Happy Friday! Today I’m unveiling a new weekly series dedicated to beauty reviews. Because I try so many different beauty products (either bought, gifted, or sampled), I want to be sure I won’t neglect reviewing each one on my blog. This past week I tested three samples from Garnier’s latest collection, Garnier Clean+, courtesy of Klout (because apparently I’m very influential). Even though I love trying new products, I’m always a tad bit hesitant when deviating from my normal skin care routine. Nonetheless, I was pleased to see that my skin didn’t have any adverse reactions to the line. Here’s a breakdown of the products below.
Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil: If you know me, you know that I’m obsessed with face oils and will persuade everyone I know to use one. (And it works. Every time.) But before this sample, I had never tried a cleansing oil. My go-to face wash is a gentle cream cleanser from Yes To Carrots that leaves my face soft and blemish-free. So, upon reading the reviews for this product, I was a bit horrified to read that some people had broken out after using it. Fortunately, I did not break out. As you would expect from any cleansing oil, this one was very gentle, and left my skin softer and more hydrated than my beloved Yes To cleanser. For once, my skin did not feel tight after coming out of a hot shower. Another plus is that the consistency isn’t heavy and a little bit goes a long way, though it does nothing for waterproof mascara. Needless to say, after this sample ran out I found myself a bit disappointed. Will this take the place of my Yes To Carrots cleanser? That remains to be decided. I’d like to try cleansing oils from more luxury brands that do more than just cleanse, such as prevent aging and even out my complexion. Is that asking too much? If you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments.
Garnier Clean+ Blackhead Eliminating Scrub: I was skeptical this would live up to my favorite charcoal scrub by Freeman, but it’s a close substitute. It’s lighter in texture than Freeman, and though it is less effective at minimizing pores, it did clear up the blackheads and pores on my T-zone, so that is a plus. Another perk? It controls shine. I’m not sure if it’s intended to do that, but my T-zone looks pleasantly shine-free today. So, even though this scrub doesn’t leave my face as polished as the Freeman charcoal exfoliator, it does a better job of controlling oil and shine.
Garnier Clean+ Balancing Daily Exfoliator: Does the idea of a “daily exfoliator” seem a bit excessive to anyone else? I’ve learned the hard way that too much exfoliation results in stripping skin of essential oils. But this product isn’t like a typical exfoliator. I used it twice within a week and it is one of the most gentle exfoliators I’ve ever used (though I still wouldn’t use it daily on my combination skin). It promises a refined, balanced complexion in one week, and though I’ve noticed that my face has been softer and T-zone oil-free (yes!) I’m not sure if I can attribute it to the exfoliator, cleansing oil, or blackhead scrub. I’m not sure if I’ll be purchasing this product, but if you have sensitive skin and an oily T-zone, I would recommend it for its soothing properties.
