What it is: Marcelle‘s AC-Solution Purifying Foaming Cleanser
Packaging: I wanted to mention this first because I really love the packaging for this cleanser — it’s sturdy and super easy to use (unlike my Aveeno cleansing pump, this pump actually pops back up. Stunning, right?). The best part about this packaging, though, is that Marcelle didn’t skimp on spending money on quality: the pump not only feels sturdy, but produces a very stiff foam. I’ve dealt with a lot of pumps that turn liquids into foams, and what I’ve found is the “cheaper” the packaging feels, the more watery the foam is.
(I also like how the bottle looks very… clean. Decide for yourself, but I adore the simplicity and minimalistic qualities of Marcelle’s packaging!)
Formula: I can’t say about how effective this is against acne, as I’m testing out the WHOLE regimen and will give results at the end, but this is a wonderful cleanser for anyone with combination and/or oily skin. When used in conjunction with the AC-Solution toner, my face is actually less oily — and yes, I’m sure about this! I used to get oily around 10 and have to oil blot by noon, but now at noon I’m just starting to develop shininess in my t-zone.
The salicylic acid in this means it doesn’t exactly smell like roses, but it’s not particularily offensive and doesn’t hang around like a bad ex-boyfriend. I know that salycilic acid can be too harsh for some, so keep that in mind, but the concentrations are (I think) fairly low — I tend to be very sensitive to things, but this didn’t overdry my skin or worsen the patches of rosacea I have around my jawline.
Ingredients
AQUA/WATER/EAU, SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, SALICYLIC ACID, TRIETHANOLAMINE, ZINC GLUCONATE, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA , ALLANTOIN, COCAMIDE MEA, BISABOLOL, DISODIUM EDTA, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE
All you really need to know is that this is paraben-free, yay!! It also contains salicylic acid, hence the acne-fighting bit.
The verdict? If you have access to Marcelle (this means you, Canadians!) and have oily, combination, or acne-prone skin, check this out. I really liked it, and will most likely re-buy! At $13.50 for 150mL it’s pricier than some other drugstore cleansers, but certainly not “expensive” — and remember, because this is a foam-from-liquid, you use less each time compared to, say, a cream cleanser.
