Review: St. Ives Fresh Skin Make-Up Remover and Facial Cleanser

Hi guys!

It's Monday again! Some people love it, many loathe it. Haha!

I love putting on makeup. 

Every time I go out of the house, I have some on. 

Even when shopping for groceries, I at least have a thin layer of foundation, mascara, brow pencil and lipgloss.

Having said so, I constantly need makeup removers. I can finish a bottle in a few months! Anyway, I preferred using cleansing oils as makeup removers because they are just really effective but I am still willing to try other kinds such as...

St. Ives Fresh Skin Make-Up Remover and Facial Cleanser

I bought these a few months ago while I was shopping at Landmark, Trinoma.

This 170g tube is worth Php159.75.

And in this post, I'll give you my thoughts about it.

Here's what's at the back of the product:

Information about the product from the website:

        Product Description

This cleanser effortlessly removes even the heaviest make-up while cleaning the skin.

        Product Claims

With calming chamomile • Non-irritating • Dermatologist-tested • Formulated without parabens and phthalates • Does not contain animal ingredients

  

Key Ingredients

Chamomile

CHAMOMILE may be a small daisy-like flower, but it’s a mighty force of nature, indeed. This calming, soothing herb plays an integral part in conditioning and moisturizing your skin, as well as providing calming comfort.

Application

Moisten face with water. Dispense product onto fingertips and massage over face. Rinse with water. Avoid direct contact with eyes. In case of contact with eyes, flush thoroughly with water.

Here's the product when squeezed out

and when spread. It's milky in color, quite thick and doesn't foam.

For the good bits, it doesn't irritate my skin nor cause break-outs. I have been using St. Ives products, more particularly, their apricot scrubs, and they never irritated my skin. 

And this product doesn't dry the skin I actually think it left my face moist and soft. I believe it's good for people with sensitive and dry skin.

And for the bad bits... 

I hate the smell. The packaging looks so clean and floral but when you open it to smell the product, it just smells awful for me. It's like milk that went bad... or the yucky smelling classic, sour yoghurt.
I didn't try smelling it first when I bought it which I really regret but then I just thought that I'll just have to bear with it for a few minutes anyway to clean my face.

But after massaging it continuously on my face and wiping it with tissue/wet cloth, it didn't remove all my makeup (I usually have full makeup on). The eyeliner and mascara were still there and when I use toner, there were still a huge amount of foundation left on my face.

Beside these, I also hated the texture. It feels so thick that I just couldn't wait to rinse it off. 

I also did try using the product more than once to remove my makeup. Like massaging it and removing with a wet towel then apply it again and massage it and just cleanse with water after but it doesn't really do much. There were still huge amount of makeup left on my face.

Quite sad actually because I expected a lot from it since I really like the brand, plus, I put a lot of effort to endure the smell. And the description "effortlessly removes makeup" on the product packaging is just so false.

LIKES:

Affordable at Php159.75

Locally available

Doesn't irritate skin

Doesn't dry skin

Not tested on animals and paraben-free

Packaging is nice and looks so clean

DISLIKES:

The smell

Feels too thick

Poorly removes makeup

Would I buy again?

No. Actually. it's a big NO. 

I'm quite disappointed with it. A regular facial wash could have done better in removing makeup. :(

I do think that it could be an everyday cleanser for those who do not or barely use makeup especially those who have dry/sensitive skin. But it's just doesn't work well as a makeup remover. I still believe that oil cleansers are way better.

Have you tried this product yet?

Any makeup removers you can suggest?

Cheers!

DAWN