The Cleansing Gel

10 Reviews

1. 

   pridefulRelish7

   Reply

   This is a pleasant gel cleanser that removes make-up and impurities adequately and rinses off with water easily without leaving a dry feeling of the skin.

   The product is a well composed surfactant system containing a balanced blend of surfactants that are mild (as an end product) and will ensure that the skin is not stripped of its moisture barrier. (More correctly, that is less stripped since no surfactant based system is mild enough to leave the moisture barrier intact even when applied for a few seconds).
   The surfactant-blend is highly concentrated and you will need only a tiny amount to clean the skin effectively. Therefor the bottle will last considerably longer than cleanser that have less surfactants (like foams).

   It contains the “Miracle Broth” which is a pity that it will be washed away without being able to do anything.
   It has added fragrance, which is almost undetectable and will definitely not linger.
   It also contains colourants and the preservatives Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. This should have been reformulated esp. since it is well known that these preservatives can cause dermatitis and serious allergic reactions in more and more individuals.

   I think this gel is a good choice for normal skin for warmer weather and might be a good choice for an oilier skin type for colder months (probably not the coldest winter days in Nordic countries though).
   I believe that an oilier (and also younger) skin in warmer weather will find that this cleanser will not leave the “cleansed” feel on the skin after rinsing it off and might wish for a cleanser that will leave a “drier” feel of the skin after rinsing off.

   The price is, of course, outrageous and one can easily find a well-balanced blend of surfactants as a facial cleanser on today’s market. Knowlede of the effect of surfactants have been better understood and more refined since the 1990s and countless studies have demonstrated the ratio between different surfactants (blends) and their effects. While the Estee Lauder Companies are usually on the forefront of formulation of personal care products, and usually do an excellent job when considering the engineering/technical part of the products, there are several more affordable versions of this cleanser within the company too. One is Origins’ ZERO OIL™ Deep Pore Cleanser With Saw Palmetto & Mint which is the same product (minus the “Miracle Broth” but added essential oils).

   Just for emphasis, it requires in-depth knowledge to formulate proper and most of all, mild surfactants containing cleansers and it is important that the product developer has broad knowledge of these systems. (Shampoos and body washes are also in this category.) Purchasing these type of cleansers from companies that have the knowledge and expertise is your insurance for better preservation of the precious lipid barrier. However, you do not need to pay so much for a good (and safe) cleanser as the Estee Lauder Companies charge for this gel cleanser from La Mer.

   Ingredients: Declustered Water ( )\Aqua\Eau De-Structuree ( ), Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Algae (Seaweed) Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Tourmaline, Hexylene Glycol, Fragrance (Parfum), Edta, Disodium Edta, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Green 5 (Ci 61570), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140)

2. 

   worldlyMallard1

   Reply

   This product did nothing to my skin. It doesn’t worth the money in my opinion

3. 

   enragedKitten5

   Reply

   This is a great product for adult acne prone skin. I love the smell of la mer products but sadly find all of the moisturizers kind of bleh and nothing special. This cleanser has been a staple in my skincare regimen. It smells great. It feels soothing. It thoroughly cleanses when my skin is aggravates and leaves it feeling fresh and clean but without any chemical residue. It removes makeup fabulously. One bottle costs around $100 but lasts me over a year with one pump in the am and one pump in the pm.

4. 

   obsessedMussel2

   Reply

   Like a previous comment stated, I believe La Mer in general is an overly hyped brand. Their moisturizers and serums are okay, not much difference in my skin. I recently tried this gel cleanser and even though my skin is rarely sensitive, my skin began to itch very badly while applying this to my face with my Clarisonic. The weird thing is, I decided to just use it as a body wash since it didn’t work on my face but then my body even itches with this! I came to the conclusion that La Mer does nothing for my skin and even damages it. If you have the money to spend on this brand and feel like it works for you, then great. But I also believe it’s a mind over matter thing.

5. 

   cautiousToucan6

   Reply

   I use several of La Mer’s products but this has not been a favorite. I tried it years ago before it was reformulated and repackaged. Back when I first used it, while I did like its soft scent and how easily it rinses off with water, I found this gel cleanser to be too drying for my skin which has a normal t-zone with drier cheeks, no matter how little product I used. And in fact, the new pump packaging is very nice and convenient. And it did lure me into giving it another shot, but alas, my skin still doesn’t feel very comfortable after using this product. Among La Mer’s other cleanser offerings, I do like their cleansing milk which is gentle enough not to strip my skin of its moisture. Sadly, that one is not effectively removing my heavy duty daily sunscreen. So I will stay with my tried and true Elemis Pro-Radiance cleansing cream.
   Ingredients: Declustered Water (+)\Aqua\Eau De-Structuree (+) , Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine , Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate , Coco-Betaine , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Sodium Chloride , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract , Algae (Seaweed) Extract , Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil , Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder , Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal , Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil , Sodium Gluconate , Copper Gluconate , Calcium Gluconate , Magnesium Gluconate , Zinc Gluconate , Tocopheryl Succinate , Niacin , Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder , Butylene Glycol , Sucrose , Caprylyl Glycol , Sodium Bicarbonate , Tourmaline , Hexylene Glycol , Fragrance (Parfum) , Edta , Disodium Edta , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone , Phenoxyethanol , Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone , Geraniol , Butylphenyl Methylpropional , Linalool , Green 5 (Ci 61570) , Yellow 5 (Ci 19140)

6. 

   exactingZebra2

   Reply

   I have used Purity Cleanser by philosophy for many years. And in between would try and fail at finding anything else that would ever make me want to change until now. Three months and counting on this gel, and I’m in love. I’m 55 and wanted to try this. I got a deluxe sample, it goes along way. I use it on the sephora pink Face scrubby that has the little dots and lines on one end. And I seriously use less then a half a pea size on my face scrubby that I run under warm water first. If I’m removing makeup I do use the la Mer cleansing oil first then this gel. And found this combination so great that I don’t feel the need to use anything else afterwards. I’ve been doing this for three months now and my skin has improved enough people are commenting on it. I also don’t wear makeup all the time anymore. I do use the face perfecting cream by lamer daily and sometimes throw on my smashbox halo powder, lamer powder bronzer and lamer highlighter, and I’m good to go. Oh and lamer illuminating eye gel. I’m sold yes its expensive but soooo worth it.

7. 

   cheerfulBasmati7

   Reply

   I tried many Jill cleansers, and this is my runaway favorite. I have an oily T-Zones, which for me is my nose and my chin. Sometimes gel cleanser’s can be to drying, leaving my skin stripped and actually producing more oil. Two pumps of this lovely cleanser lathers into a gentle foam in my hands, which I then massage onto my face for a minute or two. It consistently leaves my skin is clean, refreshed, and balanced.

   I use a foam cleanser is at night, and a gel cleanser in the morning, as to avoid shiny skin while I’m out and about. I no longer need to use blotting papers, which is huge. I have also noticed a drastic reduction in hormonal cystic acne (on my chin) that I’m prone to getting once a month. If you’ve ever experienced these, you know that they can be quite painful and take a long time to disappear. The Cleansing Gel really does its job here, keeping my chin and nose oil-free.

   Another major plus is the heavenly scent. It’s the type of light and fresh scent befitting of a spa, and I find myself looking forward to washing my face every morning! If you aren’t a morning person, this is a huge motivation to hop in the shower and lather up. Definitely a keeper.

8. 

   cheerfulHawk1

   Reply

   Cons: The price. Seriously? The packaging looks retro and not in a fabulous way. Pros. I think the scent is calming and pleasant. The product itself feels like cashmere on the face. I have normal/oily skin, so, it doesn’t leave me feeling dry as some of the other reviewers have attested. Overall, I would never pay for bottle. However, I have found myself enjoying the GWP I received one hundred times more than I ever thought I would.

9. 

   madRhino9

   Reply

   I like a luxury product much as the next girl but I will say that if you’re going to charge $80 for a simple facial cleanser it had better be holy grail material – of which la mer’s gel cleanser just isn’t even close. I use this brand’s eye balm intense and the moisturizing soft cream and those products are pretty amazing and offer results that can be felt and seen so i’m certainly a fan of the brand.

   Unfortunately, this cleanser just doesn’t live up to the hype. It comes in lovely packaging and it foams up pretty liberally so that I’m sure the generous contents will last you a significantly long time and that’s always a positive. But it doesn’t do anything for your skin in the way of shrinking pores or reducing oil – no lasting benefits. It does remove makeup but so does your $10, $20, or $30 cleanser.

   The real downside to this face wash though is the addition of heavy perfume to the product. I by no means have sensitive skin (I combine a glycolic acid moisturizer & vit C powder in my morning regimen with no problems, that’s pretty intense to give you a frame of reference) but the completely unnecessary addition of the fragrance freaked my skin out and caused me to break out in rough whiteheads (blackheads are clogged pores but whiteheads result from unhealthy inflammation!).

   If you have money to burn I suggest using it for skincare products that provide relevant results regardless of their price. This cleanser was just a disappointment.

10. 

    betrayedWhiting2

    Reply

    I started using this about a month ago after falling in love with the La Mer Gel Moisturiser. I love the pump and that it lets me dispense a tiny tiny amount. It is expensive, but I think it will last a long time. I use a tiny drop for my whole face. I find that it cleans without stripping my skin. It doesn´t remove all my mascara though, as some reviewers have stated. It does have a light scent, but I don´t notice it once I have rinsed it off.
    I use this along with the gel moisturiser and notice that my skin is just really happy, I don´t need foundation anymore and people have commented that I look happy and well rested. I wish their products were not so expensive though.
    I will buy this again.