After my last sojourn with a non-foaming cleanser, my interest was piqued when I received the Pai Skincare Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. Oh hello! Here was yet another non foaming cleanser! I was quite quick to dive into this the minute I pumped out the last bits of the last one đ
Pai Skincare is a brand of organic skincare that hails from the UK and is specially formulated for sensitive skin. Well, actually, what it is, is a brand that even those with sensitive skin can use, not just meant for sensitive skin, if that made sense? Pai is certified organic by the Soil Association, which is the certifying body in the UK and which, Iâm told is very strict. One of the strictest around so when they give the seal of approval, you can be sure that youâre getting something truly organic.
My samples of Pai Skincare came courtesy of Pure Tincture, a Singapore based online store that specialises in organic skincare. They do ship to Malaysia for a very affordable flat rate of S$10 and yes, they carry Pai Skincare â one of the closest and quickest places for us to get it, unless you want to get it shipped in from the UK.
The Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is a lovely creamy cleanser that you can use on its own or even to remove makeup so if youâre feeling a wee bit lazy to double cleanse then this may suffice. But only for a cheat day, mind! đ
The cleanser has a rather thick, creamy texture that spreads easily between your palms and on the skin. It comes packaged with a muslin cloth (I love brands that do!) because thatâs how youâre supposed to use. it.
The directions call for you to pump 2-3 pumps of product into your palm, massage into your skin and then remove with a warm muslin cloth (wet through and then wrung dry of course). I found the muslin cloth felt a wee bit rough, so I prefer using my face towels instead. Yes, Iâm still using my face towel routine for evening, arenât you? đ
The texture is a luxurious thickish cream that has a nice slip, so it isnât terribly thick or hard to work with. You can use this as a makeup remover and Pai says, even as eye makeup remover. Thatâs how gentle it is. I tried it as a face makeup remover (I donât like using these sorts of textures around my eyes as it tends to mess with my vision. So I always use a separate eye makeup remover and hereâs why I think itâs a good idea).
Removal is very easy. You can use a face cloth or the provided muslin cloth or even just rinse it off with a bit of massaging. I was using this cleanser as part of my evening routine for a few days, but because I already have cleansing balms to use up I switched up to using it in the morning.
I found that I like using gentle face cleansers in the morning because it doesnât feel like I need that much cleansing when I wake up. It started with the Antipodes Juliet cleanser and then the Blissoma Rice Cleanser and so this one was a natural progression. But I wasnât up to messing about with muslin cloths in the morning, so I didnât.
I also use less product, so Iâd work with just 1 pump of product which I massage into my skin. The gentle rose scent which is there, but isnât overpowering, is a nice wakeup call in the morning and the gentle and quick massage of the product into my skin wakes me up. Then, I wet my skin with water, massage a little more, which emulsifies the product somewhat. And then I rinse it away.
If you have never used a non-foaming cleanser, it takes a while to get used to how your skin feels after that. It never feels squeaky clean if you donât use a cloth to wipe it off, and it does feel like you have a hydrating layer on your skin which isnât heavy nor uncomfortable, but it doesnât feel âcleanâ in the way that we are conditioned to think. Iâm used to it by now, so I was happy with it. If you use a cloth, it feels cleaner, but your skin doesnât feel stripped or dry.
All in all, I like this cleanser a lot, whether for day or for the evening. It is gentle, hydrating and comfortable and thatâs nice to have in a cleanser đ
IN A NUTSHELL
The Pai Skincare Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is a creamy cleanser that can also act as a makeup remover or as a first step of cleansing in the evening. It is easy to spread and doesnât feel heavy nor sticky on skin and is easy to remove with either a muslin cloth or face cloth or just by rinsing with water a few times. I like how comfortable it makes my skin feel and the gentle floral scent is comforting as well. All in all, not one Iâd complain about at all!
PROS: Gentle on skin, Hydrating, Easy to use, Cleans skin comfortably without stripping, Nice gentle floral scent
CONS: Rather pricey, Need to use a face cloth for a cleaner feel, Only available online
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who uses cream cleansers, Anyone who uses non-foaming cleansers, Anyone who has sensitive skin
Here is the ingredient list for your reference:-
Aqua, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Vegetable Glycerine*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter* , Cetearyl Glucoside, Rosa Damascena (Rose Otto) Oil*, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Oil*, Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Flower Oil*, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil* â May chang oil, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Vitamin E), Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate *Certified Organic. Soil Association Certified. Suitable for Vegans
Have you tried this cleanser? Do you use cream cleansers?
I used to be a great fan of foaming cleansers (still a secret fan of them as bad as they are made out to be!) but because my skin now feels drier than before, I now find myself using cleansers that donât foam as much, or sometimes, donât foam up at all. Cream cleansers fill this void although I havenât tried many myself so Iâm always in the market for more new ones! đ
Paris B
Pai Skincare Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser Price: 100ml â S$62.50 | 200ml â S$87.50 Availability: Pure Tincture website or Pai Skincare online both of which ship internationally
Interesting review! I like the âcleanâ feel as well after face cleansing. Creamy cleansers are nice when skin need a little bit more cocooning perhaps.
x
Absolutely. It feels comforted and not stripped đ
I am also a fan of non-foaming cleansers!
I have dry skin, so foaming cleaners are usually too drying for me. The least drying foaming cleanser I have used was the SKII one, but it was still a tad drying with everyday use. Many others just left me with a tight feeling. I have been using this Ultrafine Soothing Cleanser from a Singapore brand (NIKS) for many years (at least 5!), and it is still my to-go cleanser now. Itâs creamy, non-foaming, and has a smooth texture.
For the past year, I have been using only a toner to cleanse my face in the mornings and then makeup remover/ cleanser (no, I donât do double-cleansing as it is simply too drying for me) in the evenings. This routine seems to work on my dry skin so far.
Yes, I noticed that about foaming cleansers as my skin got drier. Suddenly, foaming cleansers made my skin feel stretched and stripped! I do still use one or two but in the mornings, I find it more comfortable using a non-foaming cleanser. There arenât many out there though đ Good to know youâve found a routine that works for you â sometimes, as much as weâd like to follow conventional skincare methods, not everything works for everyone so whatâs most important is to work with YOUR skin and Iâm glad you have đ
I looove this one so much! I always have a bottle around because itâs something I know I can always fall back on. I think this is the cleanser that made me give up on most foaming stuff (I still use it in the morning but thatâs about it), and strange as it may sound, I donât think Iâve found another milk/cream that rivals it.
Wow, thatâs a great testimonial Sunny! I found that it was nice to use both with a wash cloth for better cleansing or even without, which is good because I donât always want to use a wash cloth in the mornings. Leaves my skin feeling so comfortable!
Oh I love this cleanser. I did from the very first use of it! I also use a flannel, I love flannels lol!
Stacey | Expat Make-Up Addict xx
I love using flannels too! Makes my skin feel so clean!
Currently I am lemming to try Pai skincare. Your review came in a timely manner đ Madness at work has heightened. I am using different shower gel to differentiate day and night, work and home. I think my cleanser will follow suit. This sounds like a great cleanser as I have oily but dry skin (still confused up till today what the BAs tell me) and sensitive skin as well. Glad it worked out well for you đ
Pai Skincare is actually quite good. I tried some samples a few years ago but didnât appreciate them then. Now, I appreciate them better and they are very nice and importantly, very gentle. I think theyâre worth trying out. I believe that Pure Tincture sells a Pai Skincare sample set if youâd like to test them out before hand. But I can safely say the cleanser is absolutely worth getting and for you, maybe to use in the evening. Itâs nice and calming that way đ
I recently used something like this and am pleasantly surprised that i like it so much that i bought the full sized. Iâm talking about Nealâs Yardâs Rejuvenating Frankincense Refining Cleanser. Think I might be a convert for such cleanser.
Taking notes here, Lisa! I may even have the NYR one and forgot about it! I remember buying something like it so itâs the next new thing Iâm trying đ
Oh yeah, one of the better cleansers out there. I used up my 200ml one, but decided to try others. Found some sites that ship internationally for free, and I can definitely see myself repurchasing it đ
Ooh which sites do you use for Pai Skincare? I was thinking of trying Naturisimo but I hadnât tried shipping anything to me yet. Got it shipped to Singapore and it was quite quick though I was told that local shipments do take a little longer.
Hey Paris, Beauty Bay ships for free too đ
Ah I forgot about Beauty Bay. Stopped using them after they stopped accepting paypal đ
I love this cleanser, itâs one of my staples!
You really should use a washcloth with it indeed and tone down on regular exfoliation.
Thanks for the tip! Iâve started using it with a softer microfibre washcloth in the morning and it feels so amazing clean! Love it!