Double Cleansing Cleanser Sets

Double cleansing is an essential part of my skincare routine. In fact, it's one of the major reasons why I began to see a turnaround in my skin years ago. I only double cleanse in the evening since I'm removing makeup and dirt from the day. Typically I prefer an oil or balm-like cleanser as my first step because it cuts through my makeup, and works best for my combination skin. I learned many years ago (which made complete sense to me after someone explained it) that oil based cleansers bind better to oil thus properly cleansing the face without stripping it. Oil is essential for the skin's overall health so even though I have oily skin, using oil on my face will signal to my sebaceous glands that it doesn't need to produce anymore. I instantly began seeing fewer breakouts, less oil on my face and a healthier, more balanced complexion. Adding in the second cleansing step after removing my makeup became crucial because I was able to treat my skin with the benefits of that second cleanser. I regularly reach for a rich cream or soft gel because they help to nourish, comfort and hydrate my skin along with any additional benefits that may come from the cleansers' key ingredients. I am so excited to see brands finally selling actual double cleansing sets, and the two I have for today's post are beyond exceptional!

1. Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse - Beauty blogger and industry legend, Caroline Hirons has been speaking about the benefits of double cleansing for years and it was only a matter of time before she created her own. So in conjunction with Pixi beauty and Caroline, a solid cleansing oil and cleansing cream in one tub was born! And it is spectacular! I am already a HUGE fan of Pixi skincare (this is a staple for me), so I knew this would be a hit with my skin. The cleansing balm is solid though breaks down quite easily, removes every last stitch of makeup and emulsifies easily with water. It's a nice mix of oil and a solid so it will appeal to a wide variety of cleanser lovers. The cleansing cream side is like a big pillowy blanket for your face. The texture is fluffy, delicate and leaves my skin feeling softer than ever. My only request is that the tub be larger! I need more of each ASAP!

2. Pestle & Mortar Erase and Renew Cleansers - For those natural beauty lovers, this Pestle & Mortar double cleansing system is a definite must try. Whereas the Pixi cleansers left my skin very soft and comforted, this cleansing system gave me a fresh glow. The cleansing balm is a tad more oily and runny than the Pixi (which I love equally as much) with a slight granular texture that gives a mild exfoliation. The kit comes with a cloth to remove the cleansers and I highly recommend using it. Both remove easily with just water, but using the cloth gave my face helped remove any rough texture on my face. The Illuminating Gel cleanser is described as a gel though to me it felt like a balm with more slip. Either way, it was glorious and really left my skin radiant and bright. 

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My Recommendations From Pixi Beauty Skincare

My love for Pixi skincare began with the Glow Tonic. It's a gentle exfoliating toner that can be used daily and I saw immediate results. It is now a product that I keep in my collection all the time and never allow myself to run out. My interest in the brand piqued from there and I was anxious to try as much skincare from Pixi beauty as I could. Here are my favorites from the brand:

1. Pixi Glow Tonic - What started my love affair with the entire brand - the Pixi Glow Tonic. It's a gentle exfoliating toner with glycolic acid that is gentle enough to be used daily. Even when my skin is at its most sensitive, I can use this. It never fails me and I recommend it to any and everyone I can.

2. Pixi Lash Nourish Makeup Remover Pads - After removing my makeup, I sometimes find there is still some remnants of mascara left on my lashes. I tried these pads as a quick final step to see if it would take away those stubborn last bits of mascara, and it was amazing. I even began using them to remove all of my eye makeup because my lashes and eye area felt so soft and conditioned after. They have become a travel staple for me as well because of how easy they are to pack.

3. Pixi Glow Tonic To-Go - I love the Glow Tonic but longed for a pad form so I could travel with it more easily. I was in Target and saw these and grabbed them immediately! They are the same strength as the liquid toner, but I actually prefer to use a pad instead of liquid on a cotton round. I figured they would give the same exfoliation but I actually find these to give a slightly stronger exfoliation than the original Glow Tonic. I recommend a patch test just to make sure your skin can tolerate.

Top: Mud Cleanser, Bottom: Mud Mask

4. Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser - My skincare routine is never complete without a good mud cleanser to help with cleaning out my skin and detoxifying my pores. This cleanser has a small amount of glycolic acid so it helps to exfoliate the skin while giving it a deep clean. Most of my previous mud cleansers have a slightly grainy feel which can irritate my skin, but this manages to be quite creamy leaving my skin feeling soft yet not stripped or dry. 

5. Pixi Glow Mud Mask - Compared to other mud masks in my collection or one I've tried in the past, this one is quite gentle thankfully. In addition to the kaolin clay which helps to purify the skin, it also contains aloe vera and ginseng which helps balance and soothe the skin. I usually need to follow up mud masks with a hydrating mask to help put the moisture back into my skin, but that is not the case with the Pixi Glow Mud Mask. It leaves my face fresh, glowing, hydrated with the appearance of much smaller pores.

6. Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm - While the mud cleanser is typically a once a week or as needed product for my skin, this Nourishing Cleansing Balm is something I can use daily. I love using it as a first cleanse to remove my makeup. If you like a cleansing balm, but don't want one that is too runny or oily, this is perfect option for you. It's quite thick and breaks down to an oil once on the face, but the texture is pleasant enough to not bother someone that doesn't like the feel of a greasy cleanser on their face. (I, of course, love a greasy cleanser LOL)

7. Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum - Most of the Pixi skincare I have gravitated towards is more in the cleansing, toning or masking categories, but this Hydrating Milky Serum was an instant hit. It isn't too thick so my face doesn't feels suffocated, but it's rich enough to do the job. It absorbs quickly (though it's not immediate), and my skin really responds well to it. I love it in the morning before I put on my makeup because my face looks plumper and more supple after using the serum, and any makeup I apply just glides on.

Shop all Pixi skincare:

3 Masks for Glowing Skin

After cleansers, masks are my favorite skincare items to use. The results are often instant, I can use one after another, I can treat different parts of my face with different masks - the possibilities are endless. And it's a great way to try a brand without fully investing in a moisturizer or serum. I've recently tested out a few new masks that are designed to help detoxify, clarify and exfoliate the skin. I love using these types of masks at least once a week because they help to keep my skin looking fresh and glowing.

1. Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque - Hormonal breakouts have met their match with this mask. The activated charcoal helps to draw out impurities and my skin is less oily the next few days after using. But the added bonus of alpha hydroxy acids to this mask means that the skin gets a nice chemical exfoliation, while removing the mask gives a manual exfoliation. The result is super smooth and radiant skin. However, if you have sensitive skin, I would recommend a patch test first to ensure it doesn't cause irritation.

2. Pixi Glow Mud Mask - Compared to the Dermalogica mask, this Pixi mask is smoother in texture with little to no graininess. It still did an amazing job of detoxifying the skin and helping to decongest especially when I was having breakouts, and my skin looked radiant and felt soft and soothed after using. If I had to rank them, this Pixi mud mask is the most gentle out of all three masks which is nice when my skin may be feeling a tad more sensitive but still needs a good clarifying treatment.

3. Tula Exfoliating Treatment Mask - Tula is a new brand to me and as I said before, the first product I like to try from a line is typically their masks (or cleansers - I'm a sucker for either). While this mask still gave me a strong exfoliation, I loved the addition of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids along with Vitamin E to help nourish and condition the skin. Too often exfoliating masks can focus only on removing dead skin, but I loved how my face felt replenished and hydrated after using this. The lactic acid gives a chemical exfoliation while the small granules give a gentle manual exfoliation. It's been a great addition to my winter skincare routine because it manages to balance smoothing my skin with keeping it calm and hydrated. It's a masking win/win! AND - as a bonus for all those that are interested in trying this or any other products from the Tula line out, they have generously given me a discount code for 25% off the entire line + free shipping! Use code: Maree25 to receive the special. You can shop the entire line here. Enjoy!

*pr samples included 

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Video: February 2015 Beauty Favorites

I skipped January but I'm back with my monthly beauty favorites for February. Hooray!!  It's a good mix of skincare, color, and other bits. Scroll down to watch the video and don't forget to subscribe!

Have you entered my Tatcha skincare giveaway?!!! Enter here.

Below are all the products mentioned in the video:

Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Moisturizing Hand Cream

La Prairie Cellular 3-minute peel

Clarins Lip Comfort Oil

Diptyque Rosafolia

Tom Ford Cheek Brush

By Terry Velvet Rouge

Ilia Tinted Moisturizer

It Cosmetics Lipgloss in Naturally Pretty

Pixi Glow Tonic