Review: Dermalogica PreCleanse

I’ve spoken before (read it here) of double-cleansing with an oil-based cleanser, and I’m back again with another winner of a product, Dermalogica PreCleanse. Not just winning Charlie Sheen style, but an actual winner, one of its awards being the prestigious Prix de Marie Claire Award for Best Splurge Skin Care Product. Take that, Charlie.

RRP $65.50

Daily application of sunscreen (you know you should..), primers, coupled with modern long-lasting makeup techonolgy means that your regular cleanse-and-go routine may not actually be cleaning your skin at all, rather just removing some make up. Your blackheads love it, and then invite more friends to the Pore Party. Using an oil-based pre cleanser, like Dermalogica PreCleanse, can help to initially cleanse your makeup and skin oils away, leaving your prescribed cleanser to get to the business of cleansing your skin, not just the stuff sitting on top of it.

Formulated with a bevvy of wonder-ingredients (safflower oil, kukui nut oil, rice bran oil and vitamin E)  PreCleanse is an olive and apricot kernel based oil cleanser that is applied to dry skin to begin the cleansing process. Warm water is then added, which creates a light, milky emulsion. Simply wash off, and already your face is lookin’ good! I have been using PreCleanse daily, needing to use only the smallest amount, and I find it a fantastic way to begin the makeup removal process before cleansing (my current cleanser is Kosmea Clarifying Cleanser), which I do in the shower. I find that some make up removers leave an oily residue on my skin, and to be honest, I don’t often have the time to use cotton buds (a whole bins worth!) and remover lotion, then have a shower and wash my face.

Simple, fast and effective, I am definitely on board the double cleansing train with PreCleanse!

What do you think of double cleansing?
Anyone else a fan, and find their skin feels cleaner?

Review: Dermalogica Clean Start Brighten Up SPF15

With my post-teenage breakout prone skin, I do get worried that even though I am fastidious with my cleansers and serums and all manner of potions, I am ruining all my hard work by clogging up my skin again with the wrong moisturiser – especially if I want one that has more on its plate than to just moisturise.

Our multitasking ways have spread to our creams, and why not? Isn’t it better to use one product that can do four things rather than load up layer after layer? But it does worry me that all that tinting and sun-protecting and anti-aging is counterproductive to my number one goal – eradicating these hormone humps.

Therefore it pleased me greatly when I realised that the breakout fighting Clean Start range from Dermalogica – of which I use the Bedtime For Breakouts and also at times the facial cleanser – had their own multitasking genius. Please welcome Brighten Up SPF 15 to the club!

60mL

So, it has its main function of moisturising down pat, in a rapidly absorbing and almost instantly non-greasy kinda way – the best way. It has a natural, light-coverage tint to help blend and even out skin tone, including any red marks from pesky pimples. It contains an SPF of 15, perfect for out and about sun protection, but if you’re planning to spend the day in the sun, you will need to step up the SPF factor. It creates a gorgeous, luminous yet not at all glittery glow, something I am definitely all about. And last but not least, I am comforted in that fact that Brighten Up, being from an anti-breakout range, won’t clog my pores and contribute to my skin woes.

Let me just count those winning traits for you – four. It’s a magical four-in-one prod.

Dermalogica Clean Start Bedtime For Breakouts

Every time I apply this prod to my skin before bed, the gel seems to whisper to me, ‘you apply so lovingly, yet where is my write up in your fancy pants blog? Playing favourites now are we?’

To which I reply, ‘No way man! You are a fave, I just…’

Well here you go, Bedtime for Breakouts (RRP $40/60mL) – your long overdue review. (How can you say I don’t love you when I make up a rhyme like that?)

I love the stuff, I do. The ‘stuff’ being an overnight treatment gel for blemishes. Which is handy because usually in the day your skin is busy not only with your regular skin care routine, but then a whole pile of sunscreens and make up too. While you’re sleeping, your skin gets busy regenerating and the like, and that’s where night time products come in.

I apply the almost lemonade-smelling gel to areas of my face that are prone to breakouts, and the gel dries clear which is a great bonus for me, as there’s none of that white tinge a certain brand I used a few years ago used to leave (on me, and everything else).

I enjoy the fact that I can spread it all over an entire area, say forehead for example, instead of trying to only apply a great dollop of cream to one pimple for fear of burning a hole in the surrounding skin. Bedtime For Breakouts has never caused any dryness or flaking on my clear areas – win!

It’s effective enough to keep blemishes at bay, or reduce current sore lumps – but I wouldn’t rely on this gel alone. Clean Start also offers a more targeted, stronger spot treatment, aptly named Hit The Spot ($40) – another fave. I’m a sloppy applicator and use this on general breakout areas too, but haven’t found it too strong for my non-blemished skin, yet it went to town on my blemishes. Powerful without feeling like I’m sucking the life out of my skin, it’s my current #1 spot treatment and I am (sadly) carrying around the tester sachets that came with my (won from Clean Start’s Facebook page) Bedtime For Breakouts, scraping every last drop out.

Points for Dermalogica for bringing out a little sister range of products aimed at (typically younger) skin-types with breakout issues. They’re fun, fresh (love the colourful yet simple packaging and witty names!) and effective, without costing a fortune. There was definitely a hole in the market for this type of range, and ladies, me thinks they filled it!