From the Althea Bare Essentials Contour Cleanser to the Althea Real Fresh Skin Detoxer,
Althea has never disappointed when it comes to facial cleanser.
The gentle but effective formula that cleanse but does not strip have totally won my heart over.
And ever since I have converted to these products for my first step of daily skincare routine,
I have honestly been in dire anticipation for Althea to launch a makeup remover.
If you haven't already known, I have also provided this suggestion to Althea when Althea requested for us to submit our wish lists for Althea's product development.
Of course, the launch of this product did not stem from my suggestion per se.
I am sure many fans of Althea had been rooting for the release of an affordable but effective yet skin friendly makeup remover which I personally feel that there's still a big gap to fill in the skincare industry.
I am sure many of us beauty addict would have heard of the immense benefit an oil cleanser promises, from thoroughly removing makeup removers to unclogging the pores.
Oil is a natural great solvent, especially with non-polar solvents.
In simpler terms, oil dissolves oil.
That's why oil cleanser is said to be the best for acne or oily skin girls for its incredible ability to dissolve any gunk that may be sitting inside our pores.
However, what is not widely educated is that using an oil make-up remover incorrectly can actually lead to irritation and EVEN MORE acne formation.
Many are also unaware that one needs to use an oil-based makeup remover that's targeted for the skin,
i.e, one should not use baby oil or oils from the kitchen to remove make up as these oils don't emulsify and they leave an oily film on the skin which eventually clog pores and cause breakouts.
That said, not all oil cleanser for the face are created equal.
The truth is, many inexpensive oil cleansers rely on mineral oil as their primary ingredient, but this controversial oil is known to clog pores, and it opposes the primary reasons of us turning to oil based cleansers, that is to unclog clogged pores.
I personally have been a victim of using the wrong oil-based makeup remove and ended up with an acne eruption all over my face.
I am sure many of you who suffer with acne-prone skin would agree with me that the quest for the perfect makeup remover is, more often than not, a challenging task fraught with treachery.
I have, under many circumstances, fell under the empty promises of products' noncomedogenic assurance and ended up with a full face of acne.
If you're like me, you'd be delighted to have stumbled upon this blog post as I may have potentially found my holy-grail status makeup remover,
and better yet, this product doesn't break a bank!
To me, the best oil cleansers for acne prone skin sufferers should be free of common irritants and acne triggers,
and it needs to be able to be washed away easily, without leaving any residue.
And that's what I found to be true for the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser.
Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser (150ml) RM33
The Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser works like an oil cleanser but does not have the texture or greasy touch like an oil;
this unique serum like texture extracts dirt from inside the pores while maintaining the skin's healthy pH balance.
Some of the key ingredients of the Serum Cleanser includes:
Mint leaf extract - Cools down the skin and soothes irritations
Jojoba seed oil - Rich in Vitamin A, E and essential fatty acids, this oil which is more akin to a liquid plant wax is well known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It soothes and moisturises the skin while being able to control the growth of acne.
Tea tree leaf extract - Purifies the skin with its antibacterial properties
What sets this product apart from the usual cleansers has got to be its unique light weight liquid like texture. This product is formulated with a dual moisture cell system where water and oil are combined in overlapping layers to gently but effectively get rid off any makeup and dirt residues.
This is due to the choice of oil they have chosen as Jojoba seed oil is well known for its liquid like texture despite being rich in essential fatty acids.
It is also because of its high essential fatty acids content, this cleanser has the ability to preserve the moisture barrier on the skin in spite of its amazing cleansing ability.
This cleanser washes away easily without leaving any oily residue and is safe for use around the eyes without causing any blurring of vision or stinging sensation to the eyes after or even during usage of product.
It's also able to maintain the skin's pH levels ensuring the optimum functioning of the skin and moisture layer thereby preventing transepidermal water loss.
In addition, the mint extract takes care of the pores like a serum does; it tightens enlarged pores while calming the skin from any irritations.
There are two ways to use this cleanser:
1. To remove makeup:
Use it like you would an oil cleanser.
Pour an adequate amount onto dry hands, make sure it's enough to be spread and massaged all over the face easily without pulling your skin.
Massage the product onto dry skin for at least 1 minute.
This product is safe for the eyes.
Wet your hands and massage your face for another 30 seconds (to emulsify the product)
Rinse skin with water
For an even deeper cleanse, follow by a second cleanser to completely remove any residue.
Now your skin should be feeling smooth and clean.
2. To cleanse the skin:
Step 1: Dampen the skin and apply an adequate amount of the product onto the palm of your hand.
Step 2: Gently massage the product all over your skin in circular motions for 5-10 seconds before rinsing it off with water.
I have been testing this product out for a month now and have been using it interchangeably, sometimes as a makeup remover and sometimes a facial cleanser.
I am happy to report that this product does not break me out at all!
It effectively dissolves impurities, dirt and makeup while taking care of the skin unlike the ordinary harsh, skin-irritating cleansers.
My skin would often appeared red after makeup removal steps but so far I haven't encountered this with this cleanser yet, probably owing to its high spreadability which allows me to work the cleanser all over my skin really easily without tugging my skin.
I could also feel a calming and cooling sensation when this product is applied onto my skin.
Although this product contains fragrance, I honestly don't really smell it at all when I am using it to cleanse my face, so I reckon it shouldn't be too much of a problem even for anyone who is sensitive to fragrance.
Though being absolutely gentle on my skin,
the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser is great at removing make up,
and this includes stubborn liquid lipsticks and waterproof eye make up!
When I am too lazy to use a separate eye make up remover, I would just go in with this product and make sure to massage and focus on the eye and lip area for a little longer.
When you rinse away the oil, you will see that the serum takes away all the waterproof make up on your eyes and lips, leaving you with a total clean canvas.
And what's most impressive is that my skin doesn't have the tight and dehydrated sensation after using this cleanser.
My skin remained bouncy.
Meanwhile, as a cleanser, it may take a while to get used to at first because this product does not lather up and you would honestly feel as if you're rubbing just water on your skin.
It honestly didn't feel like I was cleansing my skin effectively,
but when I rinsed the cleanser off my skin, I was utterly surprised at how refreshed and cleansed my skin felt but minus the tightness.
My subsequent toner step also revealed clean cotton pads, further providing evidence for its incredible cleansing properties.
I have also noticed that with consistent usage, my blackheads have somehow reduced greatly!
On days when I have no sunscreen or makeup on my face, I would definitely opt for this cleanser as it cleanses without compromising my skin's natural barrier.
For those who haven't got the courage to try out oil cleansers or anyone who has suffered horrible breakout from oil cleanser should give this product a go and marvel at its incredible skin-transforming properties!
This product is available at Althea's official website.
Also, click here to enjoy 20% off your first purchase!
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