Reader question: Should I invest on a cleanser or a moisturizer?

Jul 9

Should I invest more on a cleanser or moisturizer? :) - Amor

Hi Amor! Ideally you'd spend for both since these are the two most important beauty products for your face, but if you only have a limited budget yet still want the best - I say splurge on a moisturizer! Facial washes aren't really meant to stay on skin, so any active ingredients they may have won't get the chance to work properly. Those Vitamin E, green tea, chamomile oil and other similar chorva? They won't make a difference on your face if delivered via facial wash.

However, some facial washes have certain ingredients that absorb oil (commonly kaolin clay or any type of clay) and possibly dry up pimples (salicylic acid). These ingredients can have an immediate effect on skin! Good cleansers with these potent ingredients that work WITHOUT drying up skin can cost a pretty penny. It's a thin line. That's why I don't mind coughing up for my Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanser.

Expensive moisturizers do make a huge difference on skin, in my experience. They have all sorts of cool ingredients that can give you what your skin needs. As I said before, a bad moisturizer will make you break out. A good moisturizer will keep your face hydrated at the very least. A truly great moisturizer will make your skin glow and become the best version of itself. Hence, choose wisely and don't think about how much it's going to cost you. High-end moisturizers actually last longer than cheaper ones (you only have to use a tiny bit), so the cost peters out in the end.

My HG moisturizer is the Clinique Moisture Surge (either the gel or the Intense version, they're both awesome). Currently I am also loving the newly-released Kiehl's Skin Rescuer! Those are the two brands I trust most in skincare - Clinique and Kiehl's. They have the best products for me! Do note that what works for me may not necessarily work for you. I hope they do, though.

Be ready to pay P1,000 to P2,500 for high-end cleansers and moisturizers here in the Philippines. If you're not ready to pay that much, hey, there are also a lot of cheaper alternatives that work well - if you can find The Ones. It's a hit and miss journey. I've tried so many cheap skincare but they never work out in the end! I would rather splurge on skincare that's effective and feels comfortable. It has saved me a lot of money in terms of unplanned derma visits and facials.

Exception: Etude House skincare. You'll be surprised, they make unbelievably good skincare. I highly recommend the Etude House Wonder Pore Line (the cleanser is super good) and the Etude House Moistfull Collagen Enriched Cream.