Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Double Cleansing Duo Review | Is It Really Good for You?
Skin1004 is a popular Korean skincare brand that centres its skincare around the power of centella asciatica extract from Madagascar. With the catchphrase ‘Untouched Nature’ they source their main ingredient from deep nature in Madagascar, where centella naturally grows. They have high standards for the centella itself and only use pure, refreshing leaves to form its famous products. Their famous Centella Ampoule contains only exceptional, 100% centella leaves and has led them into Korean skincare fame where they’ve remained for the last decade.
Their double cleansing duo comes second in terms of most sought after products to refresh and soothe skin. With a brightening cleansing oil rich in centella extract blended with bergamot and jojoba followed with a light creamy foam infused with baking soda – it creates a charming cleansing routine that is perfect to clear away excess oils and clear dead skin cells to reduce acne. But – its been plagued by reviews of acne-outbreaks and irritation. So, who is it actually meant for? Let's dive into the formula and find out!
What’s In The Bottle?
So, why has this cleansing set been plagued by reviews showing horrible break outs (some the worst that users have ever seen)?
Simply put - both individual cleansers have a risk of triggering acne. Any cleansing oil has a risk of clogging pores and the cleanser has a dreaded ingredient for acne (baking soda!). Together, it really can become your true nightmare - so really not acne friendly.
Who is this cleansing set for? It's actually best for normal skin types - to help clear dark spots, improve brightness and natural hydration. It requires some pH balancing, so abolutely not for everyone.
Cleansing Oil Main Ingredients
Infused with watery emollients to help produce a ‘gliding’ feeling with oils that helps emulsify sebum on face, whilst allowing them to gentle ‘wash’ away.
Centella asciatica: Infused into the oils of the cleanser. Naturally soothing to redness and irritation, whilst providing a gentle hydration of skin.
Sunflower oil: rich in shiny fatty acids that improve skin hydration and glow, whilst being rich in skin healing vitamin E for protection against environmental pollutants.
Bergamot Fruit oil: helps reduce redness and acne spots, whilst improving skin immune function for refreshed and improved healing of scars on skin.
Jojoba oil: this light oil mimics natural sebum, forming a protective barrier and stimulating natural healing of damaged cells. Rich in vitamin E, zinc and copper to improve tissue repair.
Ampoule Foam Main Ingredients
Centella asciatica: forms the base of the cleanser. Naturally soothing to redness and irritation, whilst providing a gentle hydration of skin.
Coconut-Based cleansers: form the foamy base of the cleanser. Designed to be gentle for all skin types without stripping natural moisture from face.
Chinese Goldthread extract: reduces appearance and colour of dark spots, whilst improving inflammation and irritation of skin.
False Daisy extract: floral extract rich in antioxidants, helping to soothe redness and acne-causing bacteria.
Sodium Bicarbonate: enhances creamy action of cleanser, helps soothe itching skin and calm acne (but raises natural skin pH – so can leave skin feeling itchy in some).
Who Should Avoid?
Although double cleansing sets are usually a welcome treatment for acne, this series is actually better suited for normal-dry skin types (due to its coconut-based cleansers and baking soda).
For acne prone skin, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can improve in the short-term by reducing acne-causing bacteria, but it actually raises the pH of your skin. This is very bad for long-term care, allowing harmful bacteria to thrive and inactivating parts of your immune function (inactivating valuable enzymes). This leads to those horrifying pictures where acne prone users report deep, aggressive outbreaks. Their whole biome has been compromised.
Thus, this cleansing set is decidedly not for sensitive or acne-prone skin (which is really the opposite of what we'd assume a cleansing set from Skin1004 would be great for!) Instead, this is the set for fine lines, gentle hydration and ideally balanced with vitamin C, niacinamide and AHA/BHA.
The Results
I have generally sensitive skin and fine lines and am always looking for a gentle, moisturizing cleansing set. This cleansing set is ideally marketed to use at the end of the day, as part of clearing environmental pollutants from skin and clearing sunscreen/product for a fresh evening routine. I used the cleansing oil every second day – to avoid drying out my skin and the ampoule foam every evening.
I can see how the baking soda forms a common trap, as it creates a nourishing and hydrating creamy foam that feels luscious as you use it. It’s great as it doesn’t strip the natural oils from your face but forms a perfectly synergistic cleanse after using the light, aqueous cleansing oil. However, it’s vital to remember that it does raise your skin pH, which can leave your skin exposed to bacterial growth. It’s vital to follow this cleansing set with toners/serum to rebalance your skin pH (with ingredients such as AHA/BHA, niacinamide or vitamin C). In fact, if these are naturally in your routine – this cleansing set probably works really well.
It’s really a lovely cleansing duo set – I feel best for normal skin types who require a refreshing cleanse without stripping oils, with calming centella. It works well in routines for fine lines and dark spots (with the bergamot and Chinese goldthread extract to vanish pigment), but having to rebalance your pH can absolutely be a deal breaker for many.
After two weeks, you can see the natural glow this duo set infuses and it was really silky and so lovely to use. I do wish it didn’t have the baking soda in it, as dermatologists have generally agreed it's not a good ingredient to introduce to your skin (especially in long term use) - but the cleansing oil is perfect for a dash of radiance and washing away impurities at the end of the day.
Final Thoughts
This cleansing duo can work well when used with compatible skin types. It helps brighten and improve natural radiance, whilst providing the hydration to improve appearance of fine lines and dark spots.
It's however, not well recommended for any compromised skin types (i.e. sensitive or acne-prone) as it can easily imbalance your pH. Always be sure to rebalance your biome with a little acid (such as AHA, BHA, nicaianmide or vitamin C).
Looking for natural, hydrating and gentle formulas for all skin types? Check out the splendid range of Skin1004. Their centella asciatica ampoule is the perfect balm for any irritation. From Seoul to your door, shop perfect K-beauty with Arktastic!
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