Your Say: What’s your favourite type of facial cleanser?

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Foaming. Mousse. Cream. Oil. Balm. Water. Jelly. Milk. Did I miss any?

The variety available these days is mind-boggling!

But, I have to know. What’s your favourite type of cleanser?

favourite type of cleanser

 

When I was first introduced to using proper skincare by my Mom, I was given a tube of foaming cleanser. Back in the day, everyone used foaming cleanser. Come to think of it, these days, everyone will use or will have used a foaming cleanser at some point. I challenge you to tell me otherwise! 😀

As I left home and started buying my own skincare, I stuck with the tried and true. Hello. Foaming cleansers were awesome! That squeaky clean feeling of skin after a long grimy day at college. Ahh….

These days, I run screaming at the sight of a tube of foaming cleanser LOL! 😀 In fact, I’d suggest you do too 😛

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French Pharmacy Skincare Finds at the famed Pharmacie City Pharma in Paris

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Bonjour mes amis!

I’m back from Paris, and if you had joined me on my trip on Instagram and Snapchat, I hope you enjoyed it! I was on my own a lot of the time so it was nice having you along! Now, I was in Paris for a beauty related event, but it didn’t stop this beauty buff from keeping her eyes peeled for OTHER beauty brands and products. Oh yes, I have to admit to a roving eye when it comes to beauty!

And we all know that French pharmacy stocks some of the better, affordable beauty products out there don’t we? You don’t? Ah, now you do! My skin takes incredibly well to many French pharmacy brands and formulations of skincare, which is why over the years, I eventually moved away from Asian skincare and American brands. It’s a personal preference and it’s not a recent thing, but been going on a while. I mix it up a little more now, but if I’m trying something new, I usually know that a European or French brand would likely work better for me.

city pharma Paris - french pharmacy skincare

City Pharmacie aka City Pharma at 26 Rue Four, 75006 Paris (Corner of Rue Four and Rue Bonaparte Metro: Saint Germain des Près (Line 4) or Mabillon (Line 10))

There are pharmacies  on almost every corner in Paris. Some are larger and better stocked than others. But almost all carry the major French brands – Vichy, La Roche Posay, Avene, Nuxe, Bioderma, Caudalie etc. Before I went, I did my research and while it was easy to find most of the products and brands I was interested in most pharmacies, the one I kept coming across as a must-visit was City Pharma at Rue Four. 

I’m not quite sure if City Pharma (or Citypharma) is a chain, but I came across another in the Tolbiac area (Metro: Tolbiac), when I was there for Vietnamese Pho (oh yes, I ate pho in Paris and it was among the best I’ve ever had! 😀 ) But the one you want to visit is the City Pharma at Rue Four because in this store, the prices can be significantly cheaper than in others! It’s even a bit cheaper than the one in Tolbiac which shares the same name. I’m not sure why this is so, but it’s an open secret because the store was HEAVING with people when I arrived at about 3.30pm. Oh dear!

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Your Say: Must you wash your face after using a micellar cleansing water?

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From experience and from scouting around the internet and browsing the cosmetics shelves, I’ve noticed that “cleansing water” fall into 2 categories. One calls themselves “micellar cleansing water” and another calls itself just plain “cleansing water”. Some mention in passing that it should be rinsed off (few do) and others say it is a no-rinse formula.

But it is this latter no-rinse formula that really captures the imagination of many. How wonderful it must be to avoid washing your face in the morning or evening? Just wipe on a cotton pad to “cleanse” your face and continue with your skincare. You don’t even have to step into the bathroom or risk wetting the floor with your vigorous splashes of water in the sink. Yay!… or is it?

wash face after micellar cleansing water

Most cleansing waters and micellar cleansing waters are stated to have a mild formula and are suitable for sensitive skin. They are usually a very liquid, water based product, that is basically like applying water on your skin. But they contain chemicals that help adhere to dirt and makeup on skin, which makes it easy to wipe off using a cotton pad. You can’t do that with just mere water.

It is this ability to cleanse the skin that makes it a popular makeup remover these days. It does feel more gentle on skin and less drying than makeup removers of yore. But because it feels like water and is said to be so gentle and cleanses your skin so well, that we are also told that you don’t have to rinse your face thereafter.

In some instances, I know people use this as their facial cleanser. They use a cotton pad to wipe the product on skin, then follow up with the rest of their skincare. Or, I’ve been told by people they use this as a toner. After regular cleansing, they wipe a cotton pad with cleansing water all over their skin and follow on with skincare.

When I ask them why they do so, the answer is usually that it’s so gentle and it feels so refreshing. Also, many formula including the popular Bioderma brand says that you can. There’s no need to rinse the product off, because it has already cleansed your skin.

I must say I’m not comfortable with this. So before I launch into my spiel, why don’t you share your thoughts with me on this issue. Do you wash your face after using a micellar cleansing water, or is that your facial cleanse? Please don’t feel embarrassed because I’m not an expert and this is just me talking based on my experience, and I am always open to hearing of other peoples’ experiences 🙂

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The Perfect Cleansing Water from Biore that makes a good makeup remover for all over

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I was browsing the shelves of Guardian pharmacy one day when I came across the Biore Perfect Cleansing Water. This was about a year ago (that’s how far back I’m backlogged LOL!) when I was messing around with different cleansing waters, and I went “Hey? Biore has a cleansing water too?” So, since it wasn’t terribly expensive, I picked up a bottle and stuck it in my “To-try” cupboard. Yes, I have a cupboard. Skincare, it’s a disease 😛

biore cleansing water

I have an interesting observation though. The one I have here is called Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Cleansing Water. However, I have seen reviews online for a similar product labelled Biore Makeup Remover Micellar Cleansing Water. Are they the same thing? Can anyone verify if they are?!

Either way though, I have to point out that this Biore cleansing water is a little more specific than the French cleansing waters, like Bioderma or Caudalie that tell you that it operates as a waterless face cleanser. This one is being marketed as a makeup remover, albeit a mild and gentle on skin one, and rightly so, to my mind.

I broke out this bottle when I had used up the last drop of my Dr. Brandt cleansing water (I’m actually finishing up a lot of products these days before moving on), and much to my surprise, I found that I quite liked this. That’s very healthy for my wallet too, so I’m not complaining!

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