I think it’s fair to say that I have tested a lot of skincare products over the last decade. I always enjoy testing new things, so I often find myself straying because new things are always coming out. It’s easy to forget about products I used to love. However, there are some products, I love so deeply, that I keep coming back them. So here is a list of skincare cleansers, toners and essences I’ve used up, that I very much love and always seem to repurchase….
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Cleansers
Testing cleansers is one of my favourite skincare products to test out, and they are also the easiest product to test out in a short space of time. However, note that not all cleansers are created equal! I have extremely sensitive eyes and easily reactive skin, so its fair to say I am very fussy when it comes to the cleansers I use and love. So when a special cleanser makes it into my holy grail favourites, i will repurchase over and over again.
My longest loved cleanser of all time is the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel. 8 years now I think. It’s one of those lightweight gels that turns into a milk once it comes into contact with water. The texture is delightful, it smells heavenly and it removes eye makeup without irritating my sensitive eyes. Something that’s hard to find in an oil cleansing gel for me. It also emulsifies like a dream and leaves the skin super clean and nourished with no residue left behind or my skin feeling stripped. Which is why i love this as both a morning and evening cleanser.
The Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is another makeup removing oil my skin just loves. The texture is extremely lightweight and thin, and just like the Oskia it doesn’t leave my eyes cloudy or irritated. I find this almost identical to the DHC Deep Cleansing oil which I also love and repurchase (I first discovered this almost a decade ago from an old blogger friend Andy Millward, who’s now an Aesthetician). Both emulsify beautifully and rinse easily without the need for a wash cloth. Originally I purchased the Klairs oil because it was a more affordable alternative to the DHC, however now they are around the same price.
Another delightful oil is the Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser. The formula is beautiful! It removes all traces of makeup and sunscreen but it also nourishes the skin. I love this during the winter months and have gone through 4 bottles over the years. I do cry at the luxury price tag, as its very expensive for a product you just wash down the drain. Because of this I only buy during a sale on Content Beauty and use as my 2nd cleanse, to really get the benefits and my money’s worth. If you are looking for a luxurious oil to treat yourself, I highly recommend. The Klairs and DHC do the same job for half the price.
Another luxurious cleanser I adore is the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm. The rich buttery texture is not for everyone, but I do enjoy using it in the colder British winter months. The scent is heavenly and unlike any other cleanser I’ve tried! I do find using this over my eyes can be a little irritating (probably due to the inclusion of essential oils), so I prefer to use as my 2nd cleanse in the evening, or when I really want to massage it unto my skin before going in with a mud mask. The uplifting scent and decadent texture really make this a joy to use. The Emma Hardie Moringa Light Cleansing Gel is also a dream to use and a regular in my cleanser rotation.
Another delightful cleansing balm for aromatherapy and facial massage is the Jane Scrivner Nourishing Cleanser. I have gotten through numerous pots of this over the years and will continue to use until the day i am buried in the ground lol. The texture is decadently rich and the scent is intoxicating, I feel instantly relaxed the moment I open the pot. It’s unique texture comes from it’s organic beeswax and jojoba oil base. It’s my most loved cleansing balm of all time. Every single one of Jane’s oils smell divine and feel so luxurious to use! I use this for both makeup removal and a 2nd cleanse. My skin always feels so nourished after using this. I will also note that Jane’s fluffy face cloth mits are the best! I own a lot of them.
The Sarah Chapman Skinesis Rapid Radiance Cleanse is one of the few clay-based cleansers I can actually use that doesn’t strip my skin! In my opinion, its the best clay cleanser out there (Its more superior than Sunday Riley’s Ceramic Slip and Pixi’s Glow Mud Cleanser, and is a cleanser I feel is definitely underrated. If your skin leans more oily and is easily congested, then you will love this. Think of it as a purifying cleanser, acid treatment and a mud mask combined into one product. Its my favourite cleanser to use in the mornings during the summer months. Every summer I repurchase, and every year my skin still loves it.
Another cleanser I also enjoy for gently clarifying the skin is the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser. I forgot to put in the photo. I find it works beautifully at really cleaning my skin but without drying it out, something I find very difficult to find with gel/water-based cleansers. I also love that is a low PH, and it feels refreshing to use in the mornings, or as a my 2nd cleanse in the evening. It’s also gentle enough that I can use it all year round. the PH is low, there’s good reason it’s a Cult Beauty product and it’s become my favourite morning cleanser. Lastly, we have the SkinFood Strawberry Sugar Food Mask. Which mostly gets used up by my daughters. We use this more like a refreshing morning cleanser/gentle exfoliator. The strawberry scent is refreshing, and skin is always left smooth and fresh without feeling stripped after use. Plus its super affordable.
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Toners, Mists and Essence’s
Toners are probably considered more of a boring skincare product as they are no frill products. However toners set the foundation for the rest of your skincare products to follow. I am always testing out hydrating toners and essences, and often use 1-3 layered into my routine. I always seem to purchase a new one to try, and half way through I get bored and give it away to friends or family, or I use it up and forget all about it and try a new one. So when I repurchase a toner, I know it’s good! I have become a huge fan of exfoliating toners and deeply hydrating essences. My longest used toner (for almost a decade) is the Grown Alchemist Balancing Toner. It’s just a simple PH balancing toner that preps the skin for oncoming products and lightly hydrates and soothes, lush ingredients include Rose Otto, Ginseng and Chamomile.
Another simple toner I loved for years was the January Labs Restorative Tonic Mist. It’s fragrance-free and made my skin feel refreshed and calm every time I used it. Sometimes its the most simplistic toners that just work. Sadly, this toner is no longer available from any stockist in the UK, so it will have to remain a favourite in my memories.
I enjoy refreshing throughout the day, and have become quite the ‘face mist snob’ in that the spray has to be a fine mist to disperse product evenly, the scent has to be subtle and not overpowering and the texture has to absorb fully into the skin without leaving any sticky residue behind! The Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist ticks every single box! However at £62 it is not cheap! I’ve gotten through so many bottles of these over the years, and every couple of years I treat myself one of the limited-edition travel-size bottles to throw in my purse. The Queen of Hungary mist has a delicate Rose and Neroli scent that’s both refreshing and relaxing. The actual quality of the mister is amazing, dispersing the finest mist. It works beautifully as a toner after cleanser to add back in moisture, but is equally beautiful as a midday pick me up.
Another long-term favourite, luxury face mist is the Amly Silver Rich Facial Mist in Radiance Boost. As nice as the Beauty Sleep and Digital Detox are, the Radiance boost is the one I would always come back to. The scent is refreshing, the texture is cooling and the glow it gives is just beautiful. Whenever my skin needs a little pick me up, I can always count on this. However, over the last so many years it has become the same price as a the Omorovicza, so I’ve purchased it less. If you have the budget, I highly recommend.
A more affordable face mist I have loved is the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rosewater. I prefer using this in between skincare steps like my serums and moisturiser to get some extra hydration. I also really enjoy it as a makeup spray, to help powders melt into the skin before following up with a fix it setting spray. There’s nothing fantastic about it, its just affordable and glycerin-based.
Now moving onto Acid toners. I have been using acid toners for the past 9 years, I started off using the Pixi glow tonic like everyone then discovered the Bravura Acid toners, which made me purchase the Pixi ones less as they have less irritating fragrance. The natural scent of both the Bravura Purifying Calendula Toner 13% and Bravura Revitalising Ginseng Toner with Glycolic Acid 5% are heavenly and make my sensory experience oh so much better. Both are gentle acid toners that leave my skin feeling refreshed but not stripped, despite being chemical exfoliants. The Ginseng contains a mild 5% glycolic acid, which is great for beginners, everyday usage and works well for all skin types. The Calendula is my favourite and has a higher AHA percentage of Glycolic at 10% and it also contains 3% lactic acid, which my skin prefers and is aimed at more normal to problematic skin. This I use 3-4 times a week. Both are simple, yet deliver results that work, they will always be a repurchase especially as they are so affordable.
The Cosrx One Step Original Clear Pad is one of those products I always use that rarely ends up in my Instagram photos. Because it just doesn’t look pretty and the packaging is bulky and plain. However, its a product that truly works for my skin and I always come back to it. The One step pads are pre-soaked pads that contain Betaine Salicylate, a natural BHA, that works to gentle chemically exfoliate the skin, wipe away any excess dirt and oil, and gently purify congested skin. They are so gentle that I can use them daily. If you have oily, congested or sensitive skin and just want a toner that’s simple and won’t irritate you, then I highly recommend these. I also purchase these for my teenagers, as they are super gentle yet effective. Yet affordable too.
Another indulgent toner I enjoy and repurchase is the Su:m37 Secret Essence Mist. It’s a fermented ferulic acid and shea butter based spray that’s refreshing and gives the skin a beautiful glow. Su:m37 is a luxury Korean brand that I purchase from YesStyle (use my code JLLXYESS84 to get a discount), Olive Young or from KBeauty Seller IamLove-Shop on eBay.
My first ever hydrating essence I ever fell for was the Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence, which is also my most repurchased essence along with the Cosrx one (coming up next). It is a lightweight, hydrating texture that absorbs beautifully into the skin. It’s one of those products that I always think it’s not doing much until I stop using it. It really is the perfect base for the rest of my skincare products. Another long-time love with is the Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. The texture is unique but really emollient and nourishing. I love that it helps to calm any inflammation or breakouts and is fragrance free. Its such a gentle yet effective product, that I buy it for my teenagers.
Are any of the products I’ve mentioned your favourite too?
bisous de ton amie beauté, Jamey xo
