When it comes to cleansing I am sort of a maniac. I love reading what worked and didn’t work for other people, so when a fellow blogger Kerry shared her thoughts on low pH cleansers and the science behind choosing them over alkaline cleansers, my skincare beliefs were pretty much shattered. I am not stuck up and like any reasonable person will gladly change my opinions if presented with convincing evidence. FYI I no longer shy away from parabens or from properly purified mineral oil, just because I am more educated about those ingredients, but that’s a topic for another discussion.
Today I wanted to talk about a cleanser I recently discovered – Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme [$32 for 7.2 oz, available here]. It’s advertised as an ultra-gentle makeup remover and a daily facial cleanser, that delicately removes dirt and surface oils with a special poly-hydroxy acid formula, leaving skin silky and smooth. Cleansing cremes are nothing new and I already have several in my collection, but I’m always happy to try something different, especially from a brand like Exuviance that’s been a long time staple in my beauty pantry.
ABOUT THE CLEANSER:
Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme will purify skin that needs special attention. This milky emulsion is formulated with gentle ingredients that will be comforting and soothing for dry, dehydrated, and sensitive complexions. By looking at the ingredient list, the only thing that could make it better formula-wise is removing the fragrance.
- Comfort rich, soap-free formula gently dissolves makeup and impurities
- Formulated with Gluconolactone (PHA) and botanicals to smooth skin texture
- Lightly hydrates and soothes
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Isododecane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/ Dicaprate, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, PEG-100 Stearate, Triundecanoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Octyldodecanol, Stearyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Chamomile Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Propylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Polyacrylamide, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Benzoate.
MY THOUGHTS:
First of all, Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme really is gentle. It’s probably one of the gentlest cleansers I own, and I can use it to purify my skin even after strong facial peels that normally leave my face red, parched, and ultra-sensitive for several days and up to a week. While I personally prefer a two-step cleansing process that involves a cleansing oil and a foaming cleanser or a micellar water, Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme can replace both steps in a pinch. It works well to remove even waterproof makeup, while leaving the skin feeling soft, hydrated, and never dry. Like I mentioned above, this would be an A+ superstar product if it didn’t contain fragrance, but I’m personally not bothered by it, although I probably should be, according to some beauty experts.
You can purchase Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme at Exuviance and Ulta.
Follow Exuviance on Twitter for more updates, promotions, and beauty tips.
Have you used milky cleansers before? Do you pH test your cleansers? Do you care about fragrance in skincare? Let me know in the comments below!
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This cleansing creme sounds like a very good product!
This brand makes some of the best skincare I’ve tried to date! This cleanser is great, but their peels are simply incredible. If you get a chance to try something, definitely choose the peels.
I love this gentle cleanser! For me, the fragrance is almost indiscernible. I believe it’s there primarily as a very subtle masking scent so you won’t smell the chemicals. My fresh Face Cleanser smells like dill pickle juice so this mild scent is a pleasure.
When it comes to fragrance it’s usually very individual, so I’m not surprised that it doesn’t seem to be bothering you at all. I mean, I’m bothered by the smell of peanut butter soooo…. haha 🙂
I love this brand!
Awesome! Always nice to talk with a fellow fan. I started using them about 5 years ago back when the company was still called NIA114, and then they merged with Exuviance. Unless I’m mixing things up?
I love using mine when my skin is misbehaving!
Great to hear that you are enjoying this cleanser as well, Kat!
Great brand but why did they use fragrance?
Not sure. Maybe the formulation doesn’t smell pleasant if left unscented?
Gentle and removes makeup? I need this!
Great combination, isn’t it? 🙂
Sounds divine! Must try then
It’s a great cleanser! In the past I’ve been impressed with most Exuviance and NeoStrata products that I tried.
I’ve been reading up about low pH cleansers as well and chucked out all the harsh foaming ones recently. Harsh cleansers are far more dangerous than any parabens. Have you tried CosRx Good Morning Low pH cleanser? I ordered it from Wishtrend but haven’t opened it yet.
Yay, good for you Renu! I also banished a lot of cleansers from my routine after researching the pH in cleansers and what alkaline cleansers can do for the skin. Glad I stopped sooner than later. I haven’t tried CosRX cleanser yet, but it’s on my list to try. I simply have too many cleansers open right now and really should try to use those up instead.
This sounds perfect for dry skin!
I heard it works wonders for other skin types, too!
I love that this can be two steps in a pinch. I need to try it!
For sure, it’s a great time saver, especially if your cleansing routine normally takes multiple steps. I try not to skip them if possible, but sometimes there’s just really no time for all of them.
this is totally irrelevant but the color on the bottle is gorgeous
I agree, it’s a gorgeous shade! I love Exuviance packaging because they often feature their signature color on it.
how strong is the fragrance? I think I’d like to try this.
Not terribly strong, but noticeable.