Allllrrrrriiiiiggghttty, then!  Let’s just dive right in!

Facial cleansers are extremely finicky.  They’re like a specific pair of jeans: Once you find that magic kind that fits you just right, you are never, ever going to consider something else.  With jeans, a different pair might make your butt seem to grow six inches (or worse, shrink six inches); with a facial cleanser, you might break out or, at the very least, upset the delicate balance between oily and dry that you’ve spent years attempting to achieve.  It’s extremely tempting to never change when it comes to your face wash.

I used to be like that – I stuck with the same brand for years and only had to leave it when it was discontinued.  My heart still breaks over it.  I tried a similar wash from the same line, and it just wasn’t as good.  I kept trying various products and they either made my skin way too dry (that too-squeaky-clean feeling like you can’t move your face) or felt like it didn’t clean nearly enough.  During one of my once-every-two-years horrific break outs that only a trip to the dermatologist can cure, I started using CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and never looked back, partly out of laziness.  My skin is very clean after, without any residue/stiffness, and feels moisturized.  It also doesn’t make me break out, so it was working just fine as a basic, every day cleanser.

I learned a few things about my face during my Raiders of the Soap Bark quest, such as: No foaming cleansers (too drying), no bar soap (residue), absolutely no perfumes (breakouts), and certain brands in general don’t work for me, regardless of whether I know their specific underlying ingredient that throws my face off.  There’s also a huge “Every Day” factor – some cleansers are just not meant to be used twice a day, or even once per day, every day.  And it isn’t always explicit, as what you need out of a cleanser and how often you use it is so subjective as to be virtually meaningless.

But, once I was well into my CeraVe habit, I realized that I wanted to see if I could work on some issues with my skin by using different cleansers.  As I said, CeraVe is a great first, basic face wash and I still use it every night.  However, I noticed my skin was getting dull and some of my larger pores were constantly clogged no matter how many damn charcoal masks I used.  Then, lo and behold, Burt’s Bees Deep Cleansing Cream with Soap Bark and Chamomile was on sale at my favorite, Target, and I decided this was where I would start my quest for incorporating new cleansers, used sporadically.

Obviously the same rules apply to cleansers used more randomly as apply to those used regularly.  Your random cleanser should not have any of the things in it that you have already discovered don’t work for you – which is fine, because specific cleansers come in every type, so you’re sure to find one that fits with what you need.  Plus, the great part about these is that they may, in fact, become part of your regular routine which is awesome because using two or three types of cleansers all week means they all last longer! (Don’t respond with my incorrect logic about how it’s still the same amount of money/lasting, this is what I tell myself, okay?)

I figured rather than going for a more intense purpose like brightening or anti-aging, my first Extra Cleanser would be for something a big more basic: Deep clean.  As I’ve said, CeraVe works well for me as an every day, but I wanted a bit more pizazz as I live in a dirty-ass city next to a highway and God only knows what’s living in my pores.

First things first, the sensory experience of this cleanser.  It smells good, very sharp, very fresh, very clean smell (more on how that translates to your face parts later).  The thickness is similar to toothpaste’s: Pretty thick, and a blob will stay on the back of your hand if you tilt said hand upside down.  However, it isn’t at all dry like toothpaste.  As you rub it around, you realize how incredibly creamy it is.

Just like with most cleansers, you wet your face and then start rubbing it all over.  It doesn’t foam, nor does it get super lather-y.  Instead, it waters down just enough to spread out thinly and evenly, and you can feel it really getting into your pores.

The other thing about how this “washes”?  It puts a big zip in your face!  Think eucalyptus or mint, though I don’t believe either of those are ingredients – I suspect the fact that it lists “menthol” could be a big part of it, as well as the soap bark, that gives it that refreshing, cold, deep-clean feeling.  I loved how it felt on my skin.  Remember Rachel?  During her visit that weekend, she used some too and commented positively on it as well.

That zippiness comes with a price though: Don’t get this shit in your eye.  It’s one of those “borderline burns” cases of coolness, like when you put too much mint essential oil on your wrist (PSA: Essential oils are not, at all, to be put directly on skin.  Ever.  This may be a future blog but for now just don’t fucking do it.).  Even without getting it in your eye, it has a strong enough resonance that your eyes may feel like they have something in them when they don’t – like when you smell something strong and shut your eyes automatically.  The fact that it’s so thick and un-lather-y makes it easy to keep out of your eyes; even with a bit of water added, it stays mostly in its place.  However, if you’re worried, use a wash cloth to wet your face, clean, and take off the cleanser with more control/thinner application.

Here’s an after photo, which doesn’t particularly make sense as I don’t think anybody but a witch could make a cleanser that gives such immediate results, but oh well:

It’s hard to tell in the photo, but I do think this cleanser is pretty good with cooling down my redness.  There’s a definite oil reduction, and absolutely zero Stiff Soap Residue feeling.  Just clean and fresh.  And as I said, I woke up exhausted that morning, and this is a fabulous morning cleanser to help wake you up.  Hell, it felt like my face was more awake than the rest of me.

Actually, what ended up happening was that after using it just a few times per week, I used it every morning.  I couldn’t believe how great this stuff turned out to be when used regularly!  My skin overall had less oil in my T-zone, I felt like I had a smoother, dryer base on which to apply makeup, and the best part?  The deep pores on and around my nose were completely cleaned out.  You know how you pick at your face and try to get that gunk out yourself (you DO, you do do it, don’t act like you don’t!)?  Well, that wasn’t possible to even try after a week or two with this stuff.  And that’s just using it in the morning.

I think switching up a cleanser can be a bit tricky if you’re prone to breakouts or have sensitive skin, but this is a really good way to start.  It’s cheap, gentle but hard-working, and has aspects (like the smell/AWAKEness of it) that might be fun to use just once in awhile or results that you can depend on when it’s used regularly.  You kind of can’t lose with this.  The only reason I’ve stopped using it every morning (now just every other day) is because I incorporated, erm, another cleanser into my routine.  *cough*  I’m sorry, I know, I’ll seek help!

Product: Burt’s Bees Deep Cleansing Cream with Soap Bark and Chamomile

Price: $6.99ish (depends on the place; I’ve seen it for as much as $10, but no more than that)

Where to Find It: Burt’s Bees is, thankfully, everywhere!  Target, Home Values, Ulta, and a lot of drug stores.

Is It Worth It?  Let Me Work It: Yes.  You can’t beat the price, it’s great for a once-in-a-blue use or an every-day use.  Some people may have a skin type that can take it twice per day, though I think that may be a bit too drying for most of us.  It lives up to its name and does, in fact, deep clean.