Review & Comparison: Two Cream Cleansers, Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser & Iluka No

Despite having normal to combination skin, I love cream cleansers because they are so gentle and feel like you are still treating your skin, whilst washing it (cleansing the skin can be the most disruptive/harsh step in your routine, causing it more damage than good by stripping away your protective lipid barrier). I can’t say I’ve gotten into ‘balm’ like cream cleansers just yet, where you use a muslin cloth to wipe/rinse away the cleanser from your skin (that seems like to much effort for me currently) so more traditional cream cleansers still catch my eye. I have two cream cleansers, which I have finished up recently. Both also come from the more ‘organic/all natural’ category of skincare and to be honest, this was not really a conscious decision. Despite this, they differ from one another quite a bit, so if you are looking for something new, one of these guys may ‘speak to you’! 🙂

Let’s start off by looking at the Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser. Antipodes in a Kiwi (aka New Zealand) brand, which focuses on using bio active and sustainably produced ingredients from New Zealand. Some ingredients from abroad are also used (e.g.Himalayan goji berry, South America’s wrinkle-reducing jojoba, deeply moisturising Australian macadamia nut oil and China’s Reishi mushroom of immortality) but there is definitely a focus on local ingredients.  All packaging is 100% biodegradable which I love, products are not tested on animals and most products are certified organic (this means that 70-95% of the natural ingredients must be certified organic) which this cleanser is.

A dermatologically approved organic cleanser that is a true gift for sensitive skin conditions. Clear impurities and remove make-up gracefully with this dermatologically approved organic cleanser that is a true gift for sensitive skin conditions. Its blissfully soothing formulation features anti-inflammatory Vinanza Oxifend® super-antioxidant, naturally extracted from pinot noir grapes from award-winning Marlborough vineyards. Nutrient-rich avocado oil and marigold flower gently yet effectively cleanse, freshen and soften your visage.DAILY RITUAL: Apply in circular motions with clean fingertips to your face, neck and decolletage at sunrise and sunset. Rinse well with warm and pure water.

I’d say that the grace cream cleanser feels like a very ‘traditional’ cream cleanser, in that it is quite a thick cream, which requires a little more effort to massage it all over your face. You can either do this on dry skin or lightly damp skin (I don’t find there to be to much of a difference between the two). The cream isn’t oily at all but it still feels quite rich, so once the remaining product is washed off your skin you can most definitely feel that it has left behind a ‘barrier’ on the skin. This won’t be to everyones liking as it can be hard to then ‘feel’ if your skin has been cleansed properly, especially if you like that totally bare, fresh feeling. For sensitive and mature skin this is brilliant because you need that extra ‘re-enforcement’ if you will, which does leave the skin feeling moisturised and comfortable. It does exactly what it promises to do! It aint the greatest for removing makeup on it’s own, but that’s not really it’s job per se. I have also tried using the cleanser with my Foreo Luna, but it just feels too thick, so I don’t use the two together.

I’m terrible at describing scents but the cleanser does smell pleasant (not overpowering) lightly floral and ‘creamy’ if that makes sense lol The scent doesn’t smell artificial, which is a plus in my books. One of the pitfalls with organic ‘all natural’ skincare products, is that they don’t last to long once opened. Natural ingredients are hard to stabilise. This cleanser is supposed to last 6 months from the date of opening, which isn’t to bad actually. Where you keep your cleanser, is probably also going to effect how long it keeps ‘fresh’. To be honest, I’ve probably had mine for a little over 6 months now (though I am seriously near the end now) and it hasn’t changed in scent or texture (the two biggest signs, it’s time to throw it away!). I like the packaging from an aesthetic point of view, even though squeezing it out of the tube isn’t the easiest once you are nearing the end of the cleanser.

Weirdly, I can’t find the Grace Cleanser via the Priceline website, so perhaps stocks are just very low at the moment. You can find it on the Antipodes official website , Adore Beauty and Beauty Bay which is a good sign! Do note, that finding it at a local stockist is probably best, as it will work out to be cheaper if you pay is Aus dollars (Beauty Bay is much cheaper than the official Antipodes web shop). From memory, mine cost around $35 at Priceline for 120ml, but you can wait till the brand is at 20% off to get it for cheaper. Antipodes is a little bit on the higher end of drugstore products, but as most of the ingredients are organic and they are made in New Zealand, the price can be justified.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sclerotium Gum (Amigel), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Distillate*, Buxus Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia Nut) Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate, Vitis Vinifera (Vinanza Oxifend Red Grape) Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Cetearyl Alcohol, Naticide (Natural Preservative). *Certified Organic Ingredient.

Now moving on to the offering by Iluka! ‘Iluka’ is an indigenous term meaning ‘by the sea’. The brand also focuses on organic, natural ingredients, found locally in Australia, whilst being cruelty free. The products are of course also made in Australia, which is really important to me. Natalie Imbruglia helped to formulate the line and if you have seen her skin in person, than anything she is having, I will have! What interested me about this line, is that Natalie has always been open with the fact that she has acne prone skin, which is quite oily, and so she wanted to create products she could use without worrying about breaking out. Now you might think oily skin + cream cleansers = lots of mess and breakouts, but you’d be wrong about that assumption!

This cream cleanser is different to any cream cleanser I have tried before, as it is quite light. It almost feels more like a ‘lotion’ than it does a cream. Being so light, it doesn’t really leave behind a residue like the Grace Cleanser does, your skin still feels nice and clean but lightly moisturised. It works super well with my Foreo Luna, which is a big plus for me. I can imagine using this cleanser even in the summer time, when you wake up with dry skin or after a day out in the sun. The Grace Cleanser is a lot more heavier, so it’s one I would reach for in the Winter only. It has a light lime scent which is lovely and refreshing, however, may not be the best for sensitive skin (citrus oils can be irritating).

Sensuous nourishing cream cleanser that uses the natural oils of almond and sesame to ensure that your skin remains hydrated whilst cleansing. Mild creamy cleanser. Natural humectant for hydration – glycerin.DIRECTIONS: Moisten hands and face. Apply a small amount to hands, massage over face and neck, then rinse. Follow with your toner and moisturiser. 

Again, it may not be the best for removing makeup, but to thoroughly cleanse the skin, using a dedicated makeup remover or oil to do the job is best. Then the cream cleanser can work it’s magic! I haven’t experienced any breakouts after using this cleanser (and I can be breakout prone, having had quite bad acne back in the day). I’m always a bit sceptical when using ‘all natural’ skincare, because a lot of their claims are pure marketing ploys, but I really, really like this cleanser. Because it is lighter than the Grace Cleanser, I’m more likely to purchase it again. The packaging it also a little more user friendly, as it can stand up in your shower, so you can squeeze every last drop out! It costs $19.99 for 90ml and you can find it via the Iluka website (free shipping is offered on every order) or at your local Priceline. It also has a slightly longer ‘use by’ date, as you have 18 months to get through the cleanser after opening.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Eucalyptus Dives Leaf/Twig Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Honey (Mel), Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Limonene.

Both cream cleansers are great, but they are just different. In the photo below, you can see the difference in texture. The Grace Cleanser on the left is much thicker, while the Iluka Nourish Cream Cleanser is much lighter.

In summation: the Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser is super hydrating and gentle, perfect for both mature skins, very dry skin and sensitive skin. The Iluka Nourish Cream Cleanser is much lighter and suitable for oily to normal skin. Neither made me breakout and both made my skin feel very comfortable after cleansing. Neither require removal with a muslin cloth and are quite easy to rinse off.

So beauties, are you a fan of cream cleansers? I’ve definitely come to appreciate them more as I get older. I also hope Iluka expands their line of products (currently, there is 10 in total) as so far, everything I have tried I am loving (there are more reviews to come!). Antipodes also rates very highly in my books, but it is more expensive. Let me know if you’ve tried either brand before and what you think of their products! To end, let’s appreciate some of the wonderful music Natalie has also made 🙂

Catch ya next time,

Beauty Bee~

Please follow and like us:

#cleansers #IlukaNourishCreamCleanser #organiccleanser #AntipodesGraceGentleCreamCleanser #creamcleanser