I've developed quite a fondness for creamy cleansers of late, and one that rushed right to the top of the list is from Kahina Giving Beauty. If you aren't already familiar with it, Kahina's line is based around organic, ethically sourced argan oil and all of its products combine high concentrations of the nourishing, anti-oxidant rich oil, along with other high quality, effective natural ingredients. As the name suggests, Kahina's ethos also incorporates giving back and 25% of the company's profits are donated to causes that improve the lives of the Berber women who harvest and extract the argan oil used in the company's products. These women's signatures also grace Kahina's sophisticated packaging.
A couple months ago, Clementine Fields' co-founder, Ingrid Doucet, very generously sent me a couple products to try out and I'm ecstatic she chose to include Kahina's Facial Cleanser. The cleanser contains aloe vera and argan oil to help keep skin hydrated, willow bark to gently eliminate toxins and impurities, and papaya enzymes to brighten and lightly exfoliate. The ingredients combine together beautifully to create a creamy cleanser that I'd wager is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. It has a milky consistency that just glides across your face, but it isn't so thin that you risk losing it all down the drain.
I usually prefer to remove any makeup first with an oil, but in a pinch, Kahina's cleanser does the trick, even on stubborn mascara or eyeliner. The cleanser is scented with neroli and blue tansy, also known for their anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties, and it's not a stretch to say that it smells incredible. It's a light, fresh and slightly sweet scent that somehow manages to be both simultaneously relaxing and refreshing.
The Bottom Line
Kahina's Facial Cleanser is an excellent product that thoroughly cleanses without drying or stripping the skin. It's a gorgeous cleanser that I think would work for a variety of skin types. I've been sadly scraping the dregs of my bottle this week, but happily Clementine Fields came through, again, with a well-timed flash sale that I rushed to take advantage of:
For the rest of today, get 15% off all Kahina products, as well as Zoe Organics and Ursa Major for Men.
Where to Buy: $56 from Clementine Fields (currently on sale!), Kahina Giving Beauty
Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, aqua, argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, glycerin*, leuconostoc (radish) root ferment filtrate, cocoglucoside, coconut alcohol, carica papaya (papaya) fruit extract*, glyceryl oleate, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, lauryl glucoside, vanillosmopsis erythropappa (bisabolol) wood oil, sclerotium gum, citrus aurantium (neroli) flower oil*, chamomila recutita (matricaria) flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, tanacetum annuum (blue tansy) flower oil*, hydrogenated lecithin, p-anisic acid, PCA, xantham gum
*Ingredient from Organic Farming
Disclosure: Product provided for review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.
Sometime in the last couple of years, my skin has gone from being more normal to oily to normal to dry. It's a change I can embrace fully when it comes to not getting shiny throughout the day, but it has also meant adapting to a different cleansing routine. Soaps and foaming cleansers that once left my skin feeling fine, now often leave my face feeling overly tight and dry. I've definitely gained a greater appreciation for gentle, creamy cleansers!
Enter Amala's Hydrating Cream Cleanser from stage right...
Amala is a German skincare company that's been on my radar for quite a while. The entire line is certified organic by NATRUE and the company prides itself on cutting no corners when it comes to the quality and purity of ingredients. This focus definitely comes through with the Hydrating Cream Cleanser.
Amala's Hydrating collection is intended to replenish and sustain skin's moisture levels. The entire line is rich in jasmine, renowned for its nourishing, smoothing and antioxidant benefits and the cleanser also contains white clay and papaya, which gently exfoliate to remove impurities and dead skin cells, whilst the jasmine and other ingredients hydrate and strengthen the skin's moisture barrier.
The cleanser has a rich, lotion-like texture and does not foam at all. Instead, it glides across your face, gentling removing any dirt or face makeup. It's a little less effective on mascara and eye liner, though it can be done if you don't mind a little extra rubbing around the eyes. Personally, I prefer to pre-cleanse with an oil to remove any makeup, and follow with Amala's cleanser to deep clean my skin.
After rinsing the cleanser off, my face is left feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated. My skin never feels irritated and I've experienced much less dryness heading into winter than in previous years. In fact, smell is the only area where this product falls short for me. Jasmine is not a favorite scent of mine and at times the cleanser smells overly sweet and cloying. It's not enough to prevent me from using it and enjoying all the other benefits the cleanser has to offer, but it would likely deter me from repurchasing in the future.
The Bottom Line
Amala's Hydrating Cream Cleanser is excellent for dry or sensitive skin, and I think it would also be great for almost anyone during the colder autumn/winter months. Plus, if you're a jasmine lover, I really don't think you can go wrong here!
In terms of price, Amala is definitely a luxury brand, but the ingredients and quality speak for themselves. In fact, once you factor in the amount of product you receive, the price point is not unreasonable. $70 is a lot to spend on a cleanser, no doubt, but the cost-per-ounce of the larger, 8.1 ounce bottle, is only slightly higher than that of my previous favorite cleanser, Weleda's Soothing Almond Cleansing Lotion. It will also last you quite a long time! If you've got the money and enjoy high quality skincare, Amala is definitely a brand worth looking into.
Where to Buy: $48 from Spirit Beauty Lounge, $48/$70 from Amala
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract*, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Water*, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Xanthan Gum, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopherol, Silver Sulfate, Fragrance (Parfum)+, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil*, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Bud Oil*, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract*, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract*, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract*, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract*, Alcohol*, Eugenol+, Limonene+, Linalool+ *Ingredient produced by organic farming
Disclosure: Product provided for review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review in return for free product, nor was I compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. Post contains affiliate links.
