Cleansing is what I swear by to kick off my skincare ritual. But, whether you are doing it right or not. There was a school of thought that the more your cleanser lathers, the more purifying it is and the more we cleanse, the more our skin can stay away from breakouts. My younger self used to think that too and winded up going overboard.

No matter your skin type, washing your face twice a day is ideal to keep the skin spick-and-span. In the evening, the skin is inclined to suffer from the buildup of makeup, sunscreen, sweat and pollutants, throughout the day. Then, double cleansing is my go-to. Otherwise, I can make it on and off with one-step cleansing in the morning, especially when my skin is terribly dry.

Besides, how to choose your cleanser is paramount to refine skin without being stripped. It’s still up for some debates among skincare experts. Recently, I have been creating a schedule for my skin with a new cleanser. Let’s hop in my review on Erno Laszlo Pore Refining Detox Double Cleanse. Extraordinarily geared towards the morning routine pampering the skin after a good night’s rest.

1. Souped-up with Cleansing Powers for Ultimate Purification

This double-duty claims to impart refreshing morning cleanse that gets rid of impurities not only on the skin’s surface but also within the pores in one act. Loaded with numerous fruit extracts to purge and detoxify the skin.

The signature ingredient is Charcoal Powder or Activated Charcoal, a carbonaceous material, which is made from peat, coal, wood, petroleum, coconut shells or sawdust. Processed or activated at a high temperature to make its structure extremely porous. The incredible microporosity of Charcoal Powder allows it to effectively trap sweat, excessive oil, pollutants and toxins. Draws those contaminants out of the skin’s surface, but also your pores. It has long been renowned for excellent purification and detoxification.

In cosmetics, the ingredient works as an absorbent, an abrasive and a skin purifier with antibacterial properties to mitigate congestion. It helps shrink the pores, treat acne vulgaris and balance oil production. Recommended for oily, blemish-prone skin.

Aside from Charcoal Powder, infused with Sea Salt (Maris Salt/Sel Marin). It results in deep cleanse with mild exfoliation to gently remove unwanted residues and dead skin cells for a smooth, clean sensation.

Chock-full of nourishing plant extracts, like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Actinidia, Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Averrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Fruit Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract and Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract.

Abundant in emollient, calming, repairing and skin protective properties with vitamins and fatty acids to alleviate the appearance of fatigue signs and inhibit leaching away natural moisture, while cleansing. Those are considered safe with low hazards.

In addition, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein comprises a variety of protein substances derived from vegetables. Used as a water-binding agent to make skin stay hydrated and also, an antistatic agent to keep static electricity from being cumulative on the materials or their surfaces. Electrostatic hazards may damage the product’s quality and cause burning or explosive accidents.

There are some other chemical compounds, such as Propanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol and Ethylhexylglycerin. All of these act as skin conditioning agents, emollients, solvents, texture enhancers, film formers and thickening agents and viscosity regulating agents.

They create homogeneous consistency and a smooth feel to the touch as well as controlling the flow and spreadability of the product. Considered low to moderate hazard ingredients. Otherwise, Cyclopentasiloxane is possibly not eco-friendly.

Ethylhexylglycerin is also used as a preservative or a preservative enhancer with deodorizing agents and a surfactant. It’s able to reduce the surface tension of different substances in order to emulsify and wash away greasy traces, dirt and other contaminants. Moreover, it helps retard the development of odor-causing bacteria or rancidity of the product and enhance the efficacy of preservatives, including Phenoxyethanol and Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate.

FYI, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate is derived from Raphanus sativus (radish) roots fermented with Leuconostoc, a microbe from lactic acid. That makes it a natural preservative with antimicrobial properties as an alternative to toxic preservatives.

Another preservative enhancer is Disodium Edta, which is, more precisely, a chelator. It isolates and inactivates the trace metallic ions that are “nutrition” for microorganisms. That tends to stabilize the integrity of the formula and minimize the deterioration of the product.

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate acts as a water-soluble cleansing agent or a detergent or an emulsifying surfactant, which is commonly found in shampoo, body soap and facial cleansers. It powerfully lifts all of the wastes away. However, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is potentially fraught with drying effect and aggravating the skin, so that it may not be suitable for sensitive and dry skin types.

Sodium Hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, is used as a pH adjuster or a buffer in a small amount to regulate the level of acidity or alkalinity of the product. It’s considered highly alkaline as a very strong skin irritant and a corrosive that possibly leads to the disruption of skin’s acid mantle and the atrophy of the barrier function.

Xanthan Gum is multitasking as a binder, an emulsion stabilizer, a viscosity increasing (thickening) agent and an emulsifying surfactant. It helps bond other substances and maintains their utility in the formulation of a consistent coating. Plus, thicken the product’s texture to make it less liquid, rather more gel-like and easier to diffuse.

Furthermore, there are Titanium Dioxide and Mica. Aside from being popular as mineral pigments in makeup and one of the physical UV filters, Titanium Dioxide can be used in its non-pigment form to impart velvety, transparent and spreadable consistency. Mica tends to provide shimmering, light-reflecting effects for the radiant, gleaming looking complexion.

To be honest, I see no point in adding Mica into the cleanser since Mica is most likely to be found in makeup products and formulated with Titanium Dioxide to fake the glow. Anyway, it’s considered safe as long as it’s used in a small amount.

Calcium Alginate, Parfum and Limonene are fragrances and masking agents to reduce the obnoxious odours of the product. Additionally, Calcium Alginate can be a viscosity controlling agent. Parfum and Limonene are categorised as skin irritants.

One more concern, the product is neither cruelty-free nor vegan.

2. Geared Towards Oily, Acne-Prone Skin, but Its Squeaky Clean May Be a Problem for Dry Skin

The two-in-one cleanser delivers jelly-like, gooey and transparent consistency with the Charcoal, encapsulated in the black beads dispersing and floating inside. Press down the pump head to release the gel and the beads, which burst and blend into the gel on hand palm. Apply it on damp skin. While rubbing around all over my face, it slightly lathers and turns into a white solution.

Massage in a circular motion for about 30 seconds and aim for the T-zone that has a higher amount of oil glands than the rest of the face. There are imperceptibly cooling and tingly sensations. It feels kind of relaxing. Then, rinse off with lukewarm water and pat the skin dry with a soft cloth. The product tends to moderately degrease the skin’s surface and leaves a very clean feel to the touch.

It’s allegedly designed for our A.M skincare routines. Well, this is different from some of my previous cleansers that I can use in both the daytime and the nighttime. At night, we go for two facial cleansers to remove thoroughly the post-work buildup. However, cleansing duos may be unnecessary when waking up in the morning, if you don’t want to end up over-washing your skin.

Therefore, the Pore Refining Detox Double Cleanse pursues the idea that is to efficiently prevent indoor grime, overactive sebaceous glands and night-time-leave-on products from blocking your pores, instead of double cleansing. It perfectly gets rid of the leftovers without stripping the skin.

I think that this is brilliant, especially after doing morning workouts, your pores will be gunked up by sweat, excessive sebum and grime, if you are a morning outdoor workout person. It helps resolve the issue in one step. Plus, I usually have tiny openings on my cheeks and nose because of perspiring badly from morning workouts and the product does tighten my pores.

Highly recommended for combination, oily, congestion-prone and acne-prone skins. The product is really good at cleansing off the impurities overnight and following morning outdoor exercise. However, on a daily basis, it may be drying for dry and sensitive skin types. In regard to those who have flaking, scaling skin, like mine two years ago, you should opt for gentle cleansers with more moisturizing properties and less alkaline ingredients. This Detox Double Cleanse may make your conditions go from bad to worse.

I have been using the product for a month. I’m sure that it will neither cause burns nor aggravate the skin, except that your skin is very dry and sensitive, like dermatitis.

My skin is a type of quite dry, sensitive and blemish-prone to that time of the month. I tried using it once a day for a week, my skin then became somewhat drier. So, I stop using it frequently. Three times per week (after workouts) in the morning may be fine for me and on other days, I swap in my usual cleansing cream. I can use the Detox Double Cleanse more often during my breakouts. It means that now, I have three facial washes in my bathroom. Therefore, if your skin is just quite dry, you can try switching back and forth between those two in your A.M. skincare regimen.

Whatever your skin type, you definitely need to moisturize your skin after cleansing. Like I mentioned, the product is inclined to be rather drying and give kind of squeaky clean on the skin’s surface. Speaking of its smell, which is chemical-like. I’m not into it.

3. Sanitary Packaging Design with a Pump Dispenser – Pretty Pricey

Housed in a plastic pump bottle. What I got here is the full size, 100 ml/3.3 fluid ounces. Its shape looks really sturdy and tough with black color. The big pump functions very well. I really like the packaging, which looks like a high-quality shelter with a huge cap to protect it from debris and bacteria. However, it’s pretty big, taking space in my traveling bag. The product retails for $55. This may be pricey for a cleanser.

4. My Rating (8/10): A Good Product for the Summer Skincare Regimen

I got to admit that the product’s cleansing agent is powerful, in place of double cleansing to prep skin for my daytime moisturizer. But, it’s quite drying for my skin, I will not use it every day, but this is ideal in summer and to treat my skin congestion. Though, its price is fairly high. I’ll give it 8 out of 10.

Hope the review is helpful to you all. Thank you so much for spending time on my post. I really appreciate it. If you have ideas or questions about the product, please let me know in the comment below. That will be my pleasure. Have a nice day and always stay beautiful, dollies!