Some time ago I posted about my favorite beauty secrets, which included the generic version of the vintage favorite Ponds cold cream. Alas, the urge to wander off in search of bigger and better and more magical things struck once again, and so over the last few months I tried a number of cleansers that all promised to work miracles. My skin, of course, reacted by going a bit haywire. Eventually my logical side spoke to my frivolous side and said “Hey! Why are you trying to fix something that wasn’t broken?” And off I went to pick up a new jar of my beloved favorite.Except something was different this time—very different, in fact. I didn’t think to check the ingredient label; aside from my recent skincare shopping spree I’d been happily purchasing generic tubs of cold cream for ages. It did seem like the texture was a touch different and the fragrance a little off, but I honestly didn’t give much thought to either of these things. But oh, within days my skin was a red, irritated, broken out mess. I didn’t immediately clue into the culprit, instead chalking up the reaction to some recent stresses. But one morning I decided to read the label on the jar—and was horrified to see that the generic version now included a myriad of unfamiliar ingredients. I promptly threw out my jar and headed off to the drugstore.
This brings me to my review of the week for Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser, an utterly amazing product. In fact, I think it trumps even the original cold cream formula! I wish I’d thought to try it sooner, as it really is a treat to use. In the jar it resembles Vaseline, but once you scoop up a glob, the heat from your skin liquefies the product. I massage it into my skin for a minute or two before removing it—and every last bit of makeup and dirt along with it—with a warm washcloth. I find Albolene to feel very soothing, and it actually does a better job of removing makeup, especially stubborn mascara. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and moisturized, so much so that I could skip a separate moisturizer if I chose to. The ingredient list is nice and simple as well—mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin, ceresin, beta carotene—and it’s fragrance free as well (another big plus for the sensitive skinned.) The price is quite reasonable too; around $11 for a huge tub.
After a month of using Albolene I’ve become a complete convert, and this time I won’t be straying again!
xoxo,
Amanda Lee
I too like Albolene been using it for a couple of years now. However, I recently tried Pond's that is made in Mexico (found at CVS) and I like that one too. Find the texture better than the U.S. version. Easier to remove than Albolene.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are finding one that works for you. I have been trying to get away from the mineral oil based creams and go back to the original greek formula which uses olive oil. I have made my own but there are also some sellers on etsy selling olive oil not mineral oil based creams.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteI think I will try it too. My skin is very sensitive, so I like fragrance free and moisturizing products.
I am also a believer in simple, tried and true products that don't cost a fortune. Just last night, I went to Nordstrom at the Mall to get a primer for my foundation (one of those urges to venture out for bigger and better ha ha!!) Anyway, they asked me what moisturizer did I use on my dry, sensitive skin, and I said just a simple one from a drug store -- Cetaphil. Well, they said that I needed the one they have: Creme de la Mer that is! Ha ha ha!! I pointed out that ingredients are similar to the one I have including mineral oil in it and that I was not going to pay over $200 for a jar of mineral oil based cream. But they insisted that it had a "miracle broth in it" and that "nobody knows what is in it" But who wants to pay $200 for something that "nobody knows what is in it"? Lol