Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

Dermalogica's Special Gel Cleanser is a concentrated, soap-free, foaming gel designed to thoroughly remove impurities without disturbing the skin's natural moisture balance. It contains no artificial fragrance or color and is ideal for all skin types. In a word, it's perfect. If you've ever wished for soft skin and a clear complexion, this is your genie in a bottle (no rubbing required).

It's very gentle on the skin, yet super effective at removing dirt, grime and even makeup. Special Gel Cleanser feels like a dream when you apply it to your skin - like silk, or something equally smooth and luxurious. If I had to compare it so something you might be familiar with, I'd say it's akin to a high-end Cetaphil. I loved this product from the day I started using it, back in late 2010. But I didn't realize how much my skin loved this cleanser until I started testing other cleansers last month and my skin straight up rebelled. Breakouts re-appeared and it completely dried out. Since then, my skin has been on a strict Dermalogica diet and I've seen improvement every day.

An 8.4 oz bottle of this good stuff costs $33, which sounds like a lot for a face cleanser. But - believe me - it's worth every penny. Special Cleansing Gel is special, indeed.

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Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser

Lately, my skin has been uncharacteristically well-behaved. And so soft and smooth that I can't stop petting my face. I didn't know what to make of my enhanced complexion until I realized that I had recently switched up one element of my skincare routine.

After moving into my new house, I couldn't immediately locate my usual facial wash. So when I came across a long lost sample tube of Clinique's Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, I decided to give it a whirl. And once I did, I was happy my old stuff went A.W.O.L. because I might have missed out on such a fabulous product.

Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser has a cream consistency that gently cleanses – leaving skin feeling moist, clean, and fresh. It's fragrance-free, but the subtle scent reminds me of Dove soap. As mild as it is on skin, it removes long-wearing makeup and sunscreens quickly and efficiently. Plus, it's also a great value; the concentrated formula is long-lasting and a little goes a long way.

I wish you could see/feel my face. It’s a true testament to the brilliance of this cleanser (I've awarded it 'holy grail' status). After washing my face with it, I moisturize with 2-3 pumps of Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. And ever since I started this routine, my skin is like a dream.

Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser ($18.50) and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($24) are available at Sephora, your local Clinique counter, and clinique.com.

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