Clarisonic • Refreshing gel cleanser • Cleansers

rated 3.0(21 reviews)

Average Rating.3.0
Would buy this product again.33%
Package Quality3.6
Price3.5
Ingredients

rated 4 of 5 caligirldotcom on 4/1/2013 4:26:00 PM more reviews by caligirldotcom

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I got a small sample of this cleanser when I purchased my Mia2. The sample did last me a few months, which was surprising because it was a little sample bottle (1oz), so a little cleanser does go a long way. I did like how using this with a combination of the Mia2 got my face really clean, when I used a toner after there would be no makeup on cotton ball. It also seems like I have had fewer breakouts. I am at the point where I don't think I can justify spending $25 on a 6oz bottle. If the Mia2 doesn't work as well with a different cleanser or I notice I am breaking out more I might break down and get the cleanser but for now I think I will try something else.

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rated 1 of 5 dize on 3/25/2013 1:09:00 PM more reviews by dize

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I just bought a new clarisonic mia and received this sample with it. I have never had a reaction to anything, but after using this product twice, I woke up with a terrible red rash all over my face. It's itching and driving me crazy, and I can't put makeup on over it or it's worse. This is the 3rd day that I've stayed in the house, and it still hasn't gone away. I've used a clarisonic unit for years, so I know that it's not the unit itself, it has to be this cleanser. The brush is obviously new, and I haven't used any other products. Before anyone uses this cleanser, I would test it for a couple of days on a small patch of skin.

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rated 2 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* Superbeckyy on 3/23/2013 12:23:00 PM more reviews by Superbeckyy

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I received a tube of this cleanser with my Clarisonic Mia when bought from Amazon UK. I've been using it once a day for the last week with my Clarisonic, massaging a generous amount onto my face, massaging all over with the Clarisonic for a minute and then using a warm damp flannel to wash it off.


The product initially smells like kiwis, which is definitely refreshing and pleasant in the morning, but then has an unpleasant plastic/chemical smell soon after - not so pleasant. It has an average cleansing power beaten by many much cheaper cleansers. The product claims to be 'foaming' but doesn't seem to foam even when using a generous amount of product, turning milky instead. Afterwards my face feels tight and dry and the skin between my eyebrows has started to become itchy and flaky - this is rare for me as I have combination skin with an oily t-zone and didn't expect it as this product claims to be for all skin types. I haven't changed any other products in my skincare routine so there's no doubt this is the culprit.


I wanted to like this cleanser and thought it would work well with the Clarisonic; instead it just dries my skin out. Maybe it would work better for oily or acne-prone skin? It costs £21 online for a small 'full size' bottle which I definitely won't be repurchasing and will keep using my favourite, Lush's Angels On Bare Skin, for my troublesome combination skin.

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rated 2 of 5 BrigitteBardot on 12/25/2012 10:22:00 PM more reviews by BrigitteBardot

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I got this free with my Clarisonic Plus. Too drying for me! Will not bother to finish using the rest.

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rated 1 of 5 Princessngirl on 12/10/2012 9:23:00 PM more reviews by Princessngirl

Age: 44-55   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

The gel came w my clarisonic so I can't comment on its price. I have aging, oily, acne-prone skin- very few cleansers leave my skin tight- this gel made my skin like sandpaper- no amount of moisturizer countered the tight, flaky, dull impact that this cleanser had on me. and my makeup looked horrible when i used this gel in the morning- as soon as I returned to my clearisil wash, the flakiness and scales went away- I tossed it and will never purchase or recommend- too bad, as I love my clarisonic brush!

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rated 5 of 5 meeleessa on 9/18/2012 3:03:00 PM more reviews by meeleessa

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

When I first bought my clarisonic, I used it with Cetaphil cleaner, but my face was feeling a bit tight after each use. So I switched to the refreshing gel cleanser sampler it came with and what a huge difference! It makes my skin feel cool, clean and smooth. I have also noticed my face has gotten a lot brighter and radiant. I would have never said this about my skin before using this cleanser in conjunction with the clarisonic!

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rated 1 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* millenababy on 8/19/2012 3:56:00 AM more reviews by millenababy

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I received a sample with my clarisonic mia, and hated it instantly. It smells terrible and makes my skin sooo dry (although it is mormal/combination) - i NEVER had dry skin sensation like this before. It smells horrible, like chemicals, and it's very runny.

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rated 1 of 5 RT666 on 8/13/2012 6:01:00 AM more reviews by RT666

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

To put this in context, I have very tough skin. I usually never react to anything, and can put 1mm of Retinol all over my face, twice a day and it doesn't peel. Well, this stuff made it peel with no Retinol use. I could not emphasise enough - if you are over 40, don't use this gel! I have combination skin, oily t-zone, and a chronic tendency toward blocked pores. I was using this for about a week before I finally figured out what was going on with my skin. This stuff literally strips the natural oils from your face and leaves it tight, red and uncomfortable. The culprit - Willowbark extract. It is an astringent/antiseptic and increases your sensitivity to the sun - absolute no-no in Australia. As you can imagine, strip the oils, your skin over-compensates in the parts that it can, and goes dry, red and flaky in the parts that it can't. So you get a combination of even more blocked pores, set off by dermatitis. I was slapping on Bio-Oil, trying to get the whole thing to settle down. This stuff is not meant for mature skins, save yourself a lot of problems and stick with the cleansing milk. I'm not even sure I'd recommend this to the younger ladies as it's the most harsh cleanser I think I've ever come across.

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rated 4 of 5 mixedmatch on 7/6/2012 11:47:00 PM more reviews by mixedmatch

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I got this as a sample with the purchase of the clarisonic mia. i love how soft and supple my skin feels after using it. I have sensitive and acne prone skin. My skin had breakouts and after a week of using it, my skin cleared up. It smells nice too. But the only downside to this is the price. It is expensive here in singapore. But i wouldnt mind buying it for my skin.

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rated 5 of 5 makelmg on 6/30/2012 4:29:00 PM more reviews by makelmg

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I don't know why this has such negative reviews, I personally love this stuff! Once I became pregnant I broke our everywhere and my doctor said this would be safe to use since it is natural. It has willow bark to help fight my acne and it does just that. I use this in the morning as I feel it gives me a nice glow. At night I use the belli facewash which is formulated specifically for pregnant woman and my skin has never looked better!! I use both with my clarisonic but I like the way this wash feels with it. It's sticky enough to not slide off while using my clarisonic but it still lathers. I also love the smell!! HG for me!

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rated 2 of 5 turuleka on 12/6/2011 11:41:00 PM more reviews by turuleka

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I used the sample I received with my clarisonic brush, both the Refreshing Gel Cleanser and the Gentle Hydro Cleanser made me break out.

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rated 4 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* sarahcurll on 10/14/2011 9:19:00 PM more reviews by sarahcurll

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

i honestly enjoy this product..it balances my skin, is very gentle, yet effective, and makes my skin feel good! most cleaners leave a heavy buildup or are soo drying that it makes my skin peel. i only got the trial size, free with the clarisonic, and will try the other samples before i decide if i will purchase this in the future.. will update when I am done with them all :) the only negative thing about it so far is the lingering taste if you accidently get a bit in your mouth. it foams enough, but not too much that it stings in your eyes.

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rated 3 of 5 jacoba on 3/8/2011 10:24:00 PM more reviews by jacoba

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I got this as a travel size when I purchased the Clarisonic skincare brush. Personally, I'm not a huge fan. I felt that it was an average cleanser, something you would get at a drugstore. I expected more from Sephora! It cleaned my face for the night, but my skin wasn't baby soft like it is when I use other cleansers, and I felt like it didn't tighten my pores or clean as deeply as other products. Would not purchase the full size.

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rated 3 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* girrl65 on 9/12/2010 12:33:00 PM more reviews by girrl65

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I got a sample of this with my Clarisonic and I finally tried it out last night. I honestly didn't notice any difference in my skin (softness, etc) from what I usually use (Peter Thomas Roth Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash). And the scent was very much like hair dye. I will use the sample until its all gone, but I don't plan on actually buying a full size of this.

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rated 5 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* Quilley on 9/8/2010 2:11:00 AM more reviews by Quilley

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I received a sample of this as part of my Clarisonic Ultra Kit and forgot all about it until last week. What a pleasant surprise! It foams quickly and works extremely well with out or without my Clarisonic. Here are some notes from the website about what it does and I would tend to agree after 1 week of use:

What is it: A pH-balanced gentle foaming gel cleanser to relieve and protect oily and congested skin. It leaves skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated. It is pH-balanced and scientifically formulated. The key ingredients are willow bark extract, CoQ10, bearberry leaf extract, aloe vera, grape seed extract, Japanese green tea, chamomile flower extract, white tea, pro-vitamin B5, vitamin B12, and glucosamine.
I do like the idea of the vitamin content, but the level of absorbtion is probably next to nothing, lol. That said, it does clean out the pores and leaves the skin perfectly balanced; not too dry, not to greasy, just soft and smooth.

I have not noticed any ingredients that would lead to a reduction on acne. I look for things like Sal. Acid, etc. This product does not do that imo. It does take off makeup and eyeshadows, non-waterproof mascara. It does smell good and rinses quickly. At $25.00 a full tube should last a long time, but I'm still working on my deluxe sample. This is the only foaming cleanser in the line. I should be ready for a full sized tube in about 2 more weeks or so. I took off two lippies because the packaging a flip top cap that will tend to gather product at the spout, but that's just fine. This is a keeper.

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rated 3 of 5 Sundaes on 6/25/2010 5:57:00 PM more reviews by Sundaes

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I got this when I bought my Clarisonic. It said it was for oily skin, which I have. When I used it it didn't help my skin but it didn't worsen it either. I definitely was expecting something awesome since the Clarisonic is so great but this was pretty boring. Plus it's so runny when you try to get just a little you end up getting a lot more than you need and it gets in your eyes.

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rated 1 of 5 Miku on 6/2/2010 7:20:00 AM more reviews by Miku

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

i just bought clarisonic and received this cleanser with it. well, i don't like it at all. i used it with clarisonic and the product is too runny and splashed into my eyes when i was washing my upper cheek. i was tearing the entire time washing my face. the quality of the cleanser is just ok, i don't feel nothing too special about it. i will use my favofite cleanser with clarisonic.

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rated 3 of 5 mrsfnulnu on 3/2/2010 8:50:00 AM more reviews by mrsfnulnu

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I first tried this cleanser when it came as a trial size when I purchased my Clarisonic brush. I was amazed at how much I liked it--it really made my skin clean, not tight, and as other reviewers have noted it had a nice consistency that did not slide right off the brush. From the first use, I liked this cleanser more than any other I had used. Not sure if it was the brush, the cleanser, or the Renova I had recently started using, but my skin was looking transformed. Smaller pores, glowing, etc. I finished the trial size tube and decided the $26 price for the full size was worth it. I ordered it on Ulta and as soon as I opened it, I knew something was different. Thinner, bubblier, more like a cheap "soap" than a cleanser. Plus, for the first time, I noticed tons of weird bluish/pinkish sparkles IN the cleanser. All I can conclude is that Clarisonic has changed their formula or I got some knock-off imposter. I may try again and see what I get if I buy another tube, but if it is like this one I will not buy again. Really disappointed because I thought I had found my HG cleanser.

Edit: I talked to Customer Service at Clarisonic. They have indeed changed their formula. This must have occurred between when I bought the brush in fall 09 and when I ordered the full size cleanser in Dec or Jan 2010. I will not purchase again as the new formula does less for my skin than a run-of-the-mill soap.

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rated 2 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* SunnyK on 12/28/2009 5:03:00 AM more reviews by SunnyK

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

For a limited time, Sephora packaged the Clarisonic with a full-sized Kinerase product that I love, plus 3 trial size tubes of the (Clarisonic) cleansers. When it was time for F&F, I jumped at the opportunity. While I like the Clarisonic brush and (still love) the Kinerase C8 treatment, I dislike the cleansers, so far.

This cleanser is meant for normal-oily skin, and it does feel like my skin gets cleaner than with the "gentle hydro" cleanser (yuck). However, I have also very sensitive skin (pretty common for those of use that are prone to breakouts) - and this stuff has a LOT of fragrance in it. Even after I rinse (thoroughly) the smell hangs on my skin & my skin seems much more irritated. (I know that It's not the brush, b/c when I use it with other cleansers, my skin is fine.)

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rated 5 of 5 *TOP REVIEWER* MakeUp4Fun on 10/13/2009 11:39:00 AM more reviews by MakeUp4Fun

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I've read bad things about Clarisonic brand cleansers that came with Clarisonic set. Not that the reviews were bad.... people say that the cleansers are nothing special. So i was skeptical to use it with my Clarisonic. I used several different cleansers at first with Clarisonic but none of them worked well... they just slided off my skin when i run Clarisonic over it. It didn't feel right. Then I used the Refreshing Gel Cleanser (blue tube) sample 1 oz tube that came with the set, and i was pleasantly surprised by consistency of this. It's clear gel and quite sticky and thick so it clings to my skin. So perfect to use with Clarisonic in the shower because it doesn't fall off my skin. After running Clarisonic over for one minute, it rinses quick and clean with little splash of water. It doesn't make my skin feel tight at all. I have normal skin but slight oiliness on my t-zone. It's a very effective cleanser. I like the fact that it contains willowbark and BHA to prevent acne. I'm not sure if I will repurchase this since it's $25 for a 6 oz tube. I'll look for cheaper alternatives, but if i can't find any, I will definitely buy this. I do use a separate oil cleanser first to remove makeup and sunscreen because i don't want Clarisonic brush to get dirty.

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