Beauty on a budget: Worth the splurge

‘Vichy Purete Thermale 3-in-1 Cleanser for Sensitive Skin’ review

By Lauren Kelly, Editor-in-Chief

For a long time, I had trouble finding a reliable makeup remover. I found liquid ones awkward, but they seemed to be my main option. I’ve now been using Vichy’s 3-in-1 cleanser to remove my makeup for so many years I don’t even remember how I started. It’s one of the few products that I always need to have with me, even if I’m travelling.

It’s a cleansing milk, and it comes out of the bottle as a white, viscous fluid that you rub onto your face without needing water. You can then wipe it off with a washcloth, cotton pads, Kleenex—whatever you have on hand. And that’s it! After those two steps, you should have clean, makeup-free skin.

Although it’s great for the rest of my face as well, I love it for my eye makeup, because it gets almost everything off with very little difficulty. If I’m wearing a stubborn mascara, I’ll just smooth the cleanser over my eyelashes specifically and the mascara comes off easily. Although I’m careful, I have gotten it into my eyes a few times, and it doesn’t hurt in any way. This is huge for me, because if I’m going to be slathering it all over my eyes every day, I need something I don’t have to worry about.

I use it predominately as a makeup remover when it is technically a cleanser first and foremost, but I do love it after a long day when I don’t feel like doing a full face-wash regime. Others who use it as a cleanser love it, and reviews from people with breakout-prone skin said they had no issues. One person even said that they put it on after washing their face and use it as a moisturizer, and it works wonders.

Although it’s not as cheap as some products I review here, a 200 millilitre bottle costs $20 at London Drugs, and should last you at least 3 months with daily use. I often see bundle deals for it as well, which may cost more upfront, but will save you money in the long run. Since it can take the place of a cleanser, makeup remover, and toner, it also cuts back on the other products you need to purchase if you use it to its full effect.

It’s one product that I recommend to everyone.