Our beauty guru readers ought to know that make-up removal, or cleansing, is of the essence in any skincare routine. It removes excess dirt and oil from the skin and is entrusted with building a solid foundation for everything else that follows, so it’s extremely important that you get this very first step right.
There are more cleansing products on the market than perhaps ever possibly consumed, with strong, globally-recognized contenders coming from Japan, Korea and France. But did you know that Vietnam also has some heavenly entrants? In the spirit of supporting local brands, Vietcetera introduces you to four of our country’s finest organic cleansers that are worth adding to your cart.
Minimiser Cleansing Balm in Green Tea & Mint – Mây Concept
Launched in 2016, Mây Concept seeks to create not only high-quality products friendly for the skin, but also for the environment. Their commitments: free of paraben, artificial fragrance and animal testing. What’s even better is that most products are refillable — now that’s also friendly to your wallet!
Skin types:
This emulsified product leaves no trace of grease and is suitable for all, even oily skin.
Pros:
The product’s three main ingredients are completely organic: sunflower oil, olive oil and beeswax. It has a nice, mild green tea scent to it, and the mess-free balm texture means you can pack it with confidence for your trips away.
It’s also fairly easy to apply and can wash off waterproof mascara and eyeliner using only gentle motions. Finally, just rinse your face with water thoroughly and you won’t even feel like the balm was there.
Cons:
We wouldn’t exactly say this product was made with consideration for colder climates in mind. Several users have reported finding small clumps in the balm after it travelled in the air inside their checked baggage. While this phenomenon doesn’t necessarily mess with the cleanser’s intended use, perhaps more particular customers wouldn’t be too happy to see it.
Coco Miracle Balanced & Deep Cleansing Oil – Coboté
Coconuts take center stage at Coboté! Did you know that this fruit is one of the most trusted natural beauty remedies for its nourishing and revitalizing properties?
With a recipe using coconut as a base ingredient then mixing in just the right amount of natural extracts, Coboté products are a godsend from mother nature.
Skin types:
While this product is formulated to be suitable for all, we highly recommend checking the ingredient list for any possible allergies first.
Pros:
Ingredients are all natural such as virgin coconut oil, macadamia oil, safflower oil and castor oil. If you happen to be one of those who aren’t a fan of the coconut scent, you might just love this product’s sweet orange aroma instead!
A pump of this thick and soothing cleansing oil should be enough for your entire face and neck. It’s also super easy to emulsify with water.
Cons:
Because the product is made with coconut oil, it has a low melting point and might freeze in colder temperatures. And because coconut oil is so dense, while the cleanser is advertised as non-pore-clogging, it’s probably wise to get a sample size as a tester first.
Smoothing Cleansing Balm & Make-Up Remover – SheaGhana
SheaGhana is a Vietnamese cosmetic brand importing high-quality ingredients from global spice hubs like India and Egypt, who commits to making only non-chemical products that honor natural values.
Skin types:
The emulsified cleansing balm is made for both oily and dry skin.
Pros:
Its imported ingredients are worth every penny, and at the top of that list are shea butter, sweet almond oil and rice oil. That’s what gives the balm its buttery, silky texture, along with a very pleasant fragrance to it.
You can cover your entire face and neck with a fingertip’s worth of the product. It’s very smooth on the skin and will break down thick layers of make-up in no time — a great choice for when you’re feeling like giving yourself a little massage before moving onto exfoliating or using a mask.
Cons:
Stocks are limited and inconsistent, meaning there might be a fairly long wait until you could actually experience the product. We also thought that packaging could be improved — the current container is rather tall and hence makes scooping our fingers in feel a little unsanitary.
Rose Cleansing Oil – The Cocoon
The Cocoon, like its name suggests, is the home of vegan make-up products in Vietnam — boasting an impressive plant-based collection using rose, winter melon and coffee beans as ingredients.
Skin types:
Suitable for all and doesn’t feel rough on even dry skin.
Pros:
Compared to the other local brands introduced above, The Cocoon is perhaps the only one to have truly made a mark in order to earn a deal with a global retail chain such as Watson.
Plus, would it be weird to say that the thing we like the most about this product is the packaging? With a handy swivel cap, this cleanser a trusty companion on the go.
Cons:
Water and glycerin taking up the largest chunks on this cleanser’s ingredient list is what gives it a disadvantage compared to the rest of our recommendations. With coconut oil at third place and rose oil far below, you can likely only notice a faint rose fragrance from the product as it’s dominated by the (though fairly mild) coconut scent.
The consistency is also rather runny for an oil-based product, but at the end of the day this cleanser gets the job done alright.
Translated by Jennifer Nguyen