My first impressions on Sephora brand cleansers (facial washes, micellar water, masks)
While I often shop for makeup at Sephora, I admittedly tend to skip over their in-house brand as they’ve always looked plain next to the other brands that they carry. Recently though, I’ve noticed that the Sephora Collection has been upping their game with new skincare releases that feature trendy ingredients housed in chic, minimalist packaging. If you’ve been curious to try their new line of cleansers, here are my thoughts after testing these products for two weeks.
The Sephora Cleanser Collection promises three simple things:
It’s better for your skin with powerful natural ingredients and at least 90% ingredients from natural origin.
It’s better for the planet with recycled plastic and plastic made of up to 65% sugar cane residuals and eco–sourced cartons.
It’s better for your budget with the entire 4-step daily and deep cleanse regime costing not more than P3,500.
Triple Action Cleansing Water (P690 for 200ml)
The Triple Action Cleansing Water is a micellar makeup remover meant to act as a first step cleanser. It’s lightweight and doesn’t sting or cloud the eyes, and can remove most of my makeup. While I do prefer using a cleansing oil or balm #ForThePlanet, I still like keeping a bottle of micellar water around for spot makeup corrections. This cleansing water is okay for cleaning up smudges but is not as good as their Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover when it comes to banishing heavy-duty eyeliner and mascara.
I find it to be steeply priced for the amount you get, and I don’t expect any other benefits apart from its function. Micellar water is a pre-cleanser so there’s not much to ask from this product beyond removing my makeup effectively and not breaking me out.
Clean Skin Gel (P726 for 125ml)
Spoiler alert that this is the one I like best from the bunch! The Clean Skin Gel is a daily gel cleanser that’s low pH, sulfate-free, and alcohol-free. I use it both day and night, and it effectively removes whatever is left of my morning makeup look or nighttime skincare routine. It creates a slight foam that doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped or dried out. One small drawback is that I find that rinsing the gel out does take a bit more time than usual.
Mattifying Cleanser (P968 for 125ml)
While the Clean Skin Gel is suitable for all skin types, the Mattifying Cleanser is more targeted for combination and oily skin types in need of sebum control. The second ingredient in this formula is kaolin clay, a gentle absorbing clay that sucks up excess sebum. The mattifying effect is apparent after washing but it does feel slightly drying on my face so I make it a point to moisturize well right after. I also need to use a generous amount of product as the clay doesn’t lather too well so finishing this pretty pricey tube might take 1 to 2 months of regular use tops.
Bright Skin Exfoliating Scrub (P726 for 50ml)
I use a dollop of this scrub and rub it in circular motions for a minute before rinsing it out. While the grit from the coconut shells feel deep cleansing and thoroughly satisfying, I have a nagging suspicion that this might be breaking me out. In the three times that I’ve used it over the course of two weeks, I’ve woken up to angry, headed pimples in not-my-usual-breakout spots the very next day.
Purifying Mud Mask (P946 for 50ml)
I apply this on my face after cleansing and drying with a towel, and leave it on until the mask fully changes color. When it dries, it oddly feels like the mask is lifting off of my skin. It takes a bit of time to wash off, which is expected from a clay mask, but I am rewarded with clean, deeply mattified skin after the effort. This contains Zinc PCA which supposedly helps with normalizing sebum production while fighting acne causing bacteria, but this ingredient seems pretty far down the list to do much. It’s not my favorite mask but it works okay.
I’ve never been one to ride the natural-is-better wave but I do appreciate the eco-friendly packaging. These also aren’t as budget-friendly as I’d hoped, but if you do like to splurge a bit more on skincare then these are more options.
If you’ve tried other skincare from the Sephora Collection, I’d love to hear your recos!
Triple Action Cleansing Water ingredients:
Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propanediol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Polaxmer 184, Parfum (Frangrance), Tetrasodium Edta, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Zinc Gluconate, Butylenr Glycol, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, D-Limonene, Linalool, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, BHT
Clean Skin Gel ingredients:
Water, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium PCA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Sodium Hydroxide
Mattifying Cleanser ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Kaolin, Calcium Carbonate, Glycerin, Illite, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Myristyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Montmorillonite, Myristyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Parfum (Fragrance), Coconut Acid, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Tocopherol
Bright Skin Exfoliating Scrub ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Kaolin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Shell Powder, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Volcanic Sand, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Butylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus, Sodium Polyacrylate, Parfum (Fragrance), Cetearyl Glucoside, Passiflora Edulis Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
Purifying Mud Mask ingredients:
Kaolin, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Bentonite, Capryloyl Glycine, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Powder, C10-18 Triglycerides, Parfum (Fragrance), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Zinc PCA, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Copper PCA, Pentylene Glycol, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate
