Clarins Water Purify One-Step Cleanser

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That product was Clarins Water Purify One-Step Cleanser. I listened to what she said about it, the fact that it was a very mild cleanser designed for combination to oily skin (you can buy Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser for normal or dry skin) and would not upset sensitive skin, just get rid of the grime build up on my skin and leave it feeling clean and fresh without the tightness brought on by more harsh cleansers like Clearasil. This is ...
...sheet inside the box that Clarins finished products are not tested on animals. This is good to know, except does that mean that the ingredients are tested on animals before they are put together as the cleanser?

In terms of value, I know Clarins are a well-known brand and their stuff is expensive, but even though I have had a positive experience from this cleanser I would not pay £15 for a new bottle, hence the loss of one star on ... more

I went to my local salon a few weeks ago with my sister, and we both indulged in a lovely facial. While I was being seen to by the therapist she asked what cleanser I used as I had a couple of spots on my chin. Telling her I used nothing but water in the shower she immediately lurched into her sales banter for the cleansing product she just so happened to stock in her shop!

That product was Clarins Water Purify One-Step Cleanser. I listened to what she said about it, the fact that it was a very mild cleanser designed for combination to oily skin (you can buy Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser for normal or dry skin) and would not upset sensitive skin, just get rid of the grime build up on my skin and leave it feeling clean and fresh without the tightness brought on by more harsh cleansers like Clearasil. This is where the catch came for me though - it cost nearly £15. £15 for a 200ml bottle was really excessive to me and I politely declined the offer from my therapist. However my sister followed me into the room for her facial and she was suckered - hook, line and sinker and brought the bottle of cleanser when she came out. Handing it over to me she said it was a present and I nearly fell off the chair! She's very sweet, my sister!

Anyway, when I got home I tried the cleanser for the first time, just to see what it felt like to wipe £15 worth of liquid round your face and this is what I found.

The very light green liquid is the consistency of water and pours easily onto the cotton pad. It is advisable to be careful here though as it does come out very quickly and you can use too much very easily. At £15 a pop, you don't want to waste a drop. All you need to do is wipe the cleanser round your face, being careful of the eye area, and make sure everywhere is covered. As it is a water-based product and there is no soap involved it does not foam up like some facial washes do, but simply glides over your skin like water would. I wiped it over my neck and under my chin too just to make the most of the coverage on the pad. Although it is marketed as a cleanser it will also remove light make-up and I can clarify this, as I never wear a lot of make-up, but it did remove the slight layer of foundation and my mascara, which was great as I did not need a second application of make-up remover. There is no need to rinse off as it kind of evaporates on the skin and sinks in where needed. There is no sticky residue or unpleasant feeling afterwards either.

The smell is vaguely minty (from the Mint Essential Water, which is part of the ingredients) although it is certainly not overpowering at all and will not leave a smell on your skin for longer than a couple of minutes after application. It also contains Moringa Extract, which is found on a tree in Africa. The seeds of this tree are used to purify water and so this helps to neutralise the effects of pollution on the skin surface and gets rid of any toxins.

I didn't feel any cleaner than normal after using it really. Not from one application anyway and this was a little disappointing. I wanted to feel really refreshed and clean considering the price but giving it the benefit of the doubt I continued to use it each night. You can use it in the morning too if you want to but once a day was enough for me. After about a week or so the spots I had felt coming on my chin had gone and my skin was looking very healthy actually. I was feeling good about this bottle of overpriced cleanser after all and continued to use it every night for the next week. No new spots had appeared and I am confident that if they had it would have got rid of them pretty quickly for me.

My skin is not tight as it used to be after a Clearasil application and the elasticity seems to have a renewed feel to it. My skin is very soft and clear and I am confident it is a result of this cleanser.

It says on the info sheet inside the box that Clarins finished products are not tested on animals. This is good to know, except does that mean that the ingredients are tested on animals before they are put together as the cleanser?

In terms of value, I know Clarins are a well-known brand and their stuff is expensive, but even though I have had a positive experience from this cleanser I would not pay £15 for a new bottle, hence the loss of one star on my rating. The packaging is so luxurious I am convinced at least a quarter of this price is wasted on this. A simple thin cardboard box would have been suitable to house the bottle in, but instead we have a cardboard case which slips over the thick cardboard wrap around. Then two separate instruction sheets, both quite thick in pages and then inside the bottle at last!

I have been using this for about 4 weeks now and I have used about a fifth of the bottle. My skin remains clear and soft and I am very happy with the overall result from using this. When I press on my cheek it does seem to be slightly more bouncy and when I run my fingertips over the skin it feels smooth and not tight or dry as some cleansers can make me feel.

Using at the rate I have been it will run out after approximately 3 months, which is not too bad when put like that, but even so I think I would be loathed to cough that amount up just for a cleanser.

Thank you to my sister for buying it for me - when are you down next? Ha Ha 

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