Review : Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - My Most Controversial Post Yet?

Hey everyone,

I really, really, really wanted to try the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and instead of splurging straight off, I went and bought the Soap & Glory The Ultimelt Deep Purifying Hot Cloth Cleanser which I fell in love with.  I hadn't quite used up the Soap & Glory Hot Cloth Cleanser but I purchased the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish all the same because I really liked the results from the Soap & Glory one.

Now, I am personally not a fan of buzz words but 'cult product' and 'holy grail' have been thrown at this skin care favourite over the years.  This cleanser has won multiple established beauty awards and so why would I think I wouldn't love this product instantly?  Well, I don't.  And let me explain why.

First off, I absolutely hate the smell of this product.  It smells medical, which is not a great start for me personally.  If you don't like the smell of eucalyptus then stay away because this cleanser wrecks of it.   

I am certainly not keen on the way this product is dispensed; because it's in a pump, you get one big long sausage of thick cream.  Nope, not for me.  Then applying it I find a chore (probably because I don't like the smell) but it doesn't really absorb that well in my opinion.  I much preferred the way the Soap & Glory Hot Cloth Cleanser feels on the skin. Upon application I find it to sting slightly, which makes me think that there is something in this product that doesn't agree with my skin which is surprising because I don't consider myself to have sensitive skin.  

I would say the highlight of this product is actually taking it off.  

With regards to results of using this product - did it take off my eye make-up?  No, it seriously struggles with that, and I didn't even attempt it with waterproof eye make-up.  Did it leave my skin feeling fresh and blissful?  No to that too.

My biggest gripe with this product is that it breaks me out, leaving me with skin that is just unmanageable.  I have given this cleanser several attempts to redeem itself, putting it down to maybe the fact that I was just due a break out.  However, I used it once when my skin was the clearest I have ever seen it and the next morning - bam - skin melt down.  It takes me forever to get my skin back to normality every time I use this product and I've never had such a reaction to a product before in my life. 

I really can't get my head around what it is with this product that doesn't agree with my skin but maybe there's something in the ingredients?  I have checked the website and there's nothing on there that makes me think it could be the ingredients and how can this be when they're all natural ingredients?  I don't understand.  

I will give this product one positive and that is that I really like the muslin cloth that comes with it.

Has this put me off Liz Earle as a brand - well you'd think so on the basis this is their best and most famous product out there.  But it actually hasn't put me totally off and I would be open to trying other products in the future - but maybe just body ones to be on the safe side.

Am I the only one out there not to love this product?  Or have you had a similar experience?  Let me know if you have tried this product and loved it and the reasons why - perhaps I'm doing something wrong?

Let me know your thoughts below or tweet me @EmsyLous  :o)