You'd be forgiven for associating foaming cleansers with the teenage 'just started cleansing properly but can't be bothered with the whole cleanser toner and cotton wool option'; however, you'd also be wrong. Apart from anything else, what teenager could afford to buy La Prairie products? ... Read review
Advantages: Cleanses off makeup effectively, doesn't leave skin dry/taut, works out at a reasonable price Disadvantages: Doesn't combat spots very well
You'd be forgiven for associating foaming cleansers with the teenage 'just started cleansing properly but can't be bothered with the whole cleanser toner and cotton wool option'; however, you'd also be wrong. Apart from anything else, what teenager could afford to buy La Prairie products?
La Prairie for those who don't know (and I didn't either until this was bought for me as a birthday present from my mum) is a high-end cosmetics ... .../>
FOAM CLEANSER
Despite being in one of the most expensive ranges around, La Prairie stick to a simple self-explanatory 'foam cleanser' name. As with the majority of their range the product is sold in a smart silver cardboard box with minimal product information on three sides and the ingredients on the back. Inside is an instructional leaflet in several languages. I like the fact that they don't make outrageous statements about ... more
You'd be forgiven for associating foaming cleansers with the teenage 'just started cleansing properly but can't be bothered with the whole cleanser toner and cotton wool option'; however, you'd also be wrong. Apart from anything else, what teenager could afford to buy La Prairie products?
La Prairie for those who don't know (and I didn't either until this was bought for me as a birthday present from my mum) is a high-end cosmetics brand, founded in Switzerland in 1982.
FOAM CLEANSER
Despite being in one of the most expensive ranges around, La Prairie stick to a simple self-explanatory 'foam cleanser' name. As with the majority of their range the product is sold in a smart silver cardboard box with minimal product information on three sides and the ingredients on the back. Inside is an instructional leaflet in several languages. I like the fact that they don't make outrageous statements about the product within this leaflet, and I'll take a look at those claims later.
The tube itself is unlike any other foam cleanser I've used - smart glossy white sturdy plastic with nothing but the product name and brand name on the front. Not forgetting functionality it stands easily on its shiny silver lid. As suggested in the instructions I normally use this cleanser morning and night: morning, before applying tinted moisturiser, and night, to cleanse before bed (and remove makeup if that's not already been done). I do sometimes use cleansing wipes early evening but that's only when I feel I need to remove my makeup earlier.
USING THE WASH
If I am wearing full makeup I remove my eye makeup before using this because you are not supposed to use it in the eye area - and anyway, who would want their eye makeup massaged all over their skin? As with all foaming cleansers it's important that you wash your hands first otherwise you are just rubbing all that dirt on to your face. The lid unscrews easily, even with wet hands, and the cleanser squeezes out slowly which is great because you (literally) only need a pea sized ball. The cleanser is a pearlescent baby pink and very thick so you won't waste any by dropping it down the plughole. I generally replace the lid before I forget (which, although a screw top, is very easy to use) and then blob it around my face and get lathering!
The lather is VERY rich - I thought it might have just been a rip off cleanser by an expensive company but you really can tell it from the cheaper brands' thinner slightly watery feel. The pea sized amount will cover your face in a thick cream-like non-soapy silky foam. The smell is delicate and non offensive - it's just clean fresh and very lightly perfumed. Massaging it around with your fingertips for a while helps to stimulate your skin, making it look brighter after cleansing, and also gives it a chance to remove all the dirt (and possibly makeup) from your face.
Rinsing it off is not a problem as long as you remember to keep your eyes closed at all times. Splashing my face several times gets most of it off but then I make sure to rinse my eyes thoroughly before opening them. I have learnt this from experiencing the excruciating pain when I opened my eyes during cleansing. So while it feels really gentle and mild on your skin I guess it's just not friendly to eyes!
RESULTS
This cleanser claims to 'clarify and calm skin, remove makeup and surface impurities, and environmental pollutants. Suitable for all skin types, even dry and sensitive skin. Its gentle foaming action preserves skin's natural barrier leaving it instantly refreshed, perfectly smooth and hydrated.'
Immediately after drying my face it feels clean and soft to the touch. My face never feels squeaky clean (which incidentally is a sign of over cleansing…) or under cleansed as if there could still be some grime left. The cleanser has no problems at removing a full face of makeup ie. foundation, blusher, highlighter but do bear in mind that you may need to use a very tiny bit more. After using this I can choose whether or not I moisturise because it doesn't leave my face dry, taut or itchy. However I do have normal skin (combination if I use the wrong things) and my slightly dry skinned sister said that it can sometimes make her face dry if she doesn't use moisturiser afterwards.
I found that over a prolonged period of use (several months) that it balanced out my skin which had previously been combination, with oil on my forehead. However it did not particularly reduced the amount of spots I had; so occasionally I swap back to my Clean & Clear Deep Clean Cream as that's got Salicylic Acid in it, which combats spots. I would definitely agree that it calms skin because I used to quite often get a slightly blotchy redness/uneven skin tone on my forehead and sometimes my cheeks but I haven't had that in a long time.
PRICE & AVAILABLITY
£35 for 125ml which when used twice daily will last 8 months. No, it's not cheap to buy initially but let me do some sums….It works out at £4.38 a month which equates to about the same price as a pack of the more expensive cleansing wipes.
It could be £2.19 a month for 16 months if you use it once daily (as you could if you just wanted it for removing makeup).
La Prairie products are available direct from their website, from various upmarket department stores, or my favourite strawberrynet.com which offer discounted prices (£32.50) and free postage worldwide which makes it even cheaper than the prices above.
VERDICT
If I had all the money in the world I reckon I'd repurchase this. Luckily my mum bought another tube for Christmas so I'll have that for the next 8 months but after that I think I might try a slightly cheaper Shiseido foaming cleanser, which hopefully might be similar! Being 21 and often suffering that annoying monthly breakout I was not particularly impressed that it doesn't really combat spots, but I guess being La Prairie it's probably marketed at more mature people who don't really get any spots. I will remove a star for this, but seeing as it works out fairly cheap each month I shan't be removing a star for price.
But I will also say…with its balancing action I have eliminated the need for shine control products and with its non drying effect I don't always *need* an expensive daily moisturiser, I find that tinted moisturiser will double up as light makeup and moisture. So that's saved even more money (yeah, right…)
