Are cleansing powders worth your time?

In the last month there have been two big beauty launches. The Clinique Fresh Pressed Vitamin C range and Dior Hydra Life. Both lines have powder cleansers, which seems to be burgeoning trend in skincare. However cleansing powders are not new to the beauty scene. Before these launches there was the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Tatcha Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder - both excellent products that mildly exfoliate the skin without irritating it.

I find myself warming to powder cleansers during summer as they clean skin thoroughly without drying it out. They are actually really good for oily and combination skin tones as they literally vacuum the excess oil and make the pores look tighter. You just need to take a dash of powder in your palm, add a little bit of water and then rub your palms together till it foams. Here’s what I think of the all four powder cleansers:

Clinique Fresh Pressed Renewing Powder Cleanser: Yes it does add a glow as promised, but does the vitamin C really remain on the skin when washed off? I don’t know. The good thing is that its without parabens, sulphates and phthalates. And this is not drying so it’s great for all skin types.

Dior Hydra Life Ultra Fine Exfoliating Powder: I love this product because it makes my skin look poreless. But I wish it wasn’t so heavily fragranced. Oh and the foaming stuff isn’t soap, but saponins that are completely natural cleansing agents. This is especially good for wonderful for oily and combination skin.

Tatcha Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder: No toxins, no fragrance, barely any alcohol, amazing texture that cleans beautifully but doesn’t dry the skin at all. There’s everything to love about this product. This is great for dry skin. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant: This product has been around for years and has such great reviews. It’s a serious (but gentle) exfoliant so you can even use this two-three times a week. It has rice enzymes, salicylic acid and papain (from papaya) to remove dead skin cells. If you have sensitive skin and are looking for a super gentle, fragrance free option, look no further.