Gel to Oil Cleansers

Some call them Gel to oil cleansers, some call them Jelly cleansers and some call them  Melting Gels/Cleansers…..call them what you may, they’ve been around for a while. They’re now gradually creeping up at various price points and catering to all budgets. My current faves are Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel (£28.00/$38), The Body Shop Nutriganics Softening Cleansing Gel Oil ($7.25 discounted on sale) and Yes to Coconut Ultra Hydrating Melting Cleanser ($9.99).

Quick snapshot on the ingredient and formulation of these cleansers:

• Oskia – Vitamin A, B², C & E, Pumpkin fruit ferment extract, Borago Seed oil, Starflower oil, and Magnesium.
• The Body Shop – Jojoba oil, Babassu oil, Salicylic Acid, Pelargonium graveolens oil, Summer lilac extract, Thyme extract, Mallow flower extract, Fennel oil, Citrus peel oil, Vanilla fruit extract, May Chang fruit oil, and Rose Damascena flower oil.
• Yes to Coconut – Blended with Virgin Coconut oil and Moringa oil, Noni fruit, Banana fruit extract, Hibiscus flower extract, Guava fruit extract, Orchid flower extract and Kukui seed extract.

Now onto their operation mode, they’re excellent as second cleanse or morning cleanse. Although my preference for makeup removal lies with The Body Shop cleanser to dissolve every trace of that war paint. Upon contact with skin, they almost immediately melt in the skin to a lush oil. The oil emulsifies to a milky goodness when activated with water. The cleansers wash away impurities with it’s milkiness but removing with a hot cloth is much better way (imo).

Top-Oskia, Middle-The Body Shop, Bottom-Yes to Coconut

Each of them have a distinct scent note, with Oskia cleanser having the mildest scent. Followed by The Body Shop and Yes to Coconuts.

Seems like the cheaper cleansers packaging of choice are tubes, which work fabulously. I love that towards the end I can cut the tube and scoop out every last bit of the goodness. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of Oskia packaging. Its big, bulky and would never know when I’m close to the end, tad annoying.

In terms of travel, easiest to travel with is The Body Shop cleanser. Yes to Coco needs to be checked in baggage (118ml) and Oskia (as mentioned above) is big, bulky and inconvenient.

They leave the skin soft, supple and properly cleansed. These three musketeers are suited for all skin types, dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, blemished skin, dehydrated skin, sensitive skin, mature skin….and any other skin type I may have missed!

To conclude, which one is my all round fave?…..It’s The Body Shop Nutriganics cleanser, runners up Yes to Coconut and Oskia cleanser. Whilst Oskia is lighter and lovely in operation mode, it has its limitations on logistical practicality.

Have you tried any of these cleansers? What are your thoughts and experiences with cleansers in this category, leave in comments below.

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xx

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The Cleansing Backups

I think we’ve all been there, when we fall in a love with some product and it becomes an indispensable part of our regime. Our innate first world fear sets in, and we purchase multiples of the product like the apocalypse is going to hit tomorrow. So here are my back ups for a rainy day:

Bioderma Micellar Water – this has been raved and ranted on endlessly in blogsphere and modeling world. No other micellar water has come close to this, or is as gentle as this one.

Rodial Glamtox Cleansing Balm – Bloody love this balm. It’s a thick textured balm which I massage onto dry skin and it effectively removes moi makeup!

Rodial Dragons Blood Cleansing Water – Good but not as good as Bioderma Micellar Water. I use this one as an aromatherapy treat.

The Body Shop Nutriganics Cleansing Gel – my rave, rant and disappointment on it being discontinued can be found here.

xx

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The Body Shop: Nutriganics Softening Cleansing Gel Oil

I’m going to start out saying this is/was simply the most affordable, accessible, effective, gentle cleanser out there. Until The Body Shop USA decided to discontinue it (other countries continue to sell this). I have no idea why would they inflict such an atrocity on mankind, but here’s with a hope that they are bringing something even better!

Back to this wonderful goodness locked in an opaque travel friendly tube. It has a glorious slightly runny gel texture which upon massaging on dry skin turns into an oil giving just the right amount of slip. Effectively removes makeup and wonderful medium to give your face a massage as well. I gently wipe it off with a warm steamy face cloth/flannel/wash cloth (whatever you’ like to call it) leaving my skin nourished.

A simple darn cleanser that does its bloody job. ‘Was’ very affordable and on clearance now is cheap as chips ($6). If you still manage to find it near TBS get your hands on it, and just give it a try!

xx

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My Thoughts: The Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Serum

This serum purchase was enabled by Caroline Hirons in her recent budget buy video (Click Here).

Coincidentally there was 40% sale at The Body Shop and I leaped at the opportunity. The Body Shop claim:

• Community Trade organic babassu oil from Brazil smoothes and revitalizes skin.
• Community Trade organic aloe vera from Guatemala soothes the skin.
• Organic buddleja and thyme from Switzerland give antioxidant protection from free radical damage.
• Damask rose, geranium, thyme, fennel and orange essential oils have been blended together to create a gently fragranced scent.

Honestly, in terms of smoothing & revitalizing skin and protection from free radical damage, I don’t know. However in saying so, it does a reasonable job at soothing and hydrating my skin.

The last point is one of the main reasons why I like this serum, it smells ‘D’vine! It’s very light weight and absorbs quickly into skin. Personally I don’t finish it off with moisturizer however drier skins might want to finish it off with moisturizer.

The Nutriganics range have ‘Drops of Youth’ face oil which I’m curious to try. If you tried it, please share your experience.

The Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Serum – $24

xx

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