I feel like this year I’ve discovered some really fantastic cleansers…and by “fantastic” I mean gentle but effective and thoroughly enjoyable. So as we’re moving into my skin’s most difficult time of year (AKA winter), I thought it would be a great time to discuss these gentle cleansers that don’t dry me out! Let’s get right on into it.
Note: all of these products were gifted to me at some time or another. I get gifted a lot of cleansers- these are in the list for the reasons above. For availability, I have listed where I received mine from plus the price. I have included the price in both GBP and USD. Bear in mind that UK prices are generally higher, in line with the market here, than US prices.
Before we get to the list, I want to address the biggest cleanser trend I’ve seen this year- the gel cleanser. Virtually every brand has come out with a gel cleanser, either to be used as a first step or a second step, depending on the brand. They’re sometimes a little ambiguous as to when they should be used. Personally I use all the gel cleansers in this list as a single cleanser in the morning, and as a second step at night. Overall I’m a big fan, so there are a lot here!
Hanyul Morning Gel Cleaser
There is NOTHING I don’t love about this cleanser. The pump packaging is the best, the package design is gorgeous, the gel is such a thin and gentle texture, it’s around pH 5.5-6 (according to my testing), there’s no fragrance and the results are cleansed skin without any irritation or stripping. Such a winner on all fronts.
Available: $20 for 200ml on Beauty Tap ($10 per 100ml) (£7.79 per 100ml)
Lagom Gel Cleanser
This is a beautiful option. You get a massive tube of this product. Tube is okay, although I do prefer the Hanyul pump. But the gel does a really lovely cleansing job whilst the scent is delightful and it feels really soothing on the skin. When I tested, it’s around pH 6. I’ve used it so much since I received it!
Available: £20 for 220ml on Skinsider UK (£9.10 per 100ml) ($11.68 per 100ml)
Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
I don’t actually have one of these open right now, but I think this was one of the first k-beauty gel cleansers, at least from what I’ve tried. It’s definitely the budget option in this list, because I appreciate not everyone has £20 to spend on a cleanser. But it’s not any less effective! It’s a very solid option and widely available for around £10/$10. I use this both in the morning and as a second-step at night.
Available: £10 for 150ml (£6.67 per 100ml) on Skinsider UK / $11 for 150ml ($7.34 per 100ml) on Beauty Tap
Oxygenceuticals Gentle Facial Milk Cleanser
This is a creamy, moisturizing cleanser. I featured it in my winter products for 2017, and I still feel the same as I did then- that it’s great for my skin. It’s such a huge tube it’s lasted me about a year, and I just use a small amount. I only really use this in the morning.
Available: $50 for 250ml on Oxygenceuticals website ($20 per 100ml) ($15.58 per 100ml)
Oxygenceuticals Purifying Foaming Wash
Now this is a true gem as well as the priciest of the bunch per 100ml…a real foaming cleanser that has a low pH (pH 5 when I recently tested). And yes, it does actually foam. I miss the experience of foaming cleansers but I just find them all so stripping and drying that I don’t use them at all. This is a star product in that I get that enjoyable and thoroughly cleansed feeling, without the drying. It’s pricey but I’m almost finished, and I’ll defo be repurchasing.
Available: $40 for 100ml on Oxygenceuticals website
Make P:REM Safe-Me Relief Moisture Cleansing Foam
I’ve been testing this for around 10 days now and I’m fully sold in. Similarly to the Oxygenceuticals foam, this too is low pH (I tested it at pH 5) and yet foams up a storm. There’s literally nothing else to say except that it’s fantastic!
Available: £15 for 150ml on Tonic15 (£10 per 100ml) ($12.83 per 100ml)
So after trying a BUNCH of cleansers over the last 6 months, these are my top picks for gentle cleansers and the ones that are kept by my sink. Have you tried any of them? Or any other favourites?! My skin definitely appreciates these choices even more in the cold months.
