I Try Hundreds of Products a Year, But I Can't Be Without This £9 Cleanser
One of the most amazing things about being a beauty editor is getting to try all of the amazing new products the industry has to offer. From foundations to face masks, come the end of the year, there’s rarely a new launch untouched. The downside to this, however, is that constantly chopping and changing your skincare routine isn’t particularly great for your complexion. In fact, my skin hates it. The minute I try to phase in a product that my skin doesn’t like, all hell breaks loose and I get seriously angry breakouts.
And the sad part is, I experience this with products I really think I’m going to love. All too often the perpetrators of such a situation are super expensive new launches that should be destined for greatness.
However, with all of this being said, there is one product (of which I am always fully stocked) that I reach for whenever my breakouts get out of control. The minute I spot my pores are getting congested and sense that a breakout is on the horizon, I drop absolutely everything and reach for my trusty old friend: Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Purifying Cleansing Wash (£9).
Almost like magic, after just a couple of days, my skin will already be showing signs of clearing up. And after a couple of weeks of using the blemish-fighting cleanser every day, I can usually expect my skin to be more or less blemish-free. Put it this way: If I could have it my way, this would be the only cleanser that I ever use.
When a cleanser costs under £10, I’m always a little dubious. However, a quick glance over the ingredients list of this one proves that top-notch skin clarifying ingredients don’t always justify a steep price tag. Most notably, it contains congestion-busting salicylic acid to slough away at dead skin cells with minimal irritation. On top of that, and this is where my real skincare geek comes out to play, it contains hydrating and glow-boosting niacin (or vitamin B3) – my favourite ingredient out there. And, for those that worry about foaming gel formulas being potentially drying, fear not. While there’s no doubt you’ll need to replenish lost moisture with a serum or moisturiser afterwards, it’s nowhere near as drying like so many others I have used.
Since discovering this cleanser last year, I have learned that I am not alone in my undying love for it. A quick WhatsApp message to my fellow beauty editors reveals that actually, a huge amount of us swear by the stuff. It’s not fancy and it’s not luxurious, but it does genuinely works. As someone that has a complexion that boasts blackheads, enlarged pores and regular breakouts, believe me when I say this cleanser solves the majority of my skin problems.
Shop More Super Facialist Products
After the luxury experience of a skin-brightening cleansing oil without a high-end price tag? They don’t come much better than this.
If it’s blackheads that you struggle with, amp up the power of the salicylic acid cleanser with this matching pore-unclogging serum.
For times when your skin is feeling particular irritated and stressed out, this overnight cream will have it soft and supple come morning.
If it’s plumping hydration that your skin is crying out for, look no further than this firming cleanser.
It’s very rare that effective retinol treatments come this effective and this cheap. Simply apply to a cotton pad and wipe over the skin in the evening.
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Calm, soothe and hydrate tired skin with this beautiful rose face mist. I always have one within arm’s reach when working from home.
Next up, celebs love this skincare brand, and it’s my secret to glowing skin too.
Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.
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