SPLURGE OR SAVE: MELTING CLEANSERS FEAT. B. CLEAN, MERUMAYA & OSKIA

What is a Melting Cleanser you may ask? 

Usually, it's a gel like a formula that transforms into oil on the contact with the skin and then to milky or emulsion-like consistency on contact with water. There are obviously many different types of Melting cleansers and each I've tried will work slightly different, but the general idea is that the gel will melt into oil on contact with the heat source i.e. your skin. 

Melting gel cleansers can be used as part of your morning and evening skincare routine. Depending on the type, you can use them as 1st or 2nd cleanse but I find these work better as a second cleanse. They're still extremely capable of removing makeup (although some better than others) but I find they work their magic best as a second cleanse in the evening or as the only cleanse in the morning.

There are many cleansers as such on the market and come at different price points. Today I'd like to concentrate on Melting Gel Cleansers and not balms as I feel that's a separate category and should be judged differently. I have used and tested all three cleansers for more than a month each, some even longer and I feel I now formed an opinion on all of them. Let's get on with it, shall we? 

Below £10

B. Clean Melting Gel Cleanser 125 ml for £6.99 | POST 

My love and wonder for Gel Cleansers started with this Superdrug own Cleanser. I still think it's a good alternative to more expensive products. The Gel-like formula melts on the contact with the skin. it's super thick, so you need slightly more to be able to easily apply it to the skin. It melts away your base makeup ok, but it's not sensitive enough to use it around the eyes. I've tried it so you can save yourself some tears. It's recommended to be used as a first cleanse and to remove even eye makeup but as I mentioned above I don't think I'd use it as such. As a second cleanse it's ok but now after testing more products I find it very lacking. Don't get me wrong you can't really complain given the price point, but there are better cleansers on the market. If you are on a budget, it's a good one, but not quite there for me! 

Ingredients:

Paraffinum Liquidum, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isohexadecane, Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sucrose Laurate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sucrose Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Methylpropanediol

Under £20.00

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm* 100 ml for £16.50 | POST

This Cleanser has started my love for Merumaya! In terms of thickness it's similar to B. Clean Cleanser but here's where the similarities end. The scent is incredible. I'd love them to bottle that scent as it's really lovely and I'm glad most of their products are similar in that department. The thick gel melts on the contact with the heat of your skin and melts away your base and eye makeup without making your eyes watery. It changes to foamy milk on contact with water and it's easy to wash away. I find using a hot cloth works great with it, but you can wash it off using water only. I find a hot cloth to be the best and I'd recommend it to anyone. I love using it AM and PM and it works great as both first and a second cleanse. It doesn't sting my eyes which is a huge plus and leaves my skin feeling wonderful. 

Ingredients:

inci - caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (sweet almond) oil, aqua (water), sucrose laurate, glyceryl dibehenate, echium plantagineum seed oil, phenoxyethanol, sucrose palmitate, parfum (fragrance), sucrose cocoate, sucrose stearate, citronellol, ethylhexylglycerin, garcinia mangostana fruit extract, limonene, linalool, caprylyl glycol, chlorphenesin, tetrasodium edta, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol.

Under £30

Oskia Renaissance Melting Gel Cleanser 100ml for £29.50 - POST

The most expensive of the bunch reviewed today has wowed me from the first use. It's not as thick of a gel as the ones mentioned above, it's super light and feels ultra luxurious on contact with skin. It melts away in ways others don't and turns only slightly Moly on contact with water. As with any cleansers, I use a cloth to remove it but technically water is enough. It cleanses and exfoliates at the same time, lifting away dirt, makeup and dead skin cells. It's super sensitive and works great as a second cleanse. It won't do with mascaras I find but that's ok, as I prefer to use it on its own in the morning or as a second cleanse in the evening. The scent isn't as lovely and sweet as Merumaya, but I don't mind it at all. It's got a distinctive rose and chamomile blend and actually smells pretty wonderful in its own right! It leaves my skin feeling clean but also hydrated and radiant. In most ways, it works similarly to Merumaya one, but with the gel is smoother and lighter. I can't stop bragging about it to anyone, as it's truly on of the best I've ever used! 

Ingredients:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Aqua, Cetearyl Olivate, Sucrose Laurate, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sucrose Palmitate, Parfum (Natural), Geraniol*, Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Citronellol**, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactobacillus/Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Ferment Extract, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Linalool**, Retinyl Palmitate, CI77491 (natural iron oxide), Jojoba Esters, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate.

**Component of natural essential oils

All Natural Ingredients.

From left: B. Clean, Merumaya, Oskia

To splurge or save is the question I get asked a lot and the answer is pretty clear for me. I would never save on something as important as skin care. We get to have one face and it's important to care for it as much as we can! Having said that I understand everyone's idea of a budget is different and I'd say, follow your budget, as there's always a gem to be found at all price points. 

I feel all three cleansers have something to offer but I can't deny that Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm and Oskia Renaissance Melting Gel Cleanser have stolen my beauty obsessed heart. They're gentler in formula and work better on my dry & sensitive skin. Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm will work great on all skin types, combination and oily should love it even more than my dry skin does. It works beautifully at cleansing your skin but doesn't leave it too 'oily' if you know what I mean. I have to follow with skincare straight after cleansing so I feel more oily types will suit it even better. Having said that, the scent is everything for me & I absolutely adore the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm! 

The winner in this compilation will be Oskia Renaissance Melting Gel Cleanser as it truly hits all the right buttons for me. I love the silky light formula of the gel that melts instantly on contact with skin. It is the most gentle on the eyes but not as great at removing makeup. I feel it's a definition of a luxury second cleanse product and should be treated as such. It feels super luxurious to use! I love the packaging, the pump plays an important role here, as I find it to be least affected by the bacteria! Only a little product is needed to fully pamper my skin with whilst cleansing! It also leaves my skin feeling not only clean but also really moisturised and radiant. It will work best for sensitive, dry and combination types. I feel it may be a bit much for oilier types. 

Do you use melting gel cleansers? What does your usual cleansing routine look like? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank You For Reading,

Love