Review: My Top Three Highend Make-up Removers

Dermalogica Ultra Calming Cleanser £25.50

I have been using this product for years. It's a fairly thick gel, that manages to remove even the most stubborn mascara. It leaves the skin feeling extremely soft and supple, with actually no need to apply moisturiser.

What dermalogica say: "An extremely gentle cleansing gel/cream that can either be rinsed off or gently removed with tissue or The Sponge Cloth. Helps combat skin sensitivity caused by exposure to pollution, harsh climate, irritating cosmetic products and other environmental influences. Contains no artificial fragrance or color."

I love this product even more because it is great for my eczema, doesn't create an itchy flair up and certainly doesn't clog the pores. I tend to use this product as a gel with a cotton pad with no rinsing afterwards.

Living Nature Gental Makeup Remover £12.75*

I spent 10 days using this product and it really does do what it says on the bottle. Its oil free, fragrance free and extremely gentle, especially around the eye area. It removed the thickest layer of mascara effortlessly.

What Living Nature say:

"Gentle Makeup Remover is a highly effective but extra-gentle cleanser to instantly soften and remove makeup. It’s non-drying and skin-calming formulation is a soothing infusion of cleansing Kumerahou, hydrating Harakeke Flax Gel, and nourishing Active Manuka Honey. Eyebright and Witchhazel extracts are natural anti-inflammatories and skin conditioners, to soothe the skin.

Ideal for the delicate eye area, Gentle Makeup Remover is fragrance and allergen free, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

To use: Apply to warm damp cotton pad and gently wipe away all traces of makeup.

For all skin types, especially sensitive skin."

Yet again, this product doesn't cause an eczema flair up and doesn't make my skin more dry, unlike a lot of removers which strip the natural oils from the skin.

Arbonne Eye Makeup Remover £13*

Now, this product is specific for the eyes, however I did find it gentle enough to use all over the face. I used this product for a full 10 days, mostly on just the eye area, but I did want to experiment to see if it was ok on the other areas of the face.

Arbonne don't say very much about their product only that its, "Oil-free formula gently removes stubborn eye makeup while conditioning and moisturizing eyelids and lashes." Personally that statement is enough, because this product is super amazing. 

You need the smallest amount to remove eye makeup and it melts mascara off like butter. This product does have a very slight alcohol smell but not in the slightest overpowering. I had to literally sit and really sniff my hand to see if it smelt. 

When using this product on other areas of the face it was again gentle enough not to cause my skin to flair up.

* denotes pr sample. All views are my own.

Budget Skin Care

A little while ago I ran out of my St Ives and Dermalogica skin care and due to the lack of funds at that particular moment I needed to find myself some cheap bits. Unlike most people I have to keep with my routine because I have very dry skin and just one day without moisturiser causes my skin to get very flaky and sensitive.

I popped along to good old Superdrug and picked up an Exfoliating Scrub, Moisturising Day Cream and some Skin Oil which all come from the Vitamin E range. 

 Exfoliating Facial Scrub - £2.99

The scrub tided me over until I was able to get some more or my regular St Ives Apricot Scrub. The scrub smells divine however there was just not enough exfoliating beads for me. I had major problems removing all of the dryness due to the lack of beads and found that because of that I was exfoliating far more than I would normally.

Moisturising Day Cream - £2.99

This cream is thick and luxurious and the smell again is amazing. This cream has now replaced my £14 tube of dermalogica because it really does do the job. The cream doesn't cause my skin to flare up with eczema and that for me is a huge bonus.

Finally The Skin Oil - £2.99

I was a bit concerned with the oil because I didnt want to replace my dry skin with spots but I was happily suprised. I use this product at night around my nose and on my cheeks and anywhere else that happens to be dry and in the morning my skin feels as soft as a baby's bum. I only use a few drops and thus far I havent had any issues with spots.

Over the years I have tried a lot of shop own brand products and this range so far has been the best. I plan on trying some of the other items from the range in the future.