A wise man (or woman) once said “Save on what you wash off your skin and splurge on what you leave on“. I have abided by that philosophy ever since and thus far I’ve found it working well for me… and my wallet!
The Garnier Aqua Defense Moisturizing Cleansing Foam is one item I am very happy to save on. Retailing at just RM10.90 for 100ml, I’m happy to report that it works well for me.
The foam comes in a tube and although it says “cleansing foam” I found that it does not lather up quite as much as I expected. The texture is creamy and it lathers up some but not into fat white soap suds.
The scent is similar to that of the Aqua Defense gel essence – light green apples.
I find that when I use it in the shower, my skin does not feel tight. In fact, it feels creamy and slightly moisturizing. This makes me venture the proposal that the Garnier Aqua Defense cleansing foam is more suitable for those with normal to dry skin. If you have oily skin you may not like this because it feels like a light layer on top of your skin after cleansing.
If you like something that leaves you with a squeaky clean feel to the skin, then the Garnier Aqua Defense cleansing foam isn’t for you. However, if you want to try an affordable cleansing foam that does NOT leave your skin feeling tight and squeaky clean, give the Garnier one a shot. You only have RM10.90 (or less during sales) to lose and everything to gain! 😀
Personally, I’m liking it and I will repurchase.
Pros: Affordable, cleans well, no tight feel to the skin
Cons: None I can find
Do you subscribe to the theory of “Save on what you wash off?”
Do you? I do, as you can see. I believe that cleansers are all quite similar and easily substituted unless they are for specific purposes like my Body Shop tea tree oil cleanser which I use whenever I want to treat spots on my face. Otherwise, I’m all for drugstore facial washes.
How about you?
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
plue says
August 12, 2009 at 2:42 pmahaha! i hear ya theory!
but i do occasionally splurge on facial cleansers, if it smells good and works really well! 😀
i guess with the name Aqua Defense, it should be for those with drier skin, oily skin like mine may not like it, but hm, I might just go grab a small tube and try it! 😀
thanks Paris for the review!
ParisB says
August 12, 2009 at 4:06 pmHi Plue
Oh yeah I splurge too 🙂 But sometimes when I find a cheap one that works I wonder why 😛 You’re welcome and hope you like it!
aiyu says
August 12, 2009 at 2:55 pmI do too!
I’m using Garnier err…whitening cleanser? The yellow one.
I was thinking of repurchasing it, but now maybe I’ll try out this Aqua one instead 🙂
ParisB says
August 12, 2009 at 4:07 pmHey Aiyu
I haven’t tried the whitening cleanser. Do note that this one says its moisturizing so if you have oily skin it might not be that good a buy.
Adrianna says
August 12, 2009 at 5:11 pmI got this cleansing foam as a GWP but not gotten around to using it. Can’t wait to try it out after this review 🙂 Personally, I think most drugstore cleansers work pretty well for me and I’ve never got one for more than RM30.
ParisB says
August 13, 2009 at 9:25 amHi Adrianna
Isn’t it wonderful to be able to save on something? Especially since we’re washing it off anyway
Jenn Wan says
August 12, 2009 at 9:01 pmYes, I do ‘save on what I wash off’ actually! Normally I just use Biore’s (but perhaps I will try Garnier next) facial foam. And I do splurge on others – SK-2 essence, Kiehl’s Biological Peel, etc
Amanda says
August 12, 2009 at 10:25 pmI started using Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser after visiting my dermatologist early this year. I love this cleanser! I’ve used cleansers from Clinique, Estee Lauder and Biotherm before but Avene works the best for me.
ParisB says
August 13, 2009 at 9:24 amHi Amanda
Hurrah for finding something that works well (and is affordable)! 😀
Shuu says
August 12, 2009 at 11:27 pmI never really purposely save on facial cleanser yet I tend to use drugstore facial cleansers as they work perfectly well for me so I have no reason to get the expensive ones 😛
I don’t mind splurging on skin care though, but if the cheap ones work well, why should I spend more? haha.
ParisB says
August 13, 2009 at 9:23 amHi Shuu
Why indeed! 🙂 I agree – if something cheap works, stick with it. But I’ve realised that sometimes the pricier stuff does have their own magic too 🙂
gio says
August 12, 2009 at 11:47 pmI do as well. I use drugstore cleansers because they have always worked well for me and don’t feel the need to try more expensive ones. I’d rather splurge on moisturizers or serums.
Thanks for the review. It sounds really nice, but I hate apple scents in beauty products. I’m using a Garnier toner that smells like that and I’m finding it very hard to finish it because of the scent. But I have to cos I don’t like to waste products.
ParisB says
August 13, 2009 at 9:23 amHi Gio
Aww… I love apple 🙂 But I understand scents don’t work for everyone. Kudos for not wasting product!
Tine says
August 13, 2009 at 4:49 pmI definitely subscribe to that. For something that washes off a few seconds after it’s applied, why spend so much on it? I’m cheap when it comes to cleansers 😛
Shay says
August 13, 2009 at 9:48 pmI try to swtich to cheaper cleansers but I can’t….my skin starts misbehaving.
april says
August 14, 2009 at 12:59 amOhh I actually do spend more on cleansers. I bought the 500 ml Dermalogical special gel cleanser after testing the sample. It has lasted me for months and I’m still going through it. I like how my skin feels completely cleansed, fresh and balanced and I hardly get spots these days, so I’m happy. I guess good cleansing reduces skin trouble, so it’s okay to spend more. But if a cheaper one works and feels the same, why not?
elaine lam says
September 10, 2009 at 9:58 amwell i’m using it and i loving it…no more expensive facial cleanser for me which i bought specially from salon as most cleanser tends to make my skin flaky or dry………. but this new garnier cleanser foam jus perfect for me..
Bobo says
February 13, 2010 at 2:43 ami like the garnier aqua cleanser…i used this cleanser ok for me…cause i love that garnier out with a good aqua cleanser like cream cleanser non-soap…..i found out the foaming cleanser after cleansing my skin is smooth my skin and hydrate for a shortwhile it become tight and dry…after it dry…i have dry skin on the cheeks part..but the normal skin on the T-zone…my T-Zone not very oily/oily..just good amount of oil to my skin….not very oily/not very dry….my skin is normal-dry skin….
after cleansing i need a light moisture…like lotion/cream….but gel is cooling but it hydrate a short while only i prefer cream type..lotion easy to absorb..but dry up easily..so i need to reapply again….i give this aqua cleanser 3star…then aqua moisturiser 4star…it moisturiser my skin…and cool…
bunny says
March 22, 2010 at 8:24 pmi use bioessence thanakha white cleansing foam and it works a dream for me!
Aoibheal says
June 2, 2010 at 10:19 pmRecently, most of my days began in air-conditioned place (the bus, the hospital, the labs…. I’m doing my practicals there so no choice) and at night, I helped with a friend of mine as a makeup model at her makeup school. She complained that my face is too dry and she bought this essence and use it before foundation and it worked well with makeup and does not go patchy.
Since Watson’s had mid year sale, so I bought the cleanser and essence at 20% off and have been using it for a week now. I bought a compressed facial mask and layered the sheet with the essence and using it as a mask. But I’m pleased that it work well enough and cheap that I’m thinking of getting a second jar before the 20% offer ends.
I used the whitening range before but I think the aqua range is much better. The whitening range worked on my darkened post-acne skin but I think the scrub is too harsh and the moisturizers worked like white face paste because of the titanium dioxide in it. A day without all of the regiment, I see no difference to the skin.
ekkusuchan says
June 23, 2010 at 11:43 pmin humid wheather of Singapore, i couldn’t care less on what brand of cleansing foam i use to wash my face (since most of them work fine on me), and i used Clean&Clear foaming facial wash. but in beijing, within 2 days i found out that it’s too dry for me, and i set out to seek another facial foam that would suit the dry weather. i’m very much satisfied with this product as it doesn’t leave my skin dry =) i don’t have qualms about how it doesn’t get really foamy because it works out real fine cleaning up my sunscreen pretty thoroughly.
Quinn L says
May 6, 2013 at 7:03 pmI think the idea of splurge on what you keep on save on what you wash off means save on your makeup since you will just wash it off your face and splurge on your skin care products since they are meant to help your skin and keep it clean. in the long run, its not what you’re actually washing off.