Writing about beauty feels like a mental refuge for me during this tough time, so I hope this throw down can give you a few minutes of stress-free reading. While it is important to stay updated and alert, we should also think about the potential effects of reading news article after article. I’m quite guilty of this as I’ve had to make more of an effort to put down my phone before my anxiety turns into full-blown panic. So take a deep breath, clear your mind for a while, and let’s indulge in some beauty talk.

If you missed Liz’s primer on cleansing sticks, these are essentially “foaming facial washes that are in balm form, packaged in a twist-up stick.” I’ve enjoyed using a couple from Korean brands, and I was pleased to see that more commercial brands are beginning to make these as well! I used to have a hard enough time sourcing my favorite Neogen stick so when I saw that St. Ives and even local brand Celeteque now have their own versions, I just had to try them to see how they compared.

I love cleansing sticks because they’re extremely portable, and, in some cases, they can even do the work of two for the double cleansing method. It may just be one of those products you didn’t think you needed until you’ve tried it! Off the bat, I was happy to see twist-off protective caps on these newcomers, as they feel more secure when traveling compared to the pull-off cap styles.

Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick (P1,100 for 80g, theskincarecurator.com)

Along with the (discontinued) Su:m37 Cleansing Stick, you can say that the Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick is one of the OGs of solid cleansers. At P13.75/g, it’s the most expensive but also the most popular. Touted as a low pH cleanser with the ability to remove makeup as well, the Neogen Cleansing Stick is perfect for saving on both time and effort.

To test its makeup removing abilities, I applied the L’Oreal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation, the blk Multitasking Color Stick, the Make Up For Ever Extra Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil, and the Althea Watercolor Cream Tint to the back of my hand. I gently rubbed the Neogen stick over them, and was able to remove most of the makeup except for the Cream Tint, which left a stain.

You can say that this is my HG cleansing stick, considering that I am already on my fifth tube! I am always on the lookout for when this goes on sale as it’s pretty pricey, but a tube can last me until 5 months if I use another cleanser alongside it. I rarely use this to remove makeup though, as I still prefer a good cleansing oil. It can easily remove light makeup like a light base and sunscreen, but I don’t recommend it for heavy duty makeup. You’d have to use multiple passes, which can irritate the skin. Since I mostly wear light makeup though, I can just use this.

Ingredients: Glycerin, Water(Aqua), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Palmitic Acid/Stearic Acid, Lauryl Betaine, Betaine, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Helianthus Annuus(Sunflower) Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba(Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Ocimum Basillicum (Basil) Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Origanum Heracleoticum Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis(Orange) Peel Oil, Fragrance (Parfum)

Celeteque Acne Solutions Exfoliating Cleansing Stick (P295 for 30g, Watsons)

Cleansing and exfoliation rolled into one, Celeteque’s take on the cleansing stick features ingredients like tea tree oil, turmeric root extract, and mangosteen peel extract. This cleanser is actually recommended for oily skin, and it’s geared for fighting acne and soothing the skin. This is very different from my skin type, which is prone to dryness and flakes.

I tried to inquire via the Celeteque FB page if this is a low pH cleanser, but they just told me that the “pH level of our products are within the recommended range of the FDA.” I have become quite particular about low pH cleansers, since like Liz, it has been a life-changing and skin-changing experience. I don’t have access to pH strips at the moment though, so I’m just going to go by feel.

I tried to keep an open mind, but I was dreading that my face would feel too tight after washing. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that my face actually felt “normal” - it didn’t have the characteristic tightness that I got from other cleansers. The scrub-like particles for exfoliation reminds me of those Korean pore clearing sticks that I used on my nose for removing blackheads, and it feels the same on my skin, too. At P9.83/g, Celeteque Cleansing Stick is the cheapest option, per gram which gives it extra plus points. The downside is that some Watsons stores don’t have this yet, and those that do tend to sell them out very quickly.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Butylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Glycerin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Quaternium-90 Sepiolite, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cellulose, Coconut Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Quaternium-90 Montmorillonite, Sodium Chloride, Juglans regia (Walnut) Shell Powder, Sodium Isethionate, Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen) Peel Extract, Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea tree) Leaf Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Curcuma longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Potassium Sorbate

St. Ives Matcha Green Tea & Ginger Facial Cleansing Stick (P520 for 45g, beautymnl.com)

There are 3 variants of the cleansing sticks by St. Ives, and I chose this one because the website write up promises it can “revitalize dull complexions with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.” I’ve been noticing some redness around my nose and mouth area so I was hoping that this would help! The other variants were Apricot & Manuka Honey, and Cactus Water & Hibiscus. According to the St. Ives’ website, their facial products have a pH range of 4-7, but the St. Ives Philippines’ IG page hasn’t replied to my inquiry yet.

I noticed that this did not lather as much as the others, and felt similar to using a cleansing milk. I was watching out for a ginger scent, and while there’s a hint of it, it wasn’t overwhelming. It complemented the faint green tea smell nicely. More importantly, it didn’t dry out my face and I did notice the redness around my nose subside a bit. My positive experience with this has made me curious about trying the other variants, and at P11.56/g, it’s still more affordable than Neogen.

Ingredients: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Water (Aqua), Potassium Cocoate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Myristate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium A1:H5 Myristic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Laurate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Oleate, Coco-Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Fragrance (Parfum), Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder.

I’m quite pleased that these cleansing sticks performed as promised, and are pretty handy. One tip I learned for using cleansing sticks: store it cap-side down after every use so that any water residue will drip down to the cap rather than the stick. This reduces the chance of the product melting in the water, so you’ll get more uses out of it.

If you’re looking for a good introduction to cleansing sticks with variants to choose from, the St. Ives Cleansing Sticks will be a good place to start. The Neogen Cleansing Stick provides a good balance between cleansing and exfoliating, but if you’re looking for a more scrubby experience, this one isn’t for you. I’m still loyal to Neogen because I love the subtle scent that makes me feel like I’m having a spa experience every time I use it.

All things considered though, the winner of this battle is the Celeteque Exfoliating Cleansing Stick. My dry skin can take its exfoliation even with daily use, and there’s the bonus of helping out with blackheads. At P295 per stick, it is also the most affordable out of the three, and the price is ultimately what pushed it to be the winner. Now here’s hoping we can find stocks more easily!

Have you tried using cleansing sticks? What are your favorites?