Jurlique

I love testing cleansers. If I could test them all day every day I would. (well I guess I would have to give my face a break one in a while, ugh) Here are 5 that I have put through the paces over the past few weeks and months.

1. Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream – I think of this more as a mask/cleanser than a standard cleanser. As you can see from below, it is a thick grainy texture so it is definitely better for a second cleanse or even a treatment. I add a bit of water to it to make a thick paste and then pat it on my skin. I use upward massaging motions to work it onto the skin for a minute or two and then gently rinse it off. My skin is left smooth, plump and hydrated. Truly a unique product.

2. Zelens Z Pure Cleansing Liquid Balm – Boy is this stuff thick! Which initially had me wondering whether it would perform better as a makeup remover/first cleanse or massaging second cleanse. I did feel that it removed makeup nicely, but it’s a pricier cleanser so I would prefer to leave it as a second cleanse and really work it well into the skin. Because it is so thick, I like to remove it with a warm cloth and love the final result of how my skin feels and looks. Definitely another win from Zelens.

3. Sjal Deep Pore Cleanser – We all know how judgey I can be when it comes to skincare and makeup and I often make snap decisions about a product from just the name or appearance. I am forever proven wrong, but yet I keep doing it. Here was another example of a judgement gone wrong. I saw “deep pore cleanser” and immediately thought it would be foamy and stripping and designed for oily skin but leave my skin feeling worse. And this was after falling in love with the 2 Sjal masks….I’m a tough audience. Welp, my assessment couldn’t be further from reality. This is the most luxurious and decadent creamy balm that glides over the skin like silk. I use this as a second cleanse because I want every bit of the key ingredients to get right on my skin and not be wasted trying to cut through makeup. Add water and this melts beautifully leaving the skin feeling like it’s had a day at the spa. After a good 2 weeks of using regularly, my skin look noticeably brighter and my pores appeared cleaner and less noticeable. The cap is a bit troublesome to remove but frankly I could really care less because what’s inside is so remarkable. Two thumbs up! 

4. Soap & Glory Deep Cleansing Milk – First things first – this stuff smells unbelievable. It has a sweet and enticing aroma of fresh peaches and I wash just a few seconds longer each time to enjoy the smell. But yummy scent aside, the formula itself is soft, creamy and delivers just the right amount of moisture and hydration to balance my oily skin. I know this may seem like a bold statement from a product I was only recently introduced to, but it secured a spot in my top 3 favorite milk cleansers already. Yup, told you it was bold. But when you know, you know. Ya know?

5. Jurlique Nourishing Cleansing Oil – I typically don’t write my blog posts in order of least favorite to most favorite, but in this case I ended with my favorite cleanser of the bunch. I have tried a lot (seriously, a TON) of cleansing oils and this was a stunner from first cleanse. The texture is thick but not too thick, and literally erases any and every trace of makeup from my face. Stubborn eye makeup, thick foundation, 13 layers of bronzers….not a match for this stuff. And while it is easy to emulsify and rinse off, it doesn’t completely dissolve immediately. I have to work the water into the oil to really get a good milk which ensures I get a deep clean. My skin is left soft and smooth, and if I absolutely had to skip a second cleanse it wouldn’t even matter. This stuff is that effective and my skin loves it. I told my mother to go out and buy this immediately. LOL. We love to chat skincare and text about our routines and I told her that her face needed this cleanser. Stat! I’m bossy when it comes to skincare. Sorry not sorry. Her face will thank me.

It’s no surprise that I am a skincare addict, but I don’t tend to actively seek out natural brands to use in my routine. I struggle with wondering how effective they will be, and if I will see the same caliber of results that I do with my other non-natural brands. To be honest, I still rely on certain ingredients (retinol and glycolic acid being the two most important for me) to deliver the strongest results and that’s why I still keep them in my routine often in the form of serums and moisturizers. But recently, I’ve been introduced to more natural brands and have been enjoying adding certain products into my routine.  

I’ve always been a fan of Tata Harper (this cleanser is a holy grail), and find her products to be some of the best because they straddle the ‘effective yet natural’ divide quite nicely. Oskia is another brand that I’ve been fond of for awhile now ever since their cult classic Renaissance Cleansing Gel lured me in. Dr. Hauschka and Jurlique are both new to me, but I discovered a few products from each that I enjoy.

1. Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser – Since cleansing oils are my preferred cleanser for my first cleanse/removing makeup, I naturally gravitated towards this first. The oil is thick but glides on smoothly breaking up makeup easily and even removing stubborn mascara with little to no rubbing. Once I add water, it emulsifies into a comforting milk and my skin is left feeling hydrated, soft, smooth and balanced. No feelings of tightness or discomfort. If there is one thing Tata Harper knows how to do – it’s make cleansers!

2. Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream – I’ve been a loyal fan of Tata Harper cleansers and swear by this resurfacing mask, but I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the eye cream (again, this is me questioning effectiveness). Fast forward nearly a month later and I have been blown away with how much I enjoy using this. It targets multiple anti-aging concerns such as dark circles and fine lines, and it helps keep the skin around my eye area taut and smooth. It’s rich enough for the evening, but still works well during the day under makeup. Those looking for a more natural eye cream option for targeting anti-aging, this is a great one to try!

3. Jurlique Clarifying Deep Cleansing Gel – Now that it is summer, I love to add in more gel textures to my skincare routine. This Jurlique deep cleansing gel has small microspheres of jojoba esters that give a gentle but effective exfoliation to the skin. In addition, it contains willow bark that helps to kill any acne-causing bacteria so I’ve been using it when I feel a breakout coming on. It’s refreshing on the skin, but I have found that I like removing it better with a damp cloth to avoid making my skin feel stripped or tight. 

4. Dr. Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk – I don’t know why it has taken me so long to finally try this product, because it has been on my radar for yearrrrrrs. I worked at Sephora when I first moved to NYC 15 years ago, and so many of our clients would come in and rave about this product. I finally feel a sense of completion now that I can participate in the Dr. Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk lovefest. This stuff feels heavenly when on, and literally envelopes the skin in moisture making it feel soothed, calm and nourished. I can use either with water or a damp cloth as my second cleanse, and find that it works even when my skin is at it’s most sensitive.

5. Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream – While the Soothing Cleansing Milk was something I’ve been wanting to try for a long time, the Rose Day Cream did not interest me as much. That is until Jennifer Lopez mentioned it on ‘Watch What Happens Live’ one night and then my interest was piqued! LOL! I mean, c’mon….her skin is everything! I was hesitant because it is so rich, but found that using just the smallest amount worked well for me. I was surprised to see how it made my skin glow, but not in a greasy or oily way. It’s definitely more of a winter product for me to wear all over my face, but I used it recently on a few dry patches I’ve had from breakouts that are healing and it worked wonders on them! If you suffer from dry and sensitive skin, this would be perfect for you year round. Those with oily skin may find it works better in the colder months, and as a spot treatment in the warmer weather.

6. Oskia Renaissance Mask – After hearing angels sing when using the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, I was excited to give the mask a try. It is designed to increase cell turnover, boost radiance and reduce the appearance of fine lines – basically it’s a new face in a jar, ha! Just the description alone had me excited, and once I saw the results, it lived up to all my expectations. My skin felt smooth, soft and glowed like I just had the best facial of my life. I swear each product I try from Oskia is better than the last, and can’t believe it took me soooo long to discover this fabulous brand! I think I may begin defining the periods of my life as B.O. and A.O., Before Oskia and After Oskia. My skin only prefers to only live in the A.O. era going forward. 

*pr samples included