All good things come in threes. But if you're unlucky, all three things just suck. Today's trio tested: soaps for your face.
The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is wash my face. So far only with water. An upgrade is long overdue, I need a facial soap! One that wakes up my complexion in the early hours and that I can also use to wash the make-up residue off my face in the evening. My T-zone is oily, my cheeks are dry to normal depending on the day. For my combination skin, I picked three different soaps from our range and tested them twice a day for seven days.
Balancing soaps for my face.
Balancing facial soap from I Want You Naked
Note: The facial soap «Sea Salt & Shea Butter» is currently on sale, I'll keep you posted.
Facial Soap Mild from Clinique
White Crystal Soap from Borodist
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As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
Fragrance: Reminds me of Dextro Energy dextrose. According to the description, it smells refreshingly fruity like orange and litsea oil. Quantity: 100g Suitable for: sensitive skin According to the manufacturer: Balances the skin, soothes and cares. Has an antiseptic effect, cleanses deep into the pores and helps to regulate the skin's own oil and moisture balance . Contains: Sea salt, shea butter, babassu oil, avocado oil, orange essential oil, litsea oil, vitamin E, vitamin C More info: Natural cosmetics, handmade in Munich, cruelty-free, vegan
In the practical test: You know those "good skin days" you only have when you're on holiday by the sea? This soap is like a beach holiday for my skin. I'm convinced that it's the sea salt it contains that keeps my skin so clean and smooth, while the shea butter in it, which I usually like to use pure, moisturises my skin. When I use it, I can feel a light grain that I find pleasant, and the fresh citrus scent is a welcome pick-me-up, especially in the morning. After a week of soaping up twice a day, my verdict is: fantastic!
Fragrance: fragrance-free Quantity: 100g Suitable for: dry to normal skin Effect according to the manufacturer: Cleanses mildly. Contains: Sodium Palmate/Cocoate or Palm Kernelate, Water, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Trisodium Hedta, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140) More info: Comes with a reusable storage box. You can also buy the soap without it. The product is the first part of a 3-phase system care from Clinique, in which the individual steps are coordinated. However, you can also use it on its own.
In the practical test: I am pleasantly surprised: because the soap foams and therefore feels very similar to a classic hand soap, I would have expected it to dry out my skin. But it doesn't. The creamy, milky texture cleanses thoroughly and feels pleasant. The soap is unscented but has an inherent odour. Fortunately, this is hardly noticeable. I really like the soap dish with lid that comes with it, so it can be stored safely away from dust in the bathroom cabinet.
Fragrance: Reminds me of the Diddl mouse fragrance blocks from my childhood. When asked, they say it smells like citrus fruit. Quantity: 90g Suitable for: oily and combination skin According to the manufacturer: Reduces sebum production and exfoliates the skin with salt crystals. Contains: Coconut oil, sodium chloride, distilled water, NaOH alkali, flavouring composition More info: Comes from a care line for men and is an exfoliating soap for the body and face.
In the practical test: I was most looking forward to the Crystal Soap. It comes from the ranks of a men's skincare line and knocked me off my feet with its packaging. In use, the advertised exfoliating effect is very shy and the artificial fragrance is accompanied by a tart, masculine note, which I can only sniff out during application on wet skin. Not for my nose, but it was worth a try. As far as reducing sebum production is concerned, I have actually noticed that my skin remains matte for a longer period of time after application. This is probably because the soap also moisturises less.
The winner and therefore the soap that I will continue to use is the one from I Want You Naked. Everything is just right here: the packaging, the colour, the scent, the ingredients and the soft, silky feeling of skin as if fresh from the sea. I also have the feeling that my complexion is more radiant after application than with the other two. It puts me in a good mood first thing in the morning and I look forward to cleansing my face in the evening.
In second place is the Facial Soap from Clinique. It is not only the closest to a classic soap in terms of appearance, but also because it foams better than the other two. Plus points for the fragrance-free, slightly creamy formulation and the practical storage option. It also does not dry out the skin. However, a look at the list of ingredients on CodeCheck leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Unfortunately, the Crystal Soap from Borodist is not for me. The exfoliating effect is very subtle, so I would no longer include this aspect in my purchase decision. Although it has a mattifying side effect on my oily T-zone, it doesn't moisturise my dry areas sufficiently. The fragrance also feels artificial to me. Even the lovely packaging doesn't change that. I could imagine that it might be suitable for people who suffer from very oily and blemished skin.
