Philosophy Purity Made Simple (9.5/10)

Summary
Cons

• Removing make up
• Preventing breakouts

Pros

• Affordable
• light scent
• Does not over dry

In-Depth Review

I've got oily skin through and through but during the winter my cheeks and jaw line tend to get dry patches, and then oily throughout the day - very frustrating. One way I help adapt to the weather is changing my facial cleanser from a gel to a cream. This summer I've been using The Body Shop's Tea Tree Cleansing Facial Wash which is has a gel consistency. Philosophy's Purity cleanser was a gift I received a year or year and a half ago. I use the cleanser during the cold months and it's perfect for keeping the dry patches hydrated. 

I have the 16 oz. size and I've still got half of the product remaining. The cleanser is scented very lightly with a hint of lemon and some herb. It doesn't bother me and I suspect that those sensitive to smells won't have an issue with this cleanser. The consistency is creamy but thin and you require very little to wash your entire face and neck. As a cleanser it's near perfect. My face feels fresh without any residue, similar to how it feels when I use my Cetaphil cleanser, but more moisturized. That's not to say I don't need to moisturize after cleansing but only the trouble spots I have that are extra dry. The only issue I have for this product is removing make up. I don't wear waterproof anything so I can't comment on the effectiveness of this cleanser for those products but for non-waterproof make up, I feel that I need to wash my face twice to really get that clean feeling. This is because of the thin consistency of the product. I feel that if it were thicker, it would be able to "grab" the product more easily because just using more product doesn't help. This is only a small inconvenience and I rarely use this cleanser to remove make up anyway so as an everyday facial cleanser, it's great.

Since I've been switching around toners, and especially since i've run out of Ole Henricksen's Sheer Transformation, I've noticed the texture of my skin being quite rough. I'm interested in purchasing their exfoliating wash to suit my needs better. But I whole heartedly recommend this cleanser to anyone who has sensitive or dry skin. It won't target specific problems (acnes, discolouration, surface texture, etc.) but it will soothe and cleanse your skin.