Alpha-H Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil: Review

I’ve tried a few of Alpha-H products. Their biggest seller the Liquid Gold is too rough for my skin. I grabbed the Alpha-H Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil a few months ago. I’m obsessed with cleansing oil type gels. Details per Beauty Bay:

Alpha H Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil is a hydrating cleanser specially formulated for mature skin types.
Ideal for dull, dehydrated and lacklustre complexions, Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil has a high performance, dual function formula which works as a makeup remover and moisturising cleansing oil.
Rich in Antioxidants such as Ferulic Acid and Vitamin C, this innovative cleanser has a lightly textured formula which has been designed to remove even the most stubborn face and eye makeup and assists in expelling impurities and shielding the skin against free radical aggression.
A beautifying blend of Cucumber, Hibiscus and White Mulberry noticeably brighten, sooth and refine the skin’s texture and tone whilst balancing the skin’s natural pH and leave the complexion looking radiant and youthful.

The product is a thicker oil based gel very much like OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel, Zelens Z Pure, Su-man Cleansing Gel Oil and the like. It removes makeup well, yet rinses clean with no oily residue. You can use it as step 1 in a double cleanse, or by itself. It will not dry your skin out. You can use it to remove mascara, it has no strong scent, it’s light and pleasant and comes in an easy to use pump. It’s quite brilliant.

Directions:

 

•  Apply 2-3 pumps of cleansing oil to a dry face and gently massage.
•  Add a few drops of lukewarm water to emulsify the oil then remove thoroughly with lukewarm water or a warm damp face cloth.
•  Apply to a damp cotton pad to remove stubborn mascara.
•  Use morning and evening before your preferred Alpha-H moisturizer.

Ingredients:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Aqua, Sucrose Laurate, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Palmitate, Sucrose Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Mannitol, Parfum, Lavandula Latifolia Herb Oil, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil, Pogostemon Cabin Leaf Oil, Sodium Gluconate, Cucumis Sativus Seed Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dextrin, Ferulic Acid, Waltheria Indica Leaf Extract, Linalool

Alpha-H Age Delay Hand and Cuticle Cream: Review

Alpha-H Age Delay Hand & Cuticle Care Cream doesn’t get enough posted love from me. So time to give it it’s own post and review. This has become by far my favorite night hand cream, as well as my favorite Alpha-H product. Alpha-H is an Aussie brand I discovered on Cultbeauty. I buy it off of Beautybay now because they have free shipping included in the price.

Per Cultbeauty’s website: “We invest small fortunes into ‘preserving’ our skin’s youthful glow, but it’s no good if your hands betray your years. Oft forgotten in our quest to stave off ‘age’, hands are constantly exposed to sunlight, free radicals and dehydrating soaps, sanitisers and detergents, but help is (finally) on hand (sorry)! Age Delay Hand & Cuticle Care Cream contains Alpha-H’s signature Glycolic Acid – an AHA, which gently loosens the bonds that bind dulling dead cells to skin’s surface and in turn, accelerates cells’ repair and renewal processes. With regular use, delicate skin becomes stronger, thicker and younger-looking – your hands will look positively pampered!

Winner of the Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible’s ‘Best Anti-Ageing Hand Cream’ award, this rich velvety formula quickly replenishes precious moisture whilst improving the appearance of crêpiness, age spots and hyperpigmentation thanks to 10% Glycolic Acid. A fragrant blend of essential oils – including Orange Blossom, Rose, Geranium, Chamomile, Lemon and Rosewood – helps to nourish, smooth and brighten hardworking hands, while Jojoba and Avocado oils, together with Vitamin E work to strengthen, repair and protect skin and cuticles. Intensive yet easily absorbed, this sinks in beautifully with no oily residue, so you can carry on being a multi-tasking miracle worker. High five Alpha-H!”

The texture is thick. It’s greasy enough to last all night and takes a few minutes to soak in. Smells like citrus. Because it is thick and greasy enough to last the night, it’s not a great day cream. I love the idea of using Glycolic Acid on my hands at night to fight age spots. Lets face it, I have neglected my hands my whole life, worse than my neck. You always think of treating your face first, and wear daily sunscreen. Then you might think about your neck. Hands always get the shaft. I tried to use those sunscreen hand creams, but I wash my hands so often in the daytime they never seemed to work because I was always washing it off five minutes later.

What I love about this the most is the thick greasy texture that lasts all night, and it has 10% Glycolic Acid to help with pigmentation and exfoliation at night. Technically when using an Alpha Hydroxy Acid like Glycolic Acid, you should use sunscreen in the day. Then you run into the same problem I stated as above, washing it off too often. So in theory yes great idea, in reality it doesn’t always happen as it should.

I’m on my third tube now since I found this. Unless I can find something else I like better this stays my Hero night hand cream. A word of caution, do not apply then put your finger in your eye, it burns. It burns open cuts too from the Glycolic Acid.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Ceteth-20, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Hydrolysed Keratin, Lysine HCL, Hydrolysed Soy Protein, Aniba Rosaeodora Wood Oil, Rose Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol.

Chemical Exfoliators: AHA & BHA: Paula’s Choice, Alpha-H, Drunk Elephant, Renee Rouleau: Review & Comparison

I’ve been wanting to compare some chemical exfoliators for a while. Physical exfoliation is like a scrub, chemical is a type of peel, toner or serum that uses Alpha Hydroxy Acids(AHA), Beta Hydroxy Acids(BHA) or both. The purpose is to remove dead surface skin cells to encourage cell renewal and turnover. They help with acne, pigmentation and dark spots, overall texture of the skin as well as brightness and an even tone, and fine lines and wrinkles. They’re what I wish I had known about in my 20s. Glycolic acid is an AHA and it also helps with adding moisture to the skin. Always use a sunscreen when using these products as they can make your skin more sensitive to sun damage.

AHA(glycolic and lactic acids) benefits: Helps with sun damage, adds moisture by binding water to skin, removes upper layer of skin revealing more even, smoother skin. This helps with pigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles. Glycolic acid commonly comes in 5, 10, 15 or 20% concentrations and is OK to use during pregnancy. I never see a percentage on lactic acid products.

BHA(salicylic acid) benefits: Best for acne and breakouts, large pores, black heads, it’s anti-inflammatory,  and antibacterial which can make it good for rosacea as well. It really unclogs oils in pores and helps reduce oil overall on the skin. Usually comes in 1, 2 and 4% concentrations. I did avoid BHA’s during pregnancy even though 2% concentrations are supposed to be safe.

I’m leaving out discussing peels as that’s a separate post as you wash them off, these are leave on AHA/BHA products. Some of my favorite or current ones I’m using:

Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless 2% BHA Body Treatment-This is great for my upper arms on those ‘chicken bumps’ as it takes care of them easily. It’s a lotion, non-greasy, and it’s cheap for a large tube.
Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment 2% BHA-This is a great toner if you’re breaking out or have acne. I use it around my nose at night to help clear my pores. I don’t need it all over my face. I will use it on my chin or something if needed during a break out.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant-This is a great all around glycolic acid gel. It’s not sticky and absorbs quickly. It doesn’t sting and is cheap and packaged in a pump. Check out all the Paula’s Choice BHA/AHA products here.
Alpha-H Instant Facial-This is a glycolic acid toner spray. I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought it, I would never spray it on my face directly to avoid spraying my eyes with glycolic acid. I spray it on a cotton pad then apply it. It should just come in a toner bottle vs a spray. I’ll stick with the Paula’s Choice and Drunk Elephant serums.
Alpha-H Liquid Gold-This is a pretty strong glycolic acid toner. It has alcohol in it, which I hate, and this dried my skin out too much as well as was too harsh from the alcohol. I wasn’t a fan.
Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum-This I love. It’s a staple. It has all three main acids: glycolic, lactic and salicylic. It’s a non-greasy, quick absorbing gel that doesn’t sting. It also has loads of other great beneficial skin ingredients, and has 12% glycolic acid. I emailed Drunk Elephant when I was pregnant and they confirmed it has 2% or less on the salicylic acid so it could be used during pregnancy. I don’t know the lactic acid or citric acid percentages. You can check it out here.
Renee Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment-This is a lactic acid spot treatment. It’s a thicker liquid. I love this. It isn’t a miracle your cyst/blemish is gone overnight product, but it will help reduce it quickly and keep one from geeting out of hand if you apply it at first sight of a cyst. I like it better than benzoyl peroxide which is too drying for me. It’s also pregnancy safe. You can check it out here.

L to R: Paula’s Choice Body Treatment, Paula’s Choice AHA Gel, Drunk Elephant, Renee Rouleau:

I apply these at night. Overall, my favorite is the Drunk Elephant serum with the combination of acids, and the Renee Rouleau for spot treatment. Paula’s Choice makes really great BHA/AHA products and they’re cheap. The Daily Pore-Refining Treatment is my favorite to help the pores around my nose and the Body Treatment is nice. I could use the toner on my arms to only have one BHA product, but at the cheap price might as well have both. I could do without the 8% AHA Gel but it was necessary during pregnancy. Renee Rouleau also makes good AHA/BHA products. I started with her stuff when I got into them. The AHA products are nice but honestly Paula’s Choice is so similar and cheaper. The Renee Rouleau BHA Clarifying Serum is amazing for acne though, I used many bottles of it when I went through my hormonal cystic acne phase a few years back. It has lactic, glycolic and salicylic acid. I don’t use it now as the salicylic acid is 3% and it was a touch too drying for me without acne now. This stuff will unclog some pores well. I would recommend it to anyone with acne.

I love AHA and BHA products, they really have made a huge difference in being able to keep my skin looking great. I highly recommend adding one or more to your routine. You just need to pick what’s best for your skin and preference of applying(toner, gel, etc).

Alpha-H Absolute Eye Complex: Review

Alpha-H is a brand I came across on Cultbeauty’s website. Their glycolic acid based Liquid Gold is their biggest seller, but I was looking for eye creams and selected this Absolute Eye Complex. This is a 15 ml pump(bonus on the packaging for not using a jar and letting the ingredients degrade when exposed to air) and it retails for around $57. You have to get it shipped to you from a foreign site as Alpha-H isn’t available in the US(except the Liquid Gold is at B-glowing.com).

Per Alpha-H’s website: “A lifting and perfecting serum uniquely designed to be applied to lash level and over the entire eyelid to combat dark circles, dark shadows, puffiness, hooded lids and fine lines. Natural flower acids from Hibiscus petals smooth and brighten the skin whilst Hyaluronic Acid and Tetrapeptides lift and plump the eye contour.” The benefits: Soothing and firming gel that refreshes, rehydrates, reduces puffiness and dark circles. With continued use, the need for an under eye concealer is reduced as swelling and dark circles are minimized. Fine lines, wrinkles and crows feet become less visible as the skin is plumped and moisturized. Ideal for hooded, puffy, tired eyes, dark circles/pigmentation, men and for smokers.”

The product is a straw colored gel. It’s mildly hydrating and not greasy. It would be good for anyone who has an oily eye area or doesn’t need a lot of moisture in the eye area. My eyes are dry so I had to use it more as a serum with a more hydrating cream on top. I used it twice a day until it was gone.

I was pretty disappointed with this, it didn’t really do anything for me. It gave a lightly refreshing feel on contact but that was about it. I didn’t notice much of anything as far as dark circles or fine lines. It did help a bit with puffiness. I still had to use my concealer. On to testing the next eye product…

Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Extract, Serum Albumin, Hyaluronic Acid, Dextran Sulphate, Fagus Sylvatica Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Acrylates/C10-C30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract.

Current Skincare & Complexion Favorites: Omorovicza, OSEA, OSKIA, Su-Man, Tata Harper, Drunk Elephant, Zelens + More

These are some of my current skincare and quick complexion favorites. I had to change around my skincare a touch due to being 21 weeks pregnant. Oddly, when I moved from dry, cold Montana to humid, hot Texas this January I figured I would be purging all my heavy creams and just using light products again. However, my skin has been so dry so this hasn’t happened, must be hormones. I have also had to put all my salicylic acid products in storage for future use after pregnancy, I was staying away from retinol anyway so that was never an issue.

Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma Day Serum has been my hands down favorite antioxidant day serum since discovering it in August. I talked about it here. OSEA Malibu’s Eyes & Lips is fabulous, I even keep it by my bed at night right now. My eyes have been so dry lately and this is rich yet not greasy. It soothes, and I put it on multiple times a day, even over my normal eye routine. It’s like my as needed moisture boost. I have discussed it some here.

OSKIA’s Nutri-Active Day Cream has become my day lotion. Despite the name it’s a lotion texture not a cream. It’s thin, lightweight, easily absorbed yet it has great moisture and ingredients. I plan on reviewing it soon. I normally use Drunk Elephant’s TLC Night Serum as my night Alpha Hydroxy Acid(AHA) exfoliant, but it has salicylic acid so I have been using two glycolic acid replacements during pregnancy. Paula’s Choice ‘Skin Perfecting’ 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant is cheap, which is a plus, it’s really similar to the Renee Rouleau glycolic serum I used to use as well. It’s a lightweight, non greasy gel that absorbs quickly. If you’re looking for a cheap glycolic serum this one is well done. I have wanted to love Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold forever, however I have this big sample and every time I use it my face turns beet red the next morning. It’s got to be the glycolic acid concentration or the denatured alcohol they use in the base dries me out and irritates. Alpha-H’s Instant Facial spray has similar ingredients to Liquid Gold, minus the alcohol, and I can use this with no issue. So I’m using either the Paula’s Choice or Alpha-H right now. I’ve been meaning to make a serum exfoliant comparison post, so I will talk about these in depth more coming up.

Su-Man’s Purifying Gel Cleansing Gel-Oil has been my most reached for cleanser right now. It’s nice it doesn’t dry me out because of the oil, yet it washes off clean and doesn’t need a muslin cloth for removal so it’s good when I’m more lazy. I have talked about it here. Omorovicza’s Mineral UV Shield SPF30 is a new physical sunscreen that’s excellent. I haven’t gotten around to reviewing it yet. It’s thin, non greasy, absorbs quickly, and it doesn’t pill under my makeup or leave me with an obvious white cast. Downside is the price, it’s high. Since I’m not using my usual La Roche-Posay chemical sunscreen right now because of the pregnancy, this is a great alternative, and it’s a large tube I imagine it will last the whole summer until I can switch back.

With my skin being so dry I have been slathering on the oils as well. Tata Harper’s Replenishing Nutrient Complex is great, it’s lightweight and absorbs quickly. I use it over the OSKIA lotion. I have talked about it here. Every pregnant lady has to have a stretch mark oil or cream. I have chosen OSEA’s Undaria Algae Oil. It’s relatively cheap and has great natural ingredients. I briefly touched on it here but will have to do a post solely on this product coming up.

OSKIA’s Renaissance Mask have been my favorite exfoliant mask since I discovered it last year. It’s fabulous and nothing else beats it(Omorovicza’s Blue Diamond Peel is very similar but I choose OSKIA for the cheaper price tag). I have talked about it here and here. Su-Man’s Rehydrating Toning Essence has been nice, it has a gel that turns liquid texture, hyaluronic acid, green tea and hazel which I can use right now. I have discussed it here.

Now onto the quick complexion fixes. I have been extremely lazy with pregnancy and more so even the last three weeks with the addition of my Dane pooches who currently keep me up at night a lot. I usually use two concealers, Cle de Peau’s and Surratt’s, but recently got the Omorovicza Mineral Touch Concealer in Beige and have been playing with that. I pictured all three as I use all three depending on my mood. Cle de Peau’s Concealer is the heaviest so for high coverage I use that. Surratt’s Surrealiste Concealer is creamier and lighter in texture, great for blemishes and sometimes under my eyes depending. Omorovicza’s Mineral Touch Concealer is light as well yet less emollient than Surratt, it’s almost in-between Cle de Peau and Surratt. I plan on comparing them all soon in a post.

I have been using Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Anti-Aging forever, but the addition of Enigma was an excellent choice. The color is neutral and so much better for me than Eden is. I can use this with or without eyeshadow just to even my coloring on my eyelids and keep the shine down. I’m so sad this is limited, but hopefully after many good reviews it won’t be. Under my eyes I use Shiseido’s Sheer Eye Zone Corrector in Natural Ochre for dark circles under my concealer, this brightens the area. It’s my cheaper version of YSL Touche Eclat. I have talked about it here. I always feel better if my eyebrows are a bit polished and I’ve been reaching for Hourglass’s Arch in Blonde a lot lately. The powder is Suqqu Nuancing Natural Loose Powder which I talked about here. I’ve been using that for just a quick dusting. It’s a nice powder too bad it’s been discontinued as a loose powder.

I’ve been testing a lot of new primers lately. Zelens Satin Primer has been my favorite so far. It’s moisturizing yet not too much, with some added Zelens skin benefits. Review to come soon. When lazy, as well as in warmer weather, I reach for Omorovicza’s Complexion Enhancer a ton. This is a tinted moisturizer I have discussed here. It’s sheer and only comes in one shade, but it’s great for summer. I usually use two layers or three on areas like my chin, cheeks and nose. It’s not greasy which is great for summer or humidity, it’s got physical SPF when you’re lazy and just want a tint of color. It is very light coverage.

Tata Harper’s Be Fierce lip balm is one of my favorite balms. It’s very similar to Fresh’s Sugar Balm texture wise. I’m on my 3rd or 4th tube since last summer. I talked about it a little here. It has a slight fruity scent and barely a taste. I can’t make out what it tastes like it’s that faint. I prefer this to my Sisley and By Terry lip balms, which are more expensive anyway.

Last I realized after writing this post that I couldn’t leave out my Omorovicza Nourishing Hand Treatment. I am almost out of my first tube, it’s lovely. I discussed it some here.

Hand Creams: Comparison & Review

I have very dry hands and I love as well as try many hand creams. These are some current favorites, as well as some fails. Starting on the left is the Alpha-H Age Delay Hand and Cuticle Cream. Alpha-H is an Australian brand I get off of Cultbeauty.co.uk. The Alpha-H has 10% glycolic acid and is supposed to reduce age spots with this chemical exfoliation. It also has an essential oil blend of: orange blossom, rose, geranium, chamomile, lemon and rosewood. In addition: vitamin E, jojoba and avocado oils. This is a great night cream. It’s heavy, thick and lasts a while. It is a bit greasy which is why it’s good for night use. The greasiness goes away after about 5-10 minutes. It retails for about $31.26 for 100mL. I would caution using this on open skin or touching your eye after applying. I’ve done this, and it hurts 🙂

Next up is the Omorovicza Nourishing Hand Treatment. I love Omorovicza products in general. I did not want to spend the pricey amount on their hand cream so it took me a while to try it. I bought it recently with my Pengo Points, which is a reward system. I’m glad I did try it. The hand cream is thin enough to be a great day cream, yet adds enough moisture. It absorbs quickly, has a light scent, is not greasy and has great ingredients. The main ingredients are: Hungarian Thermal water, shea butter, squalane, Hungarian Thermal ferment extract, beeswax, vitamin C and apricot and plum seed extract. This has become my favorite texture even with the price. It retails for $70 for a 3.4 fl oz tube. I have tried La Mer’s The Hand Cream as well, it’s lovely, just a touch greasier and heavier than the Omorovicza. I prefer the Omorovicza after trying both due to the faster absorption.

Yes! Nurse Hand Cream was developed by a UK nurse. I get it off of Cultbeauty. This is my current purse hand cream. It’s the perfect size for a purse and retails for just over $7 for 50 mL. It’s main ingredients are: water, glycerin, manuka honey, vitamin B5, sweet almond, passionflower, pomegranate and wheat germ oil, vitamin E, willow bark extract, citric acid and aloe. The cream has a light to medium texture and is moisturizing, however it’s slightly sticky(not greasy) for a while after applying. The tackiness goes away after about 5 minutes. The manuka honey is nice as it has some antibacterial properties in a purse hand cream, which I like. Plus as a nurse I like that another nurse made it.

The 80 Acres Hand & Body Lotion I got off of Beautyhabit. This scent is blood orange. It’s a 2.5 fl oz tube and I know I got it on clearance to meet a shipping minimum, otherwise I never would have tried it. It’s light in texture, somewhat greasy but not sticky. It takes about 5 minutes for the greasiness to go away. I don’t think I would buy it again as I have others I like more, it goes into the OK category.

I also bought the SpaceNK Mandarin Tea Hand Lotion on clearance as well. It’s the most fluid and thin of the bunch. It’s thin, slightly greasy and in a large 300mL bottle. I wouldn’t buy it again again as I just have other favorites, it’s in the just OK category.

The Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream was one I tried for day that has sunscreen. It’s thick, and a bit greasy. It doesn’t absorb quickly and for a day cream that was why I didn’t like this one so much. It’s moisturizing, just too much for day. It retails for $29.50 for a 2.5 fl oz tube. It’s an OK cream, but it’s not great.

I have tried several Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams. They are thicker, moisturizing, and are great night creams. They can be a touch greasy for a bit, but they do last. I was using the La Source version as my night cream until I decided to try the Alpha-H one instead. I would rebuy it as it’s a great hand cream. It’s not the best for day use unless you don’t need to use your hands right away after applying. The greasiness goes away after about 5-10 minutes. It’s also a fairly cheap cream for the $30 price  for 8.8 oz pump. The main ingredients are: macadamia nut oil, shea butter, seaweed and algae extracts, vitamin E and Myrrh extract.

L to R in same order as pictures above:

I’m sure I will keep trying new hand creams as it’s such an essential skincare item for me. As a nurse I wash my hands a ton, plus I currently don’t have a dishwasher so I do 1-2 loads of hand dishes everyday. I definitely have some dry hands. I don’t have any current hand cream major wants right now. It’s more when I see a new one I want to try I buy it. I had used L’Occitane for probably 10 years and it’s a great night cream. It’s heavy, moisturizing, yet a bit greasy for day. I’ve been trying some new hand creams this year getting away from the L’Occitane to see what’s out there.

These are the few I have left to try which I got as gifts etc. recently.

My Current Favorite Facial Scrubs

Facial scrubs are a very personal thing. You love or hate the feel of the scrub. The size, texture and harshness of the scrub are all personal taste. I would pick an exfoliant based on ingredients, price and preference on the texture of the scrub.

I got the Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator from one of my Birchbox’s. The main ingredients are papaya enzyme, aluminum oxide micro crystals, aloe vera, vitamin B & E and coconut. It’s not harsh, the scrub feels round in shape. The first few times I used this scrub it stung a little, not harshly, but more than I expected. It works, no complaints at all about it, it’s also cheap compared to the rest. This is a physical and enzymatic cleanser.

Su-Man Exfoliating Facial Polish I talked about in detail here. The scrub is not fully round as the coffee is organic, yet it’s not harsh. This also has an oil cleanser base which is unique, the rest do not have this.

Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Cleanser is a favorite of mine. The main ingredients are: Hungarian Thermal water, shea butter, Barbados Cherry, Mango, Yellow Mombin, Banana and apple fruit extract, Hungarian Thermal water ferment extract, vitamin E, phospholipids. It’s a gentle and creamy cleanser base with smooth beads for exfoliating. It’s not harsh and has a great list of ingredients. It’s a physical and enzymatic cleanser. It comes in a plastic pump bottle & retails for $85 for 5.1 fl oz.

Omorovicza Refining Facial Polisher is their newest cleanser. It also is a physical exfoliant and enzymatic cleanser. The main ingredients are: Hungarian mud, copper gluconate, olive oil derivative, Lava powder as the physical exfoliant, lactobionic acid, Mango, Yellow Mombin and Banana fruit extract, Hungarian thermal water ferment extract, algae extract, phospholipids and vitamin E. It retails for $95 for 3.4 fl oz as a squeeze tube. It comes out as a dark green color but as you massage it in, it turns greyish. You then leave it on for 2 minutes, then rinse. This does have a harsher feel than any of the others. The scrub size is not uniform or round, it is natural but it can have some sharper edges so it depends what you like. It’s not apricot shell scrub harsh but sensitive skin people may have a hard time with it.

Alpha-H is an Australian brand I haven’t talked about yet. I get their stuff off of cultbeauty. The Micro Cleanse is a physical and chemical exfoliant scrub. The main ingredients are glycolic acid, polyethylene beads as the physical exfoliant, rice bran wax, macadamia nut oil, vitamin E, cucumber extract and mint oil. It does have parabens so if you’re against that this is not for you. They are at the end of the ingredient list so it’s not a large concentration. The scrub texture is mild, the beads are not harsh at all. The glycolic acid gives it a big kick though. It’s a 100mL tube and retails for about $35.

Zelens Micro-Refiner Exfoliator is a hydrating, physical and enzymatic scrub. The main ingredients are hydrated silica beads, papaya enzyme, Advanced Hydrating Complex(amino acids, lactate, urea, citrate, minerals) and jojoba esters. You massage it for a minute on your skin then rinse. It’s a 50mL tube that retails for $90. This scrub is very gentle it has no harsh feeling at all.

The gentlest scrubs are the Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Cleanser and the Zelens. They both have mild physical exfoliants and are moisturizing as well. They also have a more liquid texture with a lower density of beads. The Su-Man and Vasanti are in the middle. The Su-Man has a touch more harsh physical exfoliant with the coffee grounds, and the Vasanti has a mild physical exfoliant yet the acidity of the base is higher. The more extreme exfoliators are the Alpha-H and Omorovicza Refining Facial Polisher. The Alpha-H has a high density of beads and a high acidity base or chemical exfoliant with glycolic acid. The Omorovicza has a harsher feeling physical scrub related to the edges being not round and organic in shape. I would definitely pick the Omorovicza Gentle Buffing Cleanser as a staple. The Su-Man is nice, the Zelens is similar to the Omorovicza so I don’t need both and it’s more expensive. The Vasanti I could do without. I’m torn between the Alpha-H and the Omorovicza Refining Facial Polisher if I only had to pick one.

L to R in same order as photo above: