Review: Purity by Philosophy Facial Wash

Hello! Sorry for the late updates, been really busy with school and exams! But now that the holidays have started, I'll try to post slightly more and update on what new stuff I have been trying out(:

I originally wanted to do a mega-post on the many facial washes I have used+ currently use, but I realised some of them are discontinued, so I've decided to update with one of my HGs ((holy grail)...

It's my Purity by Philosophy facial wash, that I've been enjoying for slightly less than a year now(: I purchased my first bottle of Purity in Sephora, London, together with my trusty Clarisonic Mia 2.

What drew me to this facial wash initially was the fact that it was included with the Mia before, so I assumed it would be a good product to have, to complement my Mia 2. I was quite disappointed when I discovered that it was no longer in a set with the Mia 2 ): Instead it came with the Boscia Cleansing Wash which I will review in a later post.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple is a pH-balanced formula that rapidly dissolves dirt and makeup while deep cleaning pores. The bestselling cleanser contains infusions of sage, chamomile, and carrot. (from Sephora.com)

PROS

Gentle on the skin-> unlike other washes I've used, this one doesn't leave my skin feeling particularly sticky nor tight, maybe it's because it's a more milky formula (which I know, doesn't appeal to everyone)

Moisturising-> leaves my skin feeling pretty hydrated and fresh

Can be used as a makeup remover-> YES it can! The lady at Sephora told me I could use this as a makeup remover in case I didn't like it as a facial wash, since it's more milky than bubbly. To use this as a makeup remover, deposit some on a clean cotton facial pad and wipe away gently.

CONS

Milky-> Sometimes after a really long day at school/work, all you wanna do is just to feel fresh and clean. This facial wash sometimes doesn't leave us with the super squeaky clean feeling, because it's bubble-free, so not everyone will like it!

Herby smell- I read in a review (can't remember by who, exactly) that it smelt of rosemary. I didn't pay particular attention to the scent of the wash at first until it was pointed out, and that beauty blogger didn't like the smell. My pregnant aunt also really dislikes the scent too!

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Would repurchase if I run out(:

Till next time!

x maddy

Update- PS. Have finished one travel sized bottle. one 8oz. version, and I've started on my 24oz (the monstrous one) bottle. Still loving it! My sister who recently tried it also really loves it! (:

Review: Bifesta Bright-up Cleansing Lotion

Hello! I'll be reviewing a product that I've been using for a while now, the Bifesta Bright-Up Cleansing Lotion! 

It's a very popular product with many Youtubers and bloggers, and it's often said to be a drugstore dupe for the high end Bioderma SensibioH2O Micelle Solution, and so I had to try it out for myself! 

Bifesta Cleansing Lotions are produced by Mandom Corp., also home to other famous Japanese brands like Gatsby, Lucido-L and Pixy. Bifesta only specialises in make-up removers, though. The Bifesta Cleansing Lotion comes in four variants for different skin types: Moist (dry and sensitive skin), Sebum (combination-oily), Brightup (dull and flaky), and Agecare (mature). 

The one I have is the Bifesta x Disney Bright-up Cleansing Solution, which seems to only be available in Japan. Rest assured, the only difference is that the purple bottle has Tinkerbell's silhouette on it, the product is exactly the same, haha. Trust the Japanese and their marketing strategies... 

PROS

Light, cooling finish-> Unlike many other makeup removers I have used, the Bifesta Cleansing Lotion is one that is water-based, so it doesn't leave behind sticky greasy residues unlike oil-based makeup removers. My skin also feels hydrated and rejuvenated after use, again, compared to oil-based makeup removers where my skin feels "suffocated". [Yes, after years of using oil-based cleansers which my mum claimed to be effective, I've managed to find a good water-based remover which, in all honesty, helps me to wipe off residual make-up without too much hassle! ]


Gentle-> The Bifesta makeup removers help to easily remove makeup without causing the skin around my eyes to sting even after eye makeup removal. Another water-based makeup remover I tried, the Gentle Eye Makeup Remover by Estee Lauder really hurt the skin around my eyes, but this Bifesta one doesn't at all. Yay! This means I can clean the eyeliner off the waterline of my eye easily, without feeling apprehensive of the potential pain (:

Effective-> I feel like regular daily makeup is not really a good way to test the effectiveness of a good makeup remover, so I usually prefer to test out makeup removers on the stage makeup we put on before our performances (I dance in school so there are times when we are required to layer on the foundation and the full works.). Surprisingly, even though it's water-based, the Bifesta was extremely effective in removing even the most stubborn eyeliners (waterproof, non-smudge). It even managed to dissolve some of my eyelash glue so false eyelashes could be removed easily without too much tugging.(Too much tugging is bad for your eyelids in the long run as they'll sag in the future >: )

Pretty packaging-> Sounds silly, but so important to me, because the bottle looks really nice in the tray together with all my other facial products (:

Easily dispensed-> The Bifesta bottle I have comes with a pump, so no worries about hygiene; because all you have to do is to pump the required amount onto cotton pads. Once they are damp/soaked (depending on how you prefer them), you're good to go! No worrying about capping the bottle tightly, super hassle-free!

Eco-friendly-> Yes, as with many other Japanese products, refills are available in plastic packets! I managed to get my hands on refills for the "Moist" Cleansing Solution, so I'll probably be updating with more information once I use it, for a comparison between "Brightup" and "Moist"

CONS

Possibly a lock on the bottle-> So you don't dispense too much at a go accidentally if you don't need it.

A fair bit is required for easy removal-> Personally I like my cotton pads soaked with the makeup remover, so that I don't have to rub my skin too hard. But I guess this is really up to personal preference. Besides, even if you feel like using lots of it is a waste, compared to the Bioderma, I'd say Bifesta will still be friendlier on the pocket!

Rating: 4.5/5.0

I would repurchase this product! (I have refill packs at home waiting for me, anyway :D)