Is a cosmeceutical cleanser better than a regular cleanser?
In theory, cosmeceuticals contain higher concentrations of active ingredients to give you better and faster results, but does that apply to cleansers, too?
After all, they don’t really stay on the skin long enough to do much, apart from cleansing skin (obvs…).
I’ve put Nimue Cleansing Milk to the test to find out:
What’s In Nimue Cleansing Milk?
CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRYGLYCERIDE TO CLEANSE SKIN
Nimue Cleansing Milk doesn’t contain any surfactants (ingredients that help water mix with oil and dirt, so they can be rinsed away). How does it cleanse skin?
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. Derived from coconut oil, this light oil cleanses skin thanks to the “like attracts like” principle. It attaches to the oils on your skin and makeup and rinses them away down the drain.
P.S. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is moisturising, too. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
Related: What’s The Oil Cleansing Method And Should You Use It?
GLYCOLIC + LACTIC ACIDS TO EXFOLIATE SKIN (OR NOT?)
Glycolic and lactic acids are two exfoliants that dissolve the glue that holds skin cells together, so they can slough off and reveal the brighter and smoother skin underneath. Plus, they’re hydrating, too.
But it’s unlikely they do anything here. For starters, there’s not enough of them in the formula. Even if there were, exfoliating acids work better when left on the skin for hours, not rinsed off after a minute.
Related: Do Exfoliating Cleansers Work?
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Texture
Lightweight and creamy
.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free.
How To Use It
Morning and night, it’s the first step of your skincare routine.
Performance & Personal Opinion
White in colour, Nimue Cleansing Milk has a lightweight consistency that easily removes dirt and most makeup (it struggles a bit with the waterproof kind), leaving skin clean and soft.
Basically, it does everything a cleanser is supposed to do, so I’m happy with it. Technically, it should go the extra mile because it also contains exfoliating acids and antioxidants, but, sadly these simply end up down the drain when you rinse off the cleanser.
By the way, you have to do that with gauze. Yep, first you massage the cleansing milk on with wet fingers, and then you take it off with damp gauze swabs (pss, a couple of times I just used my hands – it worked well, too).
Who Is This For?
Dry skin.
Who Is This NOT For?
Oily skin.
Packaging
A see-through bottle with a pump applicator. Sleek and practical.
Does Nimue Cleansing Milk Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| The Nimue Cleansing Milk is a soap-free, creamy milk emulsion with a soft, smooth and delicate texture that gently and effectively removes make-up, pollutants and daily impurities, leaving the skin with a delicate smooth finish. | True. |
| Use AM and PM. Apply to the face and neck and massage with wet fingertips for one minute. Remove with damp gauze or cotton wool. Follow with Nimue Conditioner. | It’s the best way to use it indeed. But you don’t have to follow up with Nimue Conditioner. Just do your skincare routine as normal. |
Price & Availability
£26.50 (refill, £19.00) at selected salons.
Do You Need It?
Let’s put it this way: it’s not a must-have, but it works.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
- DLC Ultra-Comfort Cleanser ($32.00)
Ingredients
Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Tryglyceride, Stearic Acid, Dicaprylyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycerin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Arachidyl Glucoside,Milk Lipids, Ceramide 3, Retinyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin.
