Monday's are always an exhausting day for me. I do not have a job right now, but I am always busy at home since my grandmother lives with us and my mom has some health problems. I feel very drained and the lighting is absolute crap today, so snapping pictures for product reviews is out of the question. And that explains why I didn't get this post up until Wednesday morning. I want to talk more about skin care since I feel so strongly about it, and chatting a bit about my favorite cleansers is a good place to start.
My skin is weird sometimes. It used to be crazy sensitive and I would get eczema flareups on my forehead, chin, and eye lids. Thankfully, that has not happened in a few years and I pray it never happens again. But through all of that, my skin is mostly combination/oily. There are a few days here and there where it will go rouge and my cheeks and nose will get really dry. Other than that, my face has a tendency to get pretty gross and greasy. Naturally, breakouts and blackheads are always a concern. I'm also prone to random bouts of cystic acne that pop up for a little while and go away for months at a time. Through out my skin's ups and downs, these are the cleansers that have worked the best for me over the years. I may even do a follow up post about cleansers that just messed my face all up.
I'm going to start with my current cleanser and work my way back.
My Top Cleansers by kristen-noel-williford featuring The Body Shop
Arcona black skin carenordstrom.com
Kiehl s face cleansernordstrom.com
Clinique face washnordstrom.com
The Body Shop face cleanserthebodyshop-usa.com
Deep Clean Cream Cleanserneutrogena.com
1.) Kiehl's Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser is my current one. I have been using it for a couple of weeks and it works amazingly. It has a light lather, feels refreshing, and keeps blemishes at bay without drying my skin out. It isn't a gel, but more of a liquid. Good stuff and as of right now, I would definitely purchase it again.
2.) Soap and Glory Face Soap and Clarity is another cleanser that I have recently used. It made my skin look brighter and did a decent job at keeping my blemishes under control. It did dry my skin out a little, which was not a bad thing since my skin can be pretty greasy. It has small beads that provide gentle daily exfoliation and I love the light citrusy scent. Plus you get a ton for the price. It is $15 for 16.9 oz. My mom loves this so much that she pretty much stole it from me. Lol.
3.) The Body Shop's Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash is a breath of fresh air for acne prone skin. It feels oh so refreshing and it is a great option for more sensitive skin. It removes blemish causing impurities without irritating or drying out the skin. I loved this stuff enough to go through two and half a bottles. I have some left in case my skin starts going bonkers again.
4.) Arcona Toner Tea Cleansing Bar is the only bar I've actually enjoyed using and it has many skin loving ingredients including green tea, black tea, honey, aloe, and yucca. This bar has antioxidants and maintains the skin's pH. My skin always felt soft and soothed after using this product. It kept my pores cleaned out without being abrasive, and I loved the herbal scent. I still got the occasional pimple while using this because it is not an anti-blemish cleanser, but it still worked well.
5.) Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam will always hold a special place in my heart. A few years back, my face broke out with an atrocious case of cystic acne. I actually have a post talking all about this issue here if you are interested. Nothing helped much until I tried this cleanser. After awhile, my skin was in much better shape and my skin was nowhere near as oily. If you have the same problem, I cannot recommend the Acne Solutions line enough.
6.) Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser is an oldie but goodie. This one was my go to during high school. I think I started using it in 11th grade and I remember someone complimenting my skin. You can feel it getting all of the gunk out of your pores, which is what I love about it. My skin was more sensitive back in those days and this did not irritate it all. Plus I loved the refreshing scent and mild cooling sensation.
Honorable Mentions:
I also love Noxzema. It is a classic for a reason. My mom has used it off and on since she was a teenager, and I use it when my skin is being finicky and reacts to everything else. After a few uses, my skin goes into default mode, if you will. Simple's Micellar Cleansing Water is fantastic for lazy mornings when you are in a hurry. It quickly cleanses and hydrates your skin. I love having this around so much that I am about to be on my third bottle.
What are some of your all time favorite cleansers? I am always looking to add more to my list.
