I usually don’t give a shit about so-called clean beauty brands: everyone and their table lamp can call themselves clean, a lot of their marketing is based on fear-mongering and I mostly don’t agree with their tenets. Nevertheless, sometimes products land on my desk that I’m super curious about because they’re doing something new. And I can’t resist that. Two new clean face cleansers that I tested over the past weeks.
My usual cleansing routine
I’m an avid cleansing oil user. I will also use a gentle foaming gel (especially after exercising and very hot days), and a cleansing balm for stubborn eye makeup. My second cleanse is a micellar water that I’ll wash off. (You know my faves and routine.)
For me, a well-tailored skincare routine starts with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser. (Follow with a sunscreen you like and use regularly, and that’s the start of a great skincare regime!)
Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
Some of Indie Lee’s products are formulated without essential oils and fragrance, and also without alcohol, which makes the line suitable for sensitive skin. It’s also cruelty-free. I don’t see any commitment to sustainability on their site, sadly.
What it is
“Brighten up with this antioxidant-rich cleanser, makeup remover and mask in one. Strawberry Seed Oil, hydrolyzed Wheat Protein and Tomato extracts help strengthen, firm and protect, leaving the skin hydrated, silky and luminous.”
Indie Lee
You’re supposed to apply the cleanser (which looks like hair gel) to damp skin, massage in and remove with water. You can also use it as an exfoliating mask and leave it on your face up to 5 minutes. It can explicitly be used to remove makeup.
What it does
I’m really unsure about that, because does it anything?! For me, this doesn’t cleanse properly (my simple eye makeup wasn’t impressed – see below), AND leaves a weird oily film on my face afterwards. Also, keep in mind that you’ve to like strawberries, because this smells like a vat of artificial strawberry fragrance.
It feels rather nice on my face: gentle and silky. But then, I’m not looking for a massage, but a cleanser, and cleansing properly? It. Does. Not.
I can confirm that it doesn’t strip your face, but I’m rather unsure about the benefits of antioxidants in a cleanser. On top of that, the exfoliation action is minimal. For $35 for 125ml I can soundly say ‘next!’. (Available at Sephora.com, Cult Beauty and Douglas, for example.)
Incipedia Reinigungsgelee (cleansing jelly)
I always salute entrepreneurs and start-ups: It takes guts and tenacity to put out a product into the world that you believe in so much. Shenja from German skincare blog/YouTube channel Incipedia is one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to skincare in Germany. In 2017 she launched her first product (a toner), followed by a Vitamin C product in 2019, and a cleansing jelly this spring. All products adhere to natural and clean cosmetics standards, are vegan, cruelty-free and made in Germany.
Incipedia as a brand seems to straddle the line between ‘natural’ and effective skincare suitable for sensitive skin that leaves out alcohol and essential oils. Two of her three products come in glass packaging.
What it is
The cleansing jelly/balm is formulated with a minimalist approach and looks like yellow jell-o.
Ingredients:
Incipedia
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Aqua, Sucrose Palmitate, Sucrose Laurate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Alcohol (< 0,1 %)
You’re supposed to warm the jelly in your hands until it melts, then apply it to your dry face, massage it in, emulsify with water and wash it off.
What it does
Sigh. It really, really pains me to write this. But. While this is a fascinating product that brings the ‘skintertainment’ (just imagine if it would’ve been released by, say, Deciem or The Inkey List – it would be incredibly hyped due to its unique texture), there’re a few flaws build into the formula. The jelly texture is unique, but: it is a pain in the behind to wait for the jelly to melt. Because it takes a loooooooooong time, even now it’s still summer. My hands are warm! My face is warm! I don’t want to know how long it’ll take in winter when my hands often resemble ice blocks!
When I apply it to my face, it still drags. No bueno, you never want to drag and tug your skin. It cleans – decently and only surrendered in front of my eyeliner in my test above.
New clean face cleansers
That may be because it didn’t liquefy properly: as with all oil-based cleansers, you definitely should massage it into your skin for at least 30 seconds. I have a hard time doing that with Incipedia’s jelly. I really wanted to love this, but I don’t. Although it does leave my skin feeling very silky and nourished without the greasy feeling of Indie Lee’s cleanser – and its vastly superior cleansing power wins over Indie Lee easily.
(Also, thank you to my awesome friend who decanted a very generous sample for me to try!)
19,95€ for 120ml, available in Europe (although I’m sure if you contact the shop, you’ll be able to figure something out if you’re outside the EU).
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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