, hydrogenated castor oil and butylene glycol.

This toner should suit most skin types but I think some people with oilier skin types might find to be too emollient. Overall this product works a lot better for me than Huile Confort, but I still prefer Lancôme’s Tonique Douceur, which is less emollient and more calming. I am not considering picking up the full-size product at the moment, but it can be a reasonable backup for me if my preferred toners are discontinued.

Foundation Face-Off: Chanel vs. SUQQU

Chanel Irréelle Blush in Tea Rose

Chanel Ombre D’Eau Eyeshadow in Bay

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