I didn’t realise it until recently, but cleansers spend the least amount of time on our faces. Unlike serums and creams that are meant to be absorbed by the skin, cleansers work swiftly – touching your face and leaving it – all in a matter of minutes.
So it’s no surprise that most people I know don’t spend as much on cleansers as they do on say, a serum. The reality is that as long as a cleanser gets rid of the day’s dirt, it has done its job. If you feel the same way as I do, here are the budget cleansers we love.
Biore Marshmallow Extra Moist Facial Wash, $13.90
Believe it or not, this marshmallow cleanser works well in calming irritated skin. Why? This facial wash uses “Skin Purifying Technology” which is supposed to help rebalance and improve your skin’s condition. What's more, the extremely dense foam works to gently lift dirt and grime off your skin’s surface, without the need for excessive tugging and “scrubbing” on your part. What I love about this though is how the wash contains a beauty serum, which instantly brightens my skin.
Yves Rocher Sebo Vegetal Purifying Cleansing Gel, $14
This botanically-based beauty brand is famous for producing quality products at an affordable price. Yves Rocher’s Sebo Vegetal range caters to people with oily and combination skin; with its Purifying Cleansing Gel gathering quite a following. Tapping into the cleaning efficacy of baikal powder, the gel is said to enter deep into your pores to give them a real good clean – purifying the pores – and giving you really matte skin.
Senka Perfect Whip, $12.90
Owned by Shiseido, Senka is the wallet-friendly alternative to the big-sister brand. Senka’s Perfect Whip is a foam-based cleanser that lathers so well that there are YouTube videos created to demonstrate its ability. Containing microbubbles and silk cocoons, the elastic and immensely dense foam is said to enter your pores and remove impurities stuck within its groves. So what you get is a rich and airy whip of foam that gently lifts off grime without you feeling it.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes, $12.90
When in a hurry (or at the gym), cleansing wipes do wonders to help give you a clean on the go. The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes are said to clear your face of makeup and impurities without any rinsing required. What’s more, tea tree is famously gentle on sensitive and acne-prone skin; your redness and blemishes will thank you.
Pond’s Age Miracle Cell ReGEN Facial Foam, $9.90
Your mum’s (or grandma’s) favourite beauty brand Pond’s is back. Pond’s fully revamped range of products will make you forget that this is a brand previously used by our ancestors. Age Miracle, the anti-ageing line of Pond’s, has a foaming cleanser that is packed with six anti-ageing ingredients, including scientifically proven retinol and AHA. The brand says its blend of ingredients work to stimulate and repair collagen, while also speeding up your skin’s renewal rate like never before. At a wallet-friendly price of $9.90, it doesn’t get better than this.
Biore Marshmallow Extra Moist Facial Wash, $13.90, is available at all leading pharmacies, supermarkets and hypermarkets. For more information, visit www.kao.com/sg/biore/ and follow the brand on Facebook.
Pond’s Age Miracle Cell ReGEN Facial Foam, $9.90, is available at all Guardian stores. For more information, visit www.global.ponds.com and follow the brand on Facebook.
Senka Perfect Whip, $12.90, is available from selected Watsons stores. For more information, visit and follow the brand on Facebook.
he Body Shop Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes, $12.90, is available at all The Body Shop stores. For more information, visit www.thebodyshop.com.sg and follow The Body Shop Singapore on Facebook and Instagram.
Yves Rocher Sebo Vegetal Purifying Cleansing Gel, $14, is available at Yves Rocher stores in West Gate and Ngee Ann City. For more information, visit www.yves-rocher.com and follow the brand on Facebook.