Move Over Cotton Wool

Over my first 23 years of life I cannot even imagine the amount of cotton wool I have used, from nail polish removing to cleansing and toning. I have always been a fan of cloth cleansing but more than ever now, the accessibility of non-liquid cleansers has made it easy for me to reach for the flannel!

my skin is cluttered with imperfections and blemishes, having been an acne sufferer from the age of 16, so I am constantly trying products to decongest my pores and leave my skin soft & clean.





I have been trying 3 different formulas, each with the same "melt" texture that ensures a deep cleanse and thorough removal of any make-up residue.

1. Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel, £20
Suitable for: All skin types
Application: The gel texture smooths easily onto the skin and sinks in to my pores. A damp cloth or even warm water will activate the gel and turn it into a milky consistency.
Active ingredient: Marula oil - softens and nourishes skin (an ingredient found in most Body Shop make-up). This product in particular left my skin feeling deeply cleansed and is what I have been reaching for after a night out with a full face of make-up.

2. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, £14 (£15.50 with a muslin cloth)
Suitable for: All skin types
Application: The cloth cleanser is a cream so you find you apply it to your skin like a moisturiser, massaging over your complexion and breaking down the make-up sitting on the surface. My skin absorbs most of the softening cream and the cloth removes the rubbish.
Active ingredient: Eucalyptus Oil - you can smell it the moment you pump out the product. Divine! This cools the skin as you massage on the product as well as decongests your pores. The award-winner is jammed packed with active natural ingredients each with purpose and visible effects.

3. Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm, £38
Suitable for: All skin types but ideal for dry skin type
Application: This is a tub of goodness. The solid balm breaks down with the warmth of fingers meaning application is easy despite the hard appearance of the product in the tub. It smells beautiful and is particularly oily meaning that it treats my dry patches even on my lips. It is on the more expensive side and I would not use this every day because of the finish it leaves on my combination skin, but come winter I think this will be a treatment, not just a cleanser.
Active ingredient: Wild Rose Oil - an epic antioxidant that unblocks pores, repairs cells and nourishes skin

I tried each of these cleansers for a 2 weeks cycle coupled with my everyday moisturiser and toner. I used flannel after flannel bought from Primark and my Muslin Cloths are Body Shop must-haves.
I find these sorts of cleansers SOOOO satisfying so please do recommend your skin-side-kick!

Love
G x

flannel. what a fab word.