I have been in a very involved relationship with my cleansers the last couple of months. I don't often review cleansers mainly because there isn't much variety in terms of what I can say about them, but that doesn't stop me from shopping through my stash and hand-selecting what kind of texture or scent I feel like experiencing! Recently, I started taking my double cleansing REAL serious and have been joyfully testing out various duos of oil cleanser + second cleanser! An interesting cleanser duo that has entered my rotation are the Boscia Thermal Black Charcoal and Cryosea Firming Icy-Cold Cleansers!
Thermal Black Charcoal Cleanser
This is a warming gel cleanser aimed at combo to oily skin, but whenever I mask all day at work I find that using this for my normal/dry skin is totally fine. This is also 100% vegan in formulation and created without any artificial fragrance or phthalates so what you smell is the real thing and it smells good! It also has a brightening and detoxifying duo of vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside) and charcoal powder to refresh and refine skin texture and control sebum. If my skin is feeling really congested and disgusting THIS stuff will fix all of that! You just feel so fresh and clean afterwards! I would just avoid the eye area.
In terms of ingredients, there are a ton of botanicals which Boscia has always been known for, including artichoke extract which has been shown to help with hyperpigmentation and minimizing the look of pores.
As mentioned above, this is a warming cleanser which means that when applied to damp skin, there is an instant warmth that is felt thanks to Vitamin P which is an active ingredient in citrus peels that increase blood circulation. Personally, I love this sensation as it reminds me of those heating packs that keep your hands comfortably warm in your pockets! The gel can be a bit thick to pump out so I find that I need to hold the bottle stable while I pump so that it doesn't go flying.
Cryosea Firming Icy-Cold Cleanser
This cleanser is for all skin types and is my favourite one! It has quickly become one that I truly look forward to using because of its truly icy cool sensation and blend of AHAs (glycolic, lactic and malic) for gentle exfoliation! I know the cooling sensation is not for everyone as menthol and peppermint oil can be irritating to some, but I personally seek out products with this property!
Not only does this cleanser cool and exfoliate the skin, is also firms with a blend of red algae, sea kelp extract, hyaluronic acid and sea water. I haven't noticed a huge change in skin plumpness as I think that is the type of change you would see more in a product that sits on the skin for hours vs. seconds. The AHAs are probably the only thing that will DO anything to the skin as they don't have to be left on for hours to see results.
Not only does this cleanser cool and exfoliate the skin, is also firms with a blend of red algae, sea kelp extract, hyaluronic acid and sea water. I haven't noticed a huge change in skin plumpness as I think that is the type of change you would see more in a product that sits on the skin for hours vs. seconds. The AHAs are probably the only thing that will DO anything to the skin as they don't have to be left on for hours to see results.
This has a slightly citrus-minty scent which makes sense as there is both peppermint oil and menthol in the formulation. I love how alert I feel after rinsing this cleanser off as the minty feeling makes me feel like I should be yodelling at the top of the mountain! I also feel like my skin is cleaner and brighter right away. If you are using this as your second cleanse, I have gingerly used it across closed eyelids, but it is not recommended. No one wants refreshing menthol in their eyes!
Final verdict: Oh man, I love both! I love the hot and cold sensations and most importantly how clean my skin feels after I rinse both products off! If I had to choose one cleanser between the two to use on a desert island, I am partial to the Cryosea Icy Cold Cleanser because that cooling effect stays on the skin for a solid 10 minutes. If you are looking for a cleanser that removes eye makeup too these may not be the best options, but if you like your cleanser to be a bit of an experience these Boscia ones are fantastic!
You can find the Boscia Thermal Black Charcoal and Cryosea Firming Icy-Cold Cleansers at The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart and Amazon!
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