CLEANSER - MILK

We are old enough to remember when cleansing milks were just about the only kind of cleanser available to women – and indeed, there was just a handful of brands available. (Anne French, anyone…?) We know plenty of women who still prefer this format and texture. Milks tend to nourish and moisturise dry skin, be gentle on touchy complexions (these did well with sensitive souls) and suit more mature faces too. Interestingly, several testers with combination skin reported how much they liked these products. Plus they’re perfect for massaging in to skin. You mostly have a choice as to how to remove them, either via pads swiped over skin or with a muslin cloth and water, often followed by matching toner or micellar water. 

Nowadays, many testers like to double cleanse either with the same product or a different one and brought this protocol into their testing. NB Waterproof mascara invariably needs a separate dedicated eye make-up remover.

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD SBC Propolis & White Willow Gentle Milk Cleanser

The Britain-based family run brand describes this as a skin comforting, blemish-calming milk cleanser, which gently removes impurities, oil and make-up. They also say it’s suitable for all skin types and indeed our testers had a variety but we’d say the ingredients make it most suitable for blemish prone, congested and/or reactive skin. White willow extract and salicylic acid work to break down dead skin cell build-up and congestion in the pores, helping to prevent future breakouts and encourage smoother, clearer skin. These exfoliating ingredients are blended with nourishing propolis to help maintain skin’s moisture barrier, plus tiger grass (centella Asiatica) and feverfew, both known for their calming and restoring properties. It’s suitable for vegetarians (not vegans though with the propolis) and cruelty-free. No details about whether it’s suitable for eye make-up removal but most testers found it was okay for eyes. And they loved the ginormous bottle!

£6.50 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10/10. I will never go back. This cleanser has it all. It is excellent value for money, lasts well. It is truly amazing. Removes all my make-up and cleans my combination skin so well. My skin has stopped breaking out and finally feels more balanced. When I have used a toner i have not seen a trace of make-up up on the cotton pads. For the price you can double cleanse and not be too stingy. Overall, the best cleanser I have used in a long time. It really does suit me, and I will be purchasing in the future. i have also recommended it to friends and family’ • ‘This is like a hug in a bottle. My skin is menopausal, much drier than it used to be, with fine lines and some pigmentation. I don't use a huge amount of make-up, and this cleanser coped well with taking it all off. it worked perfectly well on my powder shadow and regular mascara, so I didn't need to use a separate eye make-up remover. It left no oily film.  I used a warm, wet flannel to remove it, and it did the job perfectly. There were no traces on my pillow. I’ve enjoyed using it and the fragrance is gorgeous. It is more effective than my usual cleanser’ • ‘Brilliant. Loved the pump bottle, the fragrance is subtle and pleasant, it removed make- up without leaving the usual tight, itchy feeling so skin was moisturised, soft and smooth. Really lovely’ • ‘I wasn't sure if I could use this on my eyes and eye make-up as there isn't an explicit statement, but on looking at the SBC website there is a HowTo Use set of photos and the model has it on her eyes so I followed suit. On my eyes I applied it and used a damp muslin to remove it. It removed waterproof masacara but sometimes takes a couple of applications. On my face I massage it in and then add as per directions a bit of water to turn it to a milk and then remove with a damp muslin. My skin is It skin felt soft, refreshed and looked nice and brighter.’

£6.50 for 100ml - click to buy 

GOLD (JOINT) AWARD Urban Retreat Soothing Cleansing Milk

This ‘comforting cleanser’ is specially formulated for dry and sensitive skin, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant extracts including fatty acid rich pumpkin seed, nourishing and moisturising apricot oil, soothing chamomile and rose water working to leave skin not just cleansed but also moisturised, supple and smooth. It also promises to reduce skin redness and puffiness. This luxe (but great value) spa brand is particularly good at directions for use so worth having a look at these if you are tempted to buy. This brand is accredited cruelty free. The formulations are stuffed with botanicals and only use synthetic ingredients when they feel there is no alternative. 

£15 for 120ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Top marks for this light cream that becomes a light oil when applied to my normal/mature skin. The product was in a pump dispenser (my favourite type of dispenser) it was super easy to get the correct amount of product I needed; it removed all my make-up (except not all my mascara), nothing showed up on the white towel when I dried my face after using and my skin felt clean, soft and moisturised' • ‘I didn’t think I would like this as I use micellar cleanser which is "sweep and go". However this felt like the cleanser used by professionals when having facials, the fragrance was lovely (like a summer meadow!) and the glass bottle luxurious.  I showed this to my sister who tried a little bit on her hand and her reaction was "ooooh that's lovely!". After 28 days my skin appeared to 'glow' I didn’t use it for a couple of days and actually missed it!’ • ‘Took off all my make-up easily and removed my eye make-up too. Didn't require a toner afterwards. Skin felt moisturised and soft afterwards. A lovely product which left skin feeling lovely and soft afterwards, not dry and tight’ • ‘A luxurious smelling and feeling cleanser that gets most make up off - definitely one to use as part of a double cleanse routine. I also bet it would be amazing for someone with very dry skin.’

£15 for 120ml - click to buy 

SILVER AWARD and BEST NATURAL Dr.Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk

We’re delighted that, once again, this super natural, rose scented product wins an Award. Dr.Hauschka is synonymous with all-natural products, made of 100% natural raw ingredients, most organic and some biodynamic – grown and harvested to the rhythms of the moon. The brand recommends this as a ‘basic skincare product’ for dry, sensitive and normal skin, to use as a gentle cleanser morning and evening and a great way to gently remove make-up. (Apparently it’s also a good shaving cream…) They recommend using this before Cleansing Cream or a toner so the first stage of a double cleanse. One of the main ingredients, anthyllis vulneraria, is traditionally used for wound healing – in skincare it also helps balance oil production and diminish pore size. Jojoba and almond oils cleanse and also nourish skin. Some testers found it removed eye make-up easily and effectively, others were less sure.

£26 for 145ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Top marks for this light, slightly running cleansing milk in a pump dispenser, which is surprisingly effective at removing make-up quickly and easily, leaving no traces. It removed waterproof mascara and eyeliner well without any stinging or irritation. I was told my skin looked fresh and very clean’ • ‘I don't tend to use cream or milk cleansers as I find facial washes more effective and easier to use.  After using this milk, however. I feel I am really pampering my skin, even while removing make-up.  I always felt that cleansers would leave lots of residue on my face, which would need washing off, but this was not the case as this cleanser was so light.  My skin felt much softer after use than it is with a wash; all traces of make up were gone.  I'm definitely changing to this! ’ • ‘This has a delightful light creamy consistency. The cleanser does rinse off with water but it is best to wipe it off with a damp cloth. I found it was very effective at cleaning off my make-up except for mascara and there was no trace of foundation etc behind even when using white pillows’ • ‘This is not drying at all, it is very gentle and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated without feeling greasy. It is a very pleasing and comfortable way of cleaning your face. I do like this as if feels so kind to your skin. I would buy it’ • ‘I used it for removing eye makeup and it worked a treat with no stinging - lovely and gentle. A marvellous product.’

£26 for 145ml - click to buy 

BRONZE AWARD Scientia Peachy Clean Milky Oil Cleanser 

And yes, this unisex cleanser for dry skin is fragrant with the scent of peaches (not popular with every tester though’) plus watermelon and passion fruit, all there for the range of nutrients. There are also skin-loving oils of jojoba, almond, rosehip and baobab to melt away impurities, glycerin to help restore and protect the skin barrier so moisture stays in, plus soothing, moisturising aloe vera. It starts as a milky oil, massage that in and it turns to melts down to a true oil, but that’s not all – add water and you’re back to a milky emulsion – alchemy or what?! Forget the natural v synthetic debate, Scientia commands, saying ‘we go for good ingredients that do good and work hard. Whether that’s tranexamic acid whipped up in a lab, or an avocado fresh from the tree’. This UK brand is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free, Vegan Society approved and always striving to do more for the planet, they say.

£24 for 95ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Top marks. I am completely converted to this. From the gorgeous bottle, to the divine smell, to the way it works a treat, I love everything about it. It is going to be a must buy for me. It leaves my dry mature skin silky smooth but non greasy. My husband says my skin feels softer’ • ‘I really liked the texture - it is light and milky, and then turns to an oil on your skin. Pump dispenser worked well with only a small amount needed. It cleaned well and worked well to take off eye make-up. Didn’t leave my skin feeling stripped which I find many cleansers do’ • ‘I liked the gentle peach fragrance and the way it changed to an oil it was applied to my skin was a surprise, but a good one as it felt lightweight and not overly oily, but equally didn’t leave my skin feeling tight. It did a good job removing make-up and didn’t sting my eyes and left my skin feeling clean and fresh’ • ‘Surprisingly quick to use. My face felt fresher and I felt this cleanser was very effective at removing make up. I had never used a crème with water before so it was enlightening. I liked the silky texture and the fact that it didn't dry my skin’ • ‘I found that foundation and waterproof eye make-up were very effectively and gently removed. It did not sting or irritate my eyes. I did need to ensure that I wiped my eye area thoroughly to clean the product off so that it didn't leave an oily film, but so long as I did that really wasn't a problem. My dry mature skin which can be a little sensitive and red felt soothed, soft and moisturised.’

£24 for 95ml - click to buy