SKINCARE
1 | SBTRCT GENTLE FOAMING CLEANSER, £22
The tester Keisha Reid
Skin type Oily
The promise Sbtrct sets itself apart with its eco philosophy, only using natural ingredients if they’re abundant, don’t threaten the environment, wildlife or humankind, and work as well as their chemical counterparts. Sls-free, all its bars are handmade, and the packaging is 100% compostable, negating the need for single-use plastic, whether recyclable or not, making for an exemplary eco profile.
The verdict I fell in love with this cleansing bar.
I’m usually picky with cleansers as I have oily skin, and I was worried the essentials oils would make me break out. Not only is my skin spot-free, I didn’t need to bother double cleansing (something I always do to remove stubborn make-up). It has a milky texture, but the addition of coconut-derived foam gives it a satisfying level of froth. And while I was expecting it to leave my skin feeling tight and dry – the myth that soaps are drying is a persistent one – my skin is anything but. In fact, while I usually suffer with bouts of dryness in the colder months, they haven’t appeared since I started using this. It’s my new cleansing hero. (Did I mention I liked it?)
Aesthetic appeal 5/5
Hydrating 5/5
Effectiveness 5/5
Total 15/15
2 | AVÈNE COLD CREAM ULTRA RICH CLEANSING BAR, £5
The tester Gabrielle Dyer
Skin type Dry
The promise Liquid soaps require five times more energy for their production and 20 times more energy for packaging production than bars. Eau Thermale Avène comes boxed in cardboard packaging, meaning there’s zero plastic. It’s also carefully formulated for dry skin types – enriched with white beeswax to boost hydration levels, so it doesn’t strip the skin. It can be used on both face and body, which means you don’t have to buy as many products.
The verdict I’ve always swerved face soaps, convinced they’ll dry out my complexion even more, so, naturally, I was wary about trying this one. A pre-trial google tells me cold cream is an age-old formulation that combines emulsions of high concentrations of lipids and wax to cleanse without (because it’s SLS/ Sles-free) compromising the skin’s natural barrier. It’s gentle enough to use daily, and I noticed a marked improvement in the softness of my skin after a week or so. It’s also a big old bar, one that I reckon could carry me comfortably through the next five months – yep, that works out at £1 a month, folks. A word of warning, though: it doesn’t deliver on the make-upremoving front, so I had to use an oil cleanser first to dissolve my mascara and foundation. it would be better if it came with a protective box like some other brands to prevent it from getting wet.
Aesthetic appeal 4/5
Hydrating 5/5
Effectiveness 4/5
Total 13/15
3 | DRUNK ELEPHANT JUJU BAR, £24
The tester Perdita Nouril
Skin type Normal
The promise This cleansing bar is powered by biocompatible actives – a mix of plant-derived extracts that the skin recognises, then knows what to do with. Thermal mud, bamboo powder and marula oil work together to cleanse and nourish without upsetting the skin’s microbiome – as a product containing SLS would – and all ingredients are sustainably sourced. While the packaging for the juju bar is recyclable, the rest of the range uses pumps that are not.
The verdict After the first use, I could still see remnants of make-up on my towel, meaning I couldn’t forgo my (water-based, plasticclad) micellar cleanser, so I already feel like I’m failing on the eco front. The bar has grains, but they didn’t seem to do much in the way of exfoliation. That said, it did create a creamy texture that was easy to massage into my skin and, once dry, my face felt unbelievably smooth and soft. I barely needed any moisturiser afterwards, which is really saying something on a midwinter Monday. Yes, it’s pricey, but even after a few weeks of use, the bar seems the same size, so I reckon it’s going to last at least three months longer than my usual cleanser, making it great value for money.
Aesthetic appeal 4/5
Hydrating 5/5
Effectiveness 4/5
Total 13/15