Every since I tried Dermalogica for the first time over 5 years ago I was impressed, a former boss used to swear by the brand and I see why. Fast forward 5 years and two products have truly stood the test of time when it comes to skincare for me. One of which is the Dermalogica PreCleanse which is all kinds of wonderful, and here’s why.
WHY ITS LOVE FOR ME
Amongst a sea of skincare products that are out there, and after (literally) decades of trying so many different cleansers. It takes a lot to really ‘wow’ me to be honest, especially with a cleanser. However, step forward the ‘Dermalogica PreCleanse‘. This product is all kinds of wonderful because it does exactly what you’d want it to, whilst really helping to clear up the skin.
Sleek packaging, easy to apply and super clean results. The PreCleanse quickly became my all time favourite cleansing product and a wonderful prep in my Double Cleansing routine. Many years on and it’s still my everyday go-to, my ‘cannot be without’ type of product.
A little goes a long way and its a product you can really see working. I feel like the Dermalogica PreCleanse cleans my skin without stripping it. Some cleansers have left my skin feeling clean but also feeling tight, almost like its stripped away the moisture, not the case here. I also find it reduces my pores and nourishes my skin. In fact it feels like a mini facial and the light scent I really like, which for me now smells like bedtime is calling.
The Dermalogica PreCleanse contains Borage Seed, Kukui and Apricot oils. It is also cruelty free, paraben-free, gluten free and vegan, plus it was produced without artificial fragrances or colours.
MY SKIN BACKGROUND/TYPE
In my teens I suffered heavily with acne. In my twenties my skin started to clear up quite a lot. Then in my thirties after my last pregnancy and thanks to having hypothyroidism, my skin was still very ‘breakout’ prone. A lot of it was stress or hormone related, but a lot was also down to the products I used. As I’m now in my mid-40’s and entering the Perimenopause, I find my ageing skin is much more on the drier side, so I always tread carefully, especially when it comes to skincare. When I find a product that is gentle, kind, caring and doesn’t break me out, I know I have found something great. When that product then helps with the clearing up of my skin, it becomes all kinds of wonderful.
MAKEUP….BE GONE
I wear makeup most days, always have and more than likely always will. SPF is a must for me too and the PreCleanse cuts through everything. The grease, the grime, the SPF, the makeup, you name it. It melts away waterproof eyeliner and waterproof mascara without stinging or irritation around my eye area. It makes light work of makeup removal whilst cleaning the skin and without causing any breakouts or irritation for me at all.
PACKAGING
I really like the Dermalogica packaging (their colours actually go with our bathroom, not that that is important but it’s pleasing to me aesthetically). Sleek, unisex and contemporary looking. I do think the packaging design helps you get the most out of your products, including those essential last few drops as you are finishing the product.
The Dermalogica PreCleanse has a pump which is easy to use and stops you from using too much. I use one large pump each time and find that is plenty for me, so its great not to have wastage of product.
HOW TO APPLY
I love that this product is best applied dry. So no need to wet your hands or face before applying, which I prefer.
I use one pump of the runny oil liquid into dry hands, message a little in my hands, then apply the product with my hands straight onto my face. Massaging the product all over my face from my hair line, brows, round my nose to my mouth and neck. Really working the product on my skin. I also find this product gentle enough to use around my eyes. You will start to see the product shifting and lifting the make up, especially round the eyes. So panda-eye alert at this point when you look in the mirror.
Next, I wet my hands slightly and mix the product on my face with the water. I then take a muslin cloth or cotton pad and soak it in warm water and then I start to go over all my face with that, gently wiping off any excess. You could also just rinse with warm water too if you prefer not to use a muslin cloth or cotton pad.
I find that once the warm water mixes with the PreCleanse on the face it starts to change consistency a little and before you know it your makeup is gone.
PAIRING WITH THE DERMALOGICA SPECIAL CLEANSING GEL
DOUBLE CLEANSING
You may have heard of double cleansing, you may already be a huge fan of double cleansing. I have to confess that until about 5 years ago I don’t think I ever really double cleansed. Once I did though there was no going back, and now there is never an evening where I haven’t double cleansed my face. I have seen the huge benefits of it, not just with my skin ‘feeling cleaner’, but my skin ‘looking clearer’. Honestly it is a major game changer and I now I swear by it.
The Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is the perfect companion to the Dermalogica PreCleanse for me. Once I have removed my makeup/cleansed my skin with the Dermalogica PreCleanse I reach for the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel.
Using a pea size amount in my wet hand (I find that less is more with this product). I add a little water to the gel, massaging in my hands before then applying all over my face. This is more like a cleanser I am used to where it looks a little foamy in consistency. As with the PreCleanse I massage all over my face from my hair line, around my nose, cheeks, eyes and neck. I then rinse with warm water and dry with a clean muslin cloth or cotton pad.
These products together remove makeup that I didn’t even know was there. When you have removed your makeup and you think you have removed everything, this duo will still find makeup you can’t see and remove it. Such a wonderful combination for super clean skin. I then continue with my skincare routine which usually involves a moisturiser or serum, sometimes both.
Dermalogica have a range of Cleansing gels but my favourite is the Special Cleansing Gel as I find it to be so lightweight, calming and soothing on my sensitive and ageing skin.
PRICING AND WHERE TO BUY
Priced at £39.50 it may initially seem expensive but as a little goes a long way, this same bottle will last a long time. The bottle is also generously sized at 150ml, plus there is a 30ml bottle available for £12.00 which is great for travel or if you want to try the product without splurging on the larger size just yet.
One small pump is ideal for me, you don’t need to use a lot each time, plus the packaging is designed to help with minimal product wastage. So therefore I find a bottle lasts me months and months. On estimate I would say one bottle lasts me roughly 4 months, sometimes a little more, and thats with using the product every evening.
You can purchase the Dermalogica PreCleanse online directly from Dermalogica, from online stores such as ASOS, John Lewis and even Next online. It’s a popular product and a ‘Skin Hero’ product for me for good reason. My skincare routine is incomplete without it.
