REVIEW: ACURE Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Cleansing Clay
Hey guys! ACURE is one of those brands that I used to have a lot of in my collection, but I just kind of... got distracted. Also, long time readers of the blog will know that I'm still mourning the discontinuation of the ACURE The Magical Wonderfluff, which was probably my all time favorite overnight mask, so I might have been a little bit salty at them for taking it away from me. That being said, I've recently been on a bit of a cleanser obsession and I've really been wanting to try out different types of formulas. I'm not entirely sure what possessed me to pick up the ACURE Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Cleanser, since it's not the type of product I'd usually gravitate towards, most notably because it's not really intended for my skin type, but... I did it!
Keep reading for my full review!
About:
Having a good complexion doesn’t have to be a complex process. Acure Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Cleansing Clay contains activated charcoal, volcanic lava ash, and lemon extract to give your skin an ultra-smooth finish. It’s great for combination to oily skin and contains no parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, petrolatum, or silicone.
INGREDIENTS:
Aloe Barbadenis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoul Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Koalin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel, Volcanic Ash, Water, Glyceryl Laurate, Charcoal Powder, Olea Euopaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Titanium Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii Oil, Cupresses Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Rosa Damescena Flower Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil
So... There are a lot of reasons in that ingredient list that would normally have stopped me from picking this up, because there are some ingredients in this cleanser that I tend to try to avoid, specifically the lemon peel and bergamot oil. I don't think I could feel good about this review if I didn't acknowledge that. That being said, for me personally I don't mind using those ingredients in a cleanser because I feel like they're going to end up getting rinsed off for the most part and not really staying on the skin in a way that could cause any damage. However, I do only use this cleanser as a second cleanse in my night time routine just because I avoid anything with lemon if I'm going to be going out into the sun. I honestly don't entirely know if that makes a difference, but it's my personal preference. What I'm saying is that if you have sensitive or eczema prone skin, you might want to avoid this one and go for something more gentle. (The ACURE Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream is on my list of products to try, personally!)
I have to say that I was a little bit surprised the first time I used it by the texture. The texture is almost more like a gel than a cream, in my opinion, and it has these very strange nuggets of something in it. The little nuggets may be lightly exfoliating, but they're not particularly prevalent in the formula and they don't feel at all abrasive on the skin like something with more sharp edges may be. The smell of this cleanser is... kinda dreamy, I have to say. It's sort of fresh and light, but really, really soothing and enjoyable. (I really am a huge fan of an experiential cleansing experience!)
While this does have that sort of gel texture, it's quite thin and doesn't foam up when you work it into the skin. Instead, it almost feels like it emulsifies and turns a little bit milkier when I'm massaging it in. It can get a little bit messy with those little nuggets and I like to remove this (as I do all of my cleansers) with a washcloth to really get in there and get all of the product off without having to splash and make a mess. With this cleanser, it's so lightweight that it really removes quite easily and doesn't leave any residue on the skin.
Like I said, this is exclusively a night time second cleanse for me and I find it's a really perfect kick off to prep my skin for my skin care. It leaves my skin feeling really clean and fresh, but with a suppleness that doesn't feel tight or stripped at all - not entirely something I was expecting from a cleanser intended for combination to oily skin, I have to say, but very much appreciated.
Honestly, I don't think I was really expecting this to work out as well for me as it has. In the month or so that I've been using it as a part of my night time skin care routine, my skin has felt really balanced and healthy and I haven't noticed any irritation or discomfort. All in all, I think this is a really fantastic option for someone looking for a solid cleanser option for combination to oily skin. It's also vegan and cruelty free, which is always a huge plus, and doesn't contain parabens, sulfates, phthlates, etc.
Overall, this has really impressed me and I would recommend it!
Thanks for reading!
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