PRODUCT: Cosmedicine Healthy Cleanse Foaming Cleanser & Toner in One
CLAIMS: “Quickly melts makeup including waterproof mascara, leaves skin clean, normalized—never tight…Zero sensitivity and zero adverse reaction…Clinical trials measured…94% reduction in oiliness, 85% reduction in sebum immediately after use.”
INGREDIENTS: Water/Eau, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cyclomethicone, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben.
TEST ON ANIMALS?: No [Source: Cosmedicine.com]
PRICE: $35 for 5 oz.; $10 for 1.7 oz.
Courtesy of Cosmedicine.com
I’ve always been intrigued with 2-in-1 products. So, no wonder Cosmedicine’s cleanser/toner combo caught my eye at Sephora. Instead of investing in the full-size bottle ($35), I snagged a travel-size bottle for $10, because I’m cheap like that.
When I took my purchase (that’s right, I restricted myself to only one item today!) to the cashier, she smiled and leaned toward me. This stuff is great, because it really does what it says, she said, confidingly. It really takes off ALL the makeup, even the waterproof eyeliner and RED lipstick. Since she was, uh, thoroughly made-up, including dark lipstick, I thought she must know what she was talking about.
The product is dual-phase, which means that it needs to be shaken well before use (I forgot to do this a couple of times and the product texture seemed oilier than when well-shaken). Application is unusual: You pump the cleansing into your damp hands, but apply it to a dry face. I think this step must be what helps it remove makeup so well. The cleanser lives up to the claim of removing regular eye makeup without stinging. (I did not have a chance to test it with waterproof mascara, which it also claims to remove.) It did not remove metallic liquid eyeline, though; I had to resort to a separate makeup remover.
The cleanser exits the pump as a light foam, but I did not notice much additional foaming on the face (probably because of the minimal amount of water involved before rinsing). The texture is light and slightly oily (which helps break down makeup) but rinses easily. My skin felt soft to the touch with no irritation from the cleanser.
Healthy Cleanse also claims that it “leaves skin clean, refreshed, normalized, never tight or dry.” My skin did feel soft, but also felt stretched if I smiled. Granted, my skin didn’t feel as tight as if I’d used a bar soap or a harsher cleanser, but I definitely felt dryness and tightness on my forehead and cheekbone area. Perhaps this is what they mean by “85% reduction in excess sebum immediately after use”?
PROS:
- Excellent makeup removal
- Little to no irritation
- Light texture
- Rinses easily
- Travel size available; pump less prone to leaking than regular bottle cleanser
CONS:
- Slightly drying
- Expensive (The travel-size is actually cheaper, at $5.88/oz. versus the larger size’s $7/oz.)
- Didn’t live up to all of its claims
VERDICT: I liked the ease of a makeup remover, cleanser and toner in one. Though it did not live up to all of its claims (I wish it was slightly less drying), I will continue to use the bottle that I purchased. I’m ambivalent about whether I would buy it again, especially at the price (similar pump-style drugstore cleanser such as Aveeno or Neutrogena are approximately $1/oz.).
If you want to try this product, and if you’re interested in other Cosmedicine products, consider Sephora’s Cosmedicine Starter Set, which includes the 1.7 oz Healthy Cleanse and four other Cosmedicine products for $24.
Beauty Crucible 