little white truths

This product was in the samples post I did recently (see here) and it's on the list of smaller items that I'll be trying and hopefully finishing before Christmas. Reason being, I'm starting to feel overwhelmed by my pile of travel-sized items - so best I start getting through some of them.

I've now been using it for a couple of weeks and I'm getting towards the end of the tube now so best I review it before it's gone for good. Also, some cleansers don't need much testing because it's a matter of whether they cleanse or whether they don't, and this isn't one of those products that I need to test for months before review.

In short, it's ok but I don't love it and I wouldn't buy it. More on that below.

Intraceuticals claims/product details:

• Refresh your skin every day with this gentle cleanser
• A non-irritating gel cleanser that combines gentle vegetable-based cleansing agents with skin-soothing botanicals
• Helps support the skin's healthy barrier function
• Recommended for when the temperature or the seasons change to help maintain balanced hydration
• Also perfect as a pre-cleanse to remove makeup
• Great for skin that's prone to irritation and redness, or skin that feels tight after cleansing
• Suitable for sensitive, dry or dehydrated skin
• RRP $39 AUD for 120ml, but do shop around

Verdict

This cleanser is ok but I don't love it and I wouldn't buy it. Reason being, I'm not enjoying using it (it's all a bit meh to me), plus I've used other gentle cleansers that I prefer so there's no reason for me to buy this one.

It's a gel product and it lathers the tiniest amount when I add water and massage it across my face, but it's such a faint lather that it's almost not worth mentioning. The good news is that you don't need much each time, so I wouldn't over-apply it because I don't think there's any need to use more than just enough to cover a ten-cent piece.

I've been using this product twice a day for the last fortnight and I'm getting to the point now where I just want to finish it and move on to something else. Yes it's fine and it works ok, but it's so boring to use and it doesn't do anything amazing for my skin so I would rather focus on other things.

To start with I was mostly using it as my second cleanse in the morning and also as my evening shower cleanse, so I was using it as a skin cleanser and not as a makeup remover. I found that it did a very light cleanse but it's not one of those products that cuts through grease well. Yes it's gentle so it doesn't strip the skin, but it's not a pleasure to use like other gentle cleansers I've tried.

I've also been using it as a makeup remover over the last week, and I was surprised to discover that it does remove makeup ok so that's a plus. Sure, it doesn't work on heavy eye makeup or waterproof mascara, but it does remove the normal stuff from my face better than expected so it does work well enough.

In other news it has a pH of around six so it's not too astringent and I agree that it should suit sensitive, dry or dehydrated skin. It's the kind of super gentle product that would also be good if your skin suffers from redness or is prone to irritation, so it's worth testing if that's you.

As for claims: yes it's gentle but no it's not refreshing; yes it's non-irritating but I don't find it soothing; no I don't think it helps maintain balanced hydration but it doesn't strip the skin either; yes I think it would suit skin that can feel tight after cleansing; and yes I do think it removes most makeup well but I'd much prefer to use my makeup remover to deal with makeup because it's more effective while still being gentle.

Overall this product is fine but I don't love it so it's not one I would buy. Still, if you're in the market for a super gentle cleanser then this is one to consider, although I personally think you're better off spending less money on a gentle cleanser you can find in the pharmacy (I like SebaMed's offering, reviewed here, which is cheaper and contains a lot more product), and saving your pennies for something else.

Not for me.