little white truths

I once reviewed this cleanser as part of a larger Sukin product review (see here), but it was back in the old days - less than three months after I started blogging - so I thought it was time to come back and review it again. Plus my last review was so short and I have a lot more to say this time!

Note that I didn't buy this product but received it as a GWP, although I did remember liking the cleanser enough that making a purchase to qualify for the GWP was something I wanted to do. That says something.

Long story short, I like this cleanser and recommend it if you're on a budget and need something gentle that works.

While I wouldn't call it the best budget cleanser I've tried, it's definitely up there and I wouldn't say no to another one.

Also worth noting now is that it's not 'foaming' in a bad way - it creates more of a lather and its pH is around the 6 mark - so it's not too astringent and I wouldn't automatically dismiss this as one of those skin-stripping foaming cleansers because, in my experience, it's not one of those. It's just a nice, fairly standard cleanser that does what it's meant to do without upsetting my dry skin.

Sukin claims/product details:

• A non-drying, gentle gel cleanser for normal to oily skin types 
• Makeup, daily dirt build-up and excess oils are removed to reveal a balanced and purified complexion 
• This sulphate free wash removes impurities, leaving your skin feeling soft, clear and clean 
• A combination of chamomile, aloe vera, green tea and witch hazel soothes the skin, while light hydration is promoted through oils of evening primrose and rosehip 
• Other ingredients include avocado, wheat germ and sesame 
• No sulphates, animal derivatives, harsh detergents, petro-chemicals, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, triethanolamine, mineral oils or parabens 
• Suitable for all skin types, especially combination skin 
• RRP $10.99 AUD for 125ml, but do shop around

The brand's products don't contain any nasties and they're all vegan, cruelty free, carbon neutral and grey water safe, plus they come in recyclable packaging.

Indeed, Sukin is the kind of brand that I want to support. So even though the Sukin products I've tried aren't necessarily the best in their class, I do like supporting brands like this so that's something to keep in mind if you feel the same.

More info on Sukin is available on its website here.

Verdict

This is a good, everyday cleanser that doesn't cost the earth and also comes from a brand that's environmentally friendly and doesn't test on animals etc, so I don't think you can go wrong with it.

It's a clear, gel product that either comes in a tube or a bottle with a pump, depending on what sized product you buy. It has that familiar Sukin scent that I can't place (it's not quite sweet and not quite herbal; it sits somewhere in between), and it's not a strong scent so it's not overpowering and it's also a natural fragrance. I like it.

When you apply the product to the skin and add water, it does lather up a bit but it doesn't foam and I can tell that it doesn't contain any nasties because it doesn't strip my skin or leave it feeling irritated or tight after use. And as mentioned above, it has a pH of around 6 so it's not alkaline and it shouldn't upset most skin types.

Having said this, I do agree that this product is better for normal, oily or combination skin (as stated in the claims) because it cleans well enough that my dry skin doesn't want me to use it both morning and night - I think that would be a little too much for me personally. I'm not saying that it's drying, but I do think that it clarifies well and it does contain ingredients (eg witch hazel) that are better for oily-skinned lasses, so that's something to be aware of.

I tend to use this in the morning as my second cleanse. Reason being, I'm currently using a cleansing balm that's a bit of a bugger to remove - so this is a great cleanser to use after that one because it ensures that all of the balm is gone and that my skin itself is also left feeling clean after use.

I have however tried this a few times on a face full of makeup and I was surprised to see just how effective it was. Yes I needed to go in with a separate remover for my eye makeup, but one wash of this left my face clean of makeup and a second cleanse left my skin feeling clean.

Overall I think this is a great product that generally meets its claims and I agree that it's best for normal to oily/combination skin, although I wouldn't run from it if your skin is dry because I've certainly had good luck with it.

And although SebaMed's Liquid Face & Body Wash (reviewed here) remains my favourite gentle gel cleanser on a budget, this one's definitely up there and I don't have anything bad to say about it.

A good, reasonably priced product.