Firstly, before I dive into spouting on about my favourite cleansers, I thought a bit of background info on my skin woes would be prudent.

Skincare is something i’m really interested in because despite being in my 30’s, I actually suffer from Adult Acne.

It all started when I stopped taking the contraceptive pill over seven years ago (for health reasons) and finding out within weeks that the teenage skin i’d never really allowed my body to experience, decided to rear it’s ugly, painful and inflamed head all over my chest, back and face.

After several months of oral antibiotics and daily applications of medicated creams, I was getting rather fed up with the reoccurance of painful cyst like spots that would appear over night and then take months to disappear (often leaving me with scarring).

It wasn’t until I had a makeup trial for my wedding last year, that a makeup artist recommended I overhauled my skincare routine and started giving my skin a bit of TLC.

Now it sounds like common sense in a way, but it never occurred to me that spot prone/acne prone skin is by its nature, very sensitive and reactive. So applying products designed for spot prone skin can sometimes prove a bit harsh and make the problem worse. This is something, celebrity makeup artist (and personal girl crush) Lisa Eldridge discusses in her videos – and if you suffer with your skin, her tutorials and recommendations are well worth a look. This is a link to one of her skincare videos.

Also, both my makeup artist and Lisa Eldridge put forward various reasons why spots can appear. Lisa herself has what she calls ‘lazy skin’, which doesn’t shed very well and allows the build up of cells and debris, which clog the pores and then voila! A breakout nightmare.

Suddenly this made so much sense to me, and looking at my spotty, bumpy, dull, slightly dehydrated, red and partly oily skin, I suddenly realised this could be my problem too – and the best way to tackle this is with consistent and effective cleansing and exfoliating.

My personal favourites…

Enlightened and determined to get my skin clear and glowing for my impending nuptials, I decided to take my makeup artists recommendation and change up my cleansing routine by investing in Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.

And I tell you, boy did this do wonders!!

This cleanser is creamy and soothing and removes every scrap of makeup and skin debris without burning or pulling at your face. It’s part of a 3-step process recommended by Liz Earle, but I prefer using the cleanser and moisturiser without the toner step. I just find the toner dried out my skin a bit too much (probably because of the topical medicated cream i’m still using).

Liz Earle says about its product:

Our original, multi award-winning hot cloth cleanser quickly removes daily grime and make up to leave skin clean, soft and radiant.

Ideal for your morning or evening cleanse, this formulation works on every age and skin type, offering concentrated yet gentle cleansing power.

Our plant-based cleanser has a two-phase action. Phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara.

Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, cleaner skin.

These guys have quite a lot to say about their product, but for me, it was all relevant and true.

Within two weeks the tiny bumps on my cheeks and forehead had all but disappeared, leaving brighter, smoother and calmer looking skin and within about two months the big cyst like spots on my chin area appeared less and less. The old scarring marks also started to fade.

The way you use their cleanser also provides a gentle form of exfoliation because you remove (“polish”) it with a muslin cloth. This was perfect in helping my skin cell turnover and preventing future breakouts.

Now, when I say I invested in Liz Earle, I mean that for me, it was a step up into the more expensive realms of skincare. If you are new to Liz Earle and can’t afford to plunge head first into their three step routine, they very kindly supply starter kits for a fraction on the full sized price. This is what I bought for the first few months until I decided it was working for me.

A 15ml tube + 1 muslin cloth will cost you £3.25 or the 50ml pump starter kit with muslin cloth is £9.25 – although the 15ml tube sounds like a bargain, remember that your skin follows a cycle and you need to try a new product for a good few weeks to see true results, so the starter kit may provide more value for money.

Now, as much as I love Liz Earle, it does require more time out of your day to use it properly, so I tend to alternate between products during the week, depending on how my skin is reacting and how much time I have. So if i’m not cleansing with Liz Earle, i’m doing it with Neutrogena Visibly Clear® Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash.

Now I know I said that some products for spot prone skin can make the problem worse, but thankfully this is not one of them and it’s one of the few lower priced brands of skincare that includes a great ingredient for treating spot prone skin – Salicylic Acid. A form of Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), it penetrates the skin to loosen dead skin cells and is gentler than Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), so ideal for regular use on sensitive skin.

As it is a foaming face wash which doesn’t require a cloth, it is my ‘quick time’ routine on days where I am in a rush. In fact, cleansing in the AM with Neutrogena and then in the PM (in the bath) with Liz Earle works out well for me.

The is what Neutrogena say about their product:

NEUTROGENA VISIBLY CLEAR® Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash is an uplifting daily facial cleanser for clearer, fresher and healthier looking skin every day. With powerful MICROCLEAR® technology, the formula cleanses deeply to help eliminate spots and blackheads. The refreshing gel gently purifies the skin without overdrying, whilst a wave of pink grapefruit uplifts the senses with a burst of invigorating freshness!

A 200ml bottle will cost you less than £5. An absolute bargain in my opinion. I bought mine over six weeks ago and it’s only just running out. It’s effective, smells lush, is affordable, practical, lasts ages (with one pump being enough to wash your entire face) and it doesn’t dry out sensitive skin. Using this means that my more expensive Liz Earle product needs replacing less frequently, so I can keep up my skincare routine without bankrupting myself.

So thats it, a bit of a ramble, but a crucial step in skincare which is individual to every person. Getting a product that works for you can make a huge difference to your skin condition (and confidence).

I’m also going to do a post about my favourite exfoliators as they are also crucial to keeping my skin in good condition, so keep your eyes (and skin) peeled – sorry I couldn’t resist!

What are your favourite cleansers? I’d love to hear your recommendations and skincare experiences!