L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Water & Cleansing Milk

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution 200ml

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Cleansing and Perfecting Milk 200ml

I've read a lot of reviews of L'Oreal's addition to the world of micellar waters, mostly good, so when my sister bought a bottle, along with the Cleansing and Perfecting Milk from the same range, I thought I'd give them both a try and review them for you. 

First up, the 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution which claims to 1) Remove makeup, 2) Cleanse the skin and 3) Tone and smooth the skin. I must admit, when it comes to skincare, I like to use separate (and carefully selected) products for each step in my routine rather than opt for a 'one product does all' kind of situation. I like to remove my eye makeup with Bioderma Sensibio H2O, followed by a creamy cleanser and a soothing toner, so I personally wouldn't use this micellar solution for all three of these steps. However, I gave it a go at removing my eye makeup, in place of Bioderma and it worked really well. Just like Bioderma, this clear, odourless solution gently and effectively removes all eye makeup without taking an eternity or needing harsh scrubbing. A 2p coin-sized amount on a cotton pad, pressed to the eye and accompanied by gentle circular motions will remove every trace of the day's makeup. This didn't sting my eyes at all, though it did leave them looking a little more pink than Bioderma does. 

Do I love it as much as my Bioderma micellar water? Not quite. But at £4.99, it is definitely a cheaper and almost as good alternative that I may well purchase in future. 

I've never used a cleansing milk before so wasn't sure what to expect in terms of consistency or effectiveness when I tried the L'Oreal Cleansing and Perfecting Milk. This product has a slightly runny lotion consistency which does look like a thicker version of milk in colour and texture (would you believe it?). When I used this cleanser after removing my eye makeup with the micellar solution (as I normally would), I did find it to sting the skin around my eyes a little, particularly just above my eyelids. I do have slightly sensitive skin, so this might not be an issue for those who don't - I know my sister (who has oily skin) doesn't experience any discomfort at all when using this product. It does, however, effectively remove every trace of makeup from my face - I checked using a cotton pad after washing the cleansing milk off and the pad remained whiter than white. So it's an effective cleanser, though maybe not for sensitive skin or for dry skin as it did leave my skin feeling a little tight. At £4.49, it certainly wouldn't break the bank if you wanted to try it out for yourself, though I wouldn't recommend it from my own experience.
Now, my real concern came when I read the ingredients list on the back of the cleanser - oh what's that third ingredient? Mineral Oil. 

Mineral Oil has caused quite the stir in the beauty world. Some people (Caroline Hirons, in particular) hate the stuff, refusing to use products that contain it at all because it creates a barrier over the skin, simply sitting on top of it stopping the skin from self-regulating and absorbing other skincare products like moisturisers and serums. Caroline emphasises that mineral oil is used in skincare products because it is cheap, not because it is beneficial for the skin, and that plant-based oils etc are a much better alternative. The PixiWoo sisters, on the other hand, like mineral oil products as makeup applies nicely on top of it. Whilst studies have shown that mineral oil does not clog pores, we are all a little wary of putting it on our faces now. 

Overall, I'd definitely consider L'Oreal's micellar solution as an effective alternative to more expensive micellar waters and would purchase it myself in future. The Cleansing and Perfecting Milk, however, isn't a product I would use again as I didn't find it to be nourishing on my skin like cream/balm cleansers are and it did sting my skin. The mineral oil content just sealed the deal for me. 

Have you tried these L'Oreal products? What are your thoughts?
Let me know in the comments!

Holly xo

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