I seem to be on a bit of a skincare revamp in recent times. My skin decided to throw a major hissy fit in January where everything I used to do and use (I didn’t change any part of my regular skincare routine) no longer worked and I was breaking out like I was a teen again, yet experiencing serious dry skin. I knew I had to do something. I told you earlier about my toner + cotton pad rediscovery that helped me. Now, here’s something else I changed. I haven’t been using cleansing oils for over a month.
Not using cleansing oils to remove my makeup and as part of a double cleansing routine is something really big for me. I’m such a cleansing oil evangelist and I’ve used so many. It has been such a part of my skincare routine for so many years that it was almost impossible for me to just abandon it. But I did. Instead, I turned to using cream/milk cleansers.
As luck would have it, I didn’t own any, except 2. The last time I used a cream cleanser, it was the Neutrogena one. Worked a treat but I didn’t replenish because… you guessed it; I went back to my oil cleansers. However, after rooting around, I discovered 2 – Swissline Water Shock Comforting Emulsion Cleanser and Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Hydrating Cleansing Milk.
I have been using them both this past month and I have to say that its different. My skin actually stopped feeling so dry and tight and it really seemed to help my skin feel more comfortable. Naturally, its also made me curious about trying other cream or milk cleansers 😀 Do you use any? Interestingly enough, both the cream/milk cleansers I’ve been using come in 2 different price categories 🙂
Splurge: Swissline Water Shock Comforting Emulsion Cleanser – RM198/160ml
The name of the product is that of Emulsion Cleanser but I feel that it is more of a cream. It pumps out quite thick, like a cream and applies on skin very much like a cream. It serves to remove makeup without drying out the skin and in fact, does a pretty decent job. I don’t use it about the eyes, because I use a separate eye makeup remover for the eye area (the same principles as that I’ve explained before apply).
With this one, I do not use a cotton pad. Instead, on dry face and with dry hands, I pump out about 2-3 pumps of the cleanser and massage it all over my face, giving myself a mini face massage as I go. I then rinse off or you can tissue off, and it leaves my skin feeling quite lovely and clean. Unlike oil cleansers that really deep clean, and sometimes leave skin feeling dry, this one leaves my skin feeling comfortable and hydrated. I do follow up with a foaming cleanser because it makes me feel more comfortable but you technically do not have to.
I did realise however, that I could not use this one too often or I’d break out. I’m not quite sure why this is so but I’m good to use it about 2-3 times a week, but not too often. Not bad either because its terribly pricey! If I have heavier makeup on, its back to the oil cleansers I go. This one doesn’t do as good a job at removing long wearing makeup.
(1) Swissline Water Shock Comforting Emulsion Cleanser (2) Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Hydrating Cleansing Milk
You can probably tell from these swatches the difference in texture of the product.
Save: Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Hydrating Cleansing Milk – RM49.90 /200ml
Unlike the Swissline Water Shock Emulsion Cleanser, I can’t use this cleansing milk without cotton pads. I’ve tried it using just my hands to massage it into my skin but it seems to get absorbed and doesn’t make me feel like its doing a good job cleaning my skin of makeup. So, I dispense some product onto a cotton pad and then wipe it over my face.
I do find that it does a fair job at removing most of my face base makeup but if its a longwearing product, then I do need more time to remove it. I also find myself having to go through quite a few cotton pads just to get my face clean and I do have to go over at least twice; but when I do, my skin feels very nice. It feels cool, hydrated and clean and I haven’t even washed it again yet 😛
As the name implies, the texture is more liquid and runny as opposed to the Emulsion Cleanser. It spreads quite easily on skin and when I use the cotton pad, I apply it in circles so my skin gets a little massage at the same time. It smells of the fresh green scent like the other Hydra Vegetal products and is just as affordable.
My Pick
Of the two, I’m going to pick the Yves Rocher cleansing milk simply because I can use it for weeks straight without experiencing any breakouts, and its affordable and works. I do think they are both fairly good products of themselves, and I do like the convenience of not having to use cotton pads with the Swissline emulsion and the nice creamy texture but I need something that I can use at a stretch without having to worry about breakouts and without hurting my wallet too much.
I will also note that cream, milk or emulsion cleansers are usually targeted at those who have drier skintypes who will benefit from cleansing while hydrating the skin. I personally benefited from this and I’m starting to be sold on the idea of using milk/cream cleansers.
Granted, it does now take me longer to remove my makeup and cleanse my skin, and I do have to do all the cleansing before I get into the shower and it can be quite a hassle, I have to continue because my skin has decided that for now, at least, this is what it wants. Ah! Fickle skin!
Have you tried either product and have an experience to share? Do you have a cream / milk cleanser to recommend?
I’d love to know if you are using a cream or milk cleanser and how you like it. I do still double cleanse; its just that I substituted the oil cleanser with a cleansing milk. I know this isn’t for everyone but when skin throws a hissy fit, sometimes its worth taking two steps back and trying something new. Thankfully this worked! 😀
Paris B
Swissline is a salon brand and products are available at Energy Day Spa and various other salons. Yves Rocher is available at their stores in various neighbourhood malls and Fahrenheit 88 and 1 Utama
There’s a bottle of Clarins cleansing milk that has been sitting in my drawer for a while. Got it as a deluxe sample, but never gotten around to try it. I’m so used to using a cleansing oil every night that it feels wrong to go without it. LOL. =P
I know exactly how you feel. The first few days, I was all “Whaa…??!!” but now I’m so used to it! That said, my skin does tend to the dry so that might be why I feel that its more comfortable. Cleansing oils do make it so much easier to remove everything at one go though and I can do it all in the shower! Sigh… conundrum 😛
I’ve tried using cream based cleanser but found my skin breaking out the very next day. Not sure if it’s because it doesn’t clean my face well enough or if my skin just couldn’t take the cream. Hence, it’s back to the reliable Kose Softymo for me (lo and behold, I just asked a friend who is heading to HK to stock it up for me…hehe)
Yay for the Kose Softymo 😀 But you could be right. A cream cleanser, like oil cleaner isn’t for everyone. I use it as a precleanse so I still double cleanse. Its just that I find it less stripping on my skin which is better for my poor ol’ dry skin 😀
I have Decleor’s milk cleanser, and I use it to remove my sunblock on days I don’t wear make up. Love the smell, but I noticed that when I massage it on my skin it stings a wee bit. I’ve also tried Avene’s milk cleanser, and I thought that worked well too! So far I’ve not tried using just milk cleanser to remove make up (a bit too reliant on oil cleansers for that), maybe I will try tonight and see how it fares.
Did you try using it as a makeup remover, Applegal? 🙂 I still do in the evenings although it takes more work but I do double cleanse anyway to get rid of any residue on my skin. Thanks for the Avene suggestion. That one sounds affordable 😛
Yes I have! It works just as well as the oil cleanser, and my skin felt moisturised. Yeah, the only issue I have with Avene’s milk cleanser is the mineral oil ingredient, but actually I didn’t think it affected me much.
I had the same skincare experience as you! Where my regular skincare couldn’t do anything about my breakouts.
I did try La Roche Posay’s Toleriane cleansing milk but it seems to break me out. Now I’m on Bioderma’s Sensibio and it seems to be doing me good.
Goodness! Here I was thinking my skin was the only one throwing a tantrum LOL! 😀 I haven’t tried the LRP one although I hear that the LRP Toleriane range is very good for breakout prone skin. Wish they’d bring LRP in here >.< I have been using the Bioderma off and on for a while but haven't been as sold on it as many other have been. I wonder why 🙁 I have also tried Caudalie Cleansing Water and I seem to prefer that one.
Toleriane strangely enough made me break out! Their physiological cleansing gel is good for makeup but it doesn’t clean down into the pores as well as salicylic acid.
I like Bioderma’s Sensibio well enough. It doesn’t sting/cause redness/itching.
My current routine is:
Bioderma Sensibio > Neutrogena oil-free acne wash (2% salicylic acid w/w) only on my nose and chin > Seba Med blackhead cleansing bar (super clean without drying and great for post-exercise cleansing because it’s portable and no spills/messing with cotton pads!).
I am now acne-free (especially on my chin, dreaded hormonals) except for residual comedones which will work themselves out eventually and any pimples I get are very shallow and disappear quickly!
Happy to know you have a routine that works well and no acne! That’s a wonderful thing! I’m trying to get rid of the marks leftover from my last acne bout now and its true what they say about older skin, it just doesn’t heal as quickly anymore 🙁
I’ve used a cleansing milk from the Body Shop before just to try it and I really like how soft my skin feels after cleansing. you are right, it does not leave my skin dry. Maybe, I should try cleansing milks again…. I am interested on the Yves Rocher….
I like the Yves Rocher one because its so affordable and does a really good job! 😀 I still double cleanse though. It makes sure my skin is clean yet its not as drying as double cleansing with an oil cleanser. I wonder what I’m going to do with all my oil cleansers now LOL!
That’s funny you changed from cleansing oil to cleansing creams/lotions because I did the opposite due to skin issues. But I’m fickle and always bounce back and forth. A good one for me is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser for makeup removal. I still do the double cleanse by using this to remove makeup (hot cloth method) and I may cleanse again with the same or I use one of my HG cleansers, Kiehl’s Washable Cleansing Milk. Currently though, it’s my cleansing oil (MAC Tranquil or DHC) and Shiseido The Skincare Cleansing Foam with a net puff.
Haha we’re opposites, Rose and you know what they say about opposites attracting… 😉 But seriously, I think that we should be open to trying different products for our skin’s different needs because we just never know when our skin may decide to change and throw us for a loop! That’s something I think not many people tell us. I double cleanse too, just that I use a cream cleanser instead of oil for the 1st step 😀
You can give Yves Rocher cleansing milk for sensitive skin a try. The price should be more or less the same as the Hydra Vegetal. The consistency is thick enough for you to forgo the cotton pad.
I used it late last year when my skin felt dry and I had breakouts for some reason. And that cleanser really helped to get my skin back to normal.
Ahhh thank you so much for the recommendation, Hani! 😀 I’ll check it out the next time I’m near a YR store. I like the idea of being able to skip the cotton pad 😀
Funnily I reverted from cleansing oil to cleansing milk about 6 months ago…only because I ran out of cleansing oil & had a few cleansing milk sitting in my cabinet & i thought not to waste, however after using the milk – i found that it did the job & saves me some $$ too…
I use the Decleor (splurge) cleansing milk or the Sephora (save) cleansing milk….
But instead of using cotton pad, i wipe off with tissue paper…
🙂
Oh yay, Kel! Happy to know you found cleansing milks helpful for your skin too and another vote for Decleor! Looks like I have to try that one some day don’t I? 😀 I tried using tissue paper once but I think I’m too stingy so the tissue paper I use is too rough for my skin LOL! Which brand do you use? 😛
you should try the decleor cleansing milk some day, it smells divine, and it’s not as creamy, and doesn’t leave funny feeling on skin.
I agree with the smell but I cant say it removes everything clean. I find it decent and it does leave a slight oily feeling on my skin which I do not like. I personally wud prefer clarins and aesop over decleor.
I remember you raving about this one! Ok I will give it a go some day 😀
I’ve tried some cleansing creams (Cle de Peau and some other samples) and found that they left my skin comfortable and hydrated. I didn’t do the toner on cotton check though so I can’t say how well they cleaned the makeup off, but I tend to use them on light makeup days.
If I find my skin getting dry I’ll switch to a cream cleanser but I haven’t had too much of a problem this winter.
I think it would be beneficial for winter climates thanks to the dry dry air! I do still double cleanse when using a cream/milk cleanser though. Just too used to it and the toner test seems to show makeup free skin 🙂
I use a cleansing milk from Lancome for dry skin and use their hydra zen moisturiser. the cleansing milk removes make-up as well and doesn’t leave my skin feeling “stretched”. Amazing product and no breakouts!
Its nice to know there’s so many people using cleansing milks too! Thanks for the suggestion for Lancome, Patricia 🙂
The only cleansing milk I have ever used was the one from Clarins but that was years ago. I remember I had to use cotton pads to wipe off my make up with this cleansing milk. I have only recently started to double cleansed and I have been using Fancl cleansing oil. I must say that the raves from make up alley and the blogging world on this cleansing oil is justified as it does not break me out and leaves my skin soft. I wanted to try the Kose Softymo which I think is also being sold in Singapore but I discovered that one of its main ingredients is mineral oil which my skin does not like. So I will stick to Fancl cleansing oil for now. Hope your skin improves with your new regime.
Oh I used one from Clarins a while ago but I stopped because I found it such a hassle. They need you to pat it on to remove makeup and it just did not work. Maybe I should have trusted my instinct and wiped instead of pat 😛 I haven’t used Fancl cleansing oil but I do remember many people raving about it. Happy to know it works well for you 😀 My skin is doing fairly well now, thank goodness. Perhaps I should post an update of my skincare regiment 😀
I am also alternating my Bioderma Crealine with Clarins Cleansing Milk. The milk feels moisturising on skin and to massage it in feels luxurious! But It is quite scented though. I will wet some cotton pad to wipe it off the face afterwards before I rinse it with a face wash. Hmm have not done the toner test to see if any makeup residue remains. But for sure I still feels the Bioderma Crealine cleanses better. Maybe its all in the head. lol
I’ve tried the Clarins milk before this but found it such a hassle to pat it on the way they suggest. Dumped it in the end LOL! I have been using Bioderma for a while but haven’t experienced anything very wonderful about it. I recently bought a bottle of Caudalie Cleansing Water and it actually feels much nicer so maybe its a case of preference 😀
I’m glad you found something that’s working and helping! I’ve done a complete opposite-stated using my Clarisonic after a good year of hiatus with the Shiseido Brightening Foaming Cleanser and it’s helping a lot! Only once a day though! Oh, and I found something else too that’s helping a lot too! Blog post soon! 🙂
Ooh I’ll keep a look out for your blog post – quick! Maybe it can help me! 😛 I have also started using back my Clarisonic after over a year too! I now use it only once a week and it isn’t making my skin go nuts, so yes I can see the benefits, but only if used very sparingly! I can’t even use it once a day or my skin will dry out, flake off and just die 😛
I use Clinique’s cleansing milk, and love it. It’s pretty affordable, and it’s a great makeup remover, though I usually follow up with some other kind of cleanser, because I do this all in the shower and I rinse my face afterward to get remnants of shampoo and conditioner off of it. I’m glad you found something that works!
*taking notes* Clinique cleansing milk you say? I double cleanse too because I don’t trust the cream cleanser to totally clean off everything and as you do, cleanse to get rid of the shampoo since I wash my hair daily 😀
Glad to hear you found something that works well in your time of need, Paris! I use exclusively cleansing balm/cream at nighttime nowadays, and my skin is pretty happy! I’d recommend the Pai one especially if your skin is acting up. Recently tried Purify & Sooth from Elemental Herbology and I like it a lot as well. I still use a foaming one for a quick wash in the morning, but other than that I don’t think I’ll look back!
Thanks for the rec, Sunny! I have been wanting to try some Pai stuff but shipping is rather pricey. I’m going to have to find some online stores that will ship internationally for a lower fee 😉 I haven’t tried a balm yet except for the Eve Lom one, but I am also using cleansing waters. They aren’t bad too!
Hey Paris, try Naturissimo. They ship for free worldwide, have great GWPs, and for each other you can pick 5 samples (though most aren’t free, I appreciate getting to choose what I’ll receive and some are actually a very good size). Hope it helps!
Yay, thanks for the info, Sunny! 😀
I have multiple bottles of cleansing oil with only one bottle of cleansing milk, which is Lancome cleansing (can’t recall the exact name of the product). Cleansing oil is the core makeup remover for me as it remove all makeup in one step (thanks to laziness), whereas milk cleanser would require me to remove my eye & lip makeup before the milk. I have been alternately using this for years & it just work fine. The smell of the cleansing milk is pretty lovely and it does a good job too! However, I always follow by foam cleanser regardless of whether I used oil or milk to remove makeup.
Nice to know that alternating the cleansers work for you Jesz! 😀 I use a separate eye makeup remover regardless of whichever product I use so it doesn’t make a difference to me although I must admit that the cleansing oil does take a little less work 😛 I too follow up with a foam cleanser regardless of whichever cleanser I use and I’ve found that a salicylic cleanser helps me keep spots at bay 😀
Biotherm clansing milk have been w me for abt 6 months now after bad breakouts not responding to anything at that time. My skin slowly got better n now i am very happy. Rare breakouts, even that my skin heals quicker n better.
I still use cleansing oil on dry face dry hands to wash out make ups, then use the cleansing milk in the shower. I use only the cleansing milk in a.m. During showering.
Happy to know you too found something to work for you Ana, and coincidentally, its a cleansing milk too! Yay 😀
I have oily skin so using cleansing milk is usually not an option for me but I do have 2 at home, Caudalie cleansing milk, which was a gift in an order and Bliss one, bought it just because of curiosity because it says “you can use it as a 5 min mask to remove blackheads”.. So I did.. The Results? Nope didn’t do nothing for me and it is a bit citrusy so it is impossible to use it as an eye makeup remover.
You know what? I don’t think oily skin will benefit much from a cleansing milk so you’re probably doing it right, sticking to oils 🙂 I haven’t tried the Caudalie one but I bought the Caudalie Cleansing Water recently and tried it and I really like it! I remember you like Caudalie so do let me know if you’ve tried that one 😀
Oh yes I do like it very much, though I’m gonna pass onto their non silicone products in the future. But when it comes to cleansing water unfortunately I buy nothing but Bioderma (cliche, right?).. It is also budget friendly because 500 ml bottle costs around 27 $ and when you but one bottle the other 500 ml bottle is for free, so you get like 1 litre of cleansing water which is pretty enough for a year round 🙂
That’s great! We don’t get Bioderma here yet unfortunately but it doesn’t seem to impress me so maybe its just as well hehe!
I have also recently changed from oil to milk. I am using Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean. I massage in the cleanser and remove it with a sponge. It smells wonderful and does a good job cleaning off the day’s grime.
I think our skin sometimes need a change, too much of the same thing may not necessary work that well?
Oh wait, we have Soap & Glory here! Thanks for the suggestion 😀 I too think our skin (like us!) may get bored with the same chemicals day in day out so sometimes, a little change can do wonders 🙂