Gel Cleansers

 N Spa Melting Cleansing Gel (£4.80 / 100ml) - No 7 Melting Gel Cleanser (£6 / 100ml) - Clarins Pure Melt Cleasing Gel (£15.60 /100ml)

 I love a good cleanser, over the last couple of years I have tried many cleansers. My favourite has to be Emma Hardie's Cleansing Balm but at £34 for 100ml it was something I could not justify repurchasing. Since then I have moved onto cheaper gel cleansers that beautifully remove makeup and impurities from my skin.

My first foray into gel cleansers was Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel, I have used up two or three of these beauties. It removes all my make-up instantly and is easily washed off with hot water and a flannel leaving nothing but clear skin. It is still an expensive habit, with my new beauty budget I just can't justify my £19.50 habit.

Next up is No 7's offering, is their Melting Gel Cleanser. Contains rosehip oil to help lock in moisture and turns from a gel to a milk when washed away. I found it doesn't remove make-up as well as Clarins offering and feels to leave a film on my skin even after a hot flannel. It costs £9 for for 150ml so is a bargain, especially with the five pound off vouchers that Boots are forever giving out. It has lots of rave reviews on the Boots website. I find it best to use after a make up remover / micellar water and not as a first cleanse.

Lastly, and my true bargain favourite. N-Spa products are exclusively available at Asda. The Melting Cleansing Gel contains avocado, apricot and neroli oils. It has a faint fragrance but nothing too offensive. My skin has not reacted to this, it removes make up beautifully and is £6 for 125ml. 


As much as I love the Clarins offering, I think I am going to be switching to the N Spa Cleasing Gel for the future! 

Pass me a flannel!

Face wipes. Hands up who has a packet by the bed for those nights you just can't face properly cleansing. Or are you firmly in the use face wipes to remove everything camp. I used to be. I loved Simple wipes for removing my makeup, get in drunk, wipe my face. Sleep. That was my entire routine.

Then I discovered the cult Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. A lovely creamy cleanser and a cloth, it removed all my make up and made my face feel amazing. Beauty "experts" are in two camps about Liz Early C&P, but it worked for me. I even ordered some cheap muslin cloths from ebay to continue my cleansing quest.

As I started reading more and more on skin care, namely Caroline Hiron's blog, discovering there was so much more to cleansing. Rebecca introduced me to double cleansing! So within a year I had gone from just removing my makeup to double cleansing with a flannel. I started to barely ever get a spot, I'm sure leaving my skin with makeup on was having a detrimental effect on my skin. 

My favourite cleanser at the minute is Clarins Gel Cleanser, however I left it at a friends so am loving No 7s Gel Cleanser. Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm was an extravagant purchase but it smells amazing, I don't use it every night but have it as a little treat for my skin.

But, use whatever cleanser you feel like. Just buy some flannels. They are dirt cheap in Primark, go in the wash and are perfect for removing EVERYTHING from your skin. I cover my skin in cleanser, brush my teeth and then wash it all off with a hot flannel. More effective than face wipes, trust me.

No 7 Beautiful Skin

I ended up in Boots the other day trying to kill some time, was 30 minutes early for work so seemed like a good idea. They had little starter packs for £5 of their new Beautiful Skin range from No7. I picked up the Normal / Oily one which included the Cleansing Water, Day Cream & Night Cream.

I've been using the range for a week now so thought I would give my take on the range, my skin is blemish prone, with an oily t-zone and dry cheeks and nose for reference.

Cleansing Water - I never use makeup remover.. I know I know, a beauty sin. I use skin care wipes and then a foam soap / cleanser. I was horrified to see how much makeup the Cleansing Water actually removed! Would I pay £9 it though? I'm a stingy bugger. But the kit came with a £5 off voucher so if this can be combined with the current 3 for 2 on No7 I will probably pick it up.

Day Cream - I am constantly on the search for a cream that both helps with my dry cheeks but controls my oily forehead. This does both, but could be a little more moisturising on my cheeks but still leaves a lovely base for makeup. My skin is however getting drier by the day due to working in a freezing cold supermarket so might pick up the Normal / Dry Skin Day Cream with the voucher.

Night Cream - Now, I never wear a night cream. Maybe I should start as I am turning 24 this summer so surely I am meant to start tackling wrinkles soon. It is lovely on my forehead and everywhere else I am not prone to spots. It does promise to be a "non pore blocking moisture cream" but it doesn't seem to be doing my acne any favours.

I did however test the No 7 BB Cream which might be amazing, it was pale and went on my skin so nicely.. but as I don't get on with BB Creams I may give that a miss.