I quite like the toner and exfoliating wash from Lavera Faces Calendula Series and thought their cleansing gel shouldn’t be too far off the mark. So I decided to try it when it was on promotion at S$7 from Phyto Organics.Â
Formulated for combination skin
This is a gentle foaming formula suitable for combination skin.  It contains pure extracts of calendula, witch hazel and mallow from certified organic sources which help to tone skin and regulate oil production. It is said to provide effective cleansing of makeup and impurities without drying the skin.  However, I have reservations about using this cleanser to remove my makeup as I don’t find that it cleanses makeup very well unless I use it a few times. Even in the morning when my face isn’t very dirty, I have to double cleanse with this cleanser.
Gentle and does not foam much
Lavera Faces Calendula Cleansing Gel smells pleasant and in terms of texture, it maybe quite similar to Cetaphil because it doesn’t foam much – something which bothers me a little as I prefer foaming cleansers. But having said that, this cleansing gel does keep my face refreshed and clean after a double cleansing process. And because it is gentle, it does not strip the natural lipids from my skin after two washes.
Ingredient listing
The ingredients for the Lavera Faces Calendula Cleansing Gel include: Water, Grain Alcohol, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Calendula Flower Extract*, Witch Hazel Water*, Mallow Extract*, Lemon Balm Water* Natural Oils: Limonene*, Linalool*
I didn’t pay attention and hadn’t noticed the alcohol in this cleanser until I was writing this review. If I had, I probably wouldn’t have bought it even at S$7. I know it’s grain alcohol but still, I have an issue with that as I’m trying to avoid skin care products using any form of alcohol on my mature skin as far as possible.
Original retail price is $19
So though the Lavera Faces Calendula Cleansing Gel is gentle and works quite well to cleanse my skin, I won’t be buying this again. The original price is S$19 and is more expensive than my usual Sukin cleanser which does a good job as an affordable gentle facial cleanser.Â
Get $5 off a minimum purchase of $50 at Watsons
Anyway, I’m rather disappointed that Watsons is not offering any of the Lavera products at a discount during this GSS! But I still have the $5 voucher from the You Awards application form and perhaps that can be put to use soon. And while I’m it, here’s another plug for the You Awards which is open for recruitment till 10 June next week.  Details are available on their website which tells you how you can win fabulous prizes including $2000 cash  just by participating in one of the eight categories. Or better still, pick up the application form which will entitle you to a $5 voucher based on a minimum purchase of $50!
audaud
3 Jun 2009 at 12:53 pmHi sesame,
I’m using this cleanser too, alternating it with Cetaphil. I usually use it to cleanse my skin after using my makeup remover. Find that it does make my skin drier after that. May I know which Sukin cleanser are you using?
sesame
3 Jun 2009 at 1:10 pmIt’s the Sukin Organic Foaming Facial Cleanser. You can see my review of it here: http://www.vivawoman.net/2008/02/04/sukin-organic-foaming-facial-cleanser/
Vonvon
3 Jun 2009 at 1:34 pmAfter reading so many reviews from you on Lavera, I am so longing to try them out. sigh!!1 if only Watsons Malaysia will bring them in…..it’s so boring to go into Watsons here!
sesame
3 Jun 2009 at 8:09 pmSome of their products are quite good. I love their body range!
Florence
3 Jun 2009 at 2:46 pmDuring the $7 sales last time, I brought at least 3 to try out(coz it was such a good offer),so far so good.Currently I am using sukin foaming cleanser & this lavera.I love these 2 but I prefer sukin more.Sukin also have offer, 2 foaming cleanser $18.keke
sesame
3 Jun 2009 at 8:13 pmYup! The Watsons offer for Sukin in twin pack! I bought it recently! I really like this cleanser very much…think I’m into my 6 or 7 bottle already.
J
3 Jun 2009 at 4:48 pmjust out of interest, have you heard of this company called weleda? they’re supposed to be the pioneer of organic skincare. their wild rose range is luvly <3
sesame
3 Jun 2009 at 8:10 pmYa, I have! But I haven’t had a chance to try their stuff yet. Their wild rose range is good? I love wild rose! I’ll bear this in mind when I get a chance to test their stuff. 🙂
Bee
11 Mar 2012 at 9:50 pmI know this post is a bit old, but I like Weleda products, too :)) I love the smell of some of the products… And I like the wild rose range as well. What I like is their packaging, it is not plastic, but mostly metal tubes (:
stella
3 Jun 2009 at 8:50 pmi don’t know about you but i tried a couple of lavera products – cleanser, toner, moisturizer, scrub and found them all to be way too fragranced
sesame
3 Jun 2009 at 11:10 pmIt’s true that their products smell rather good. But at least they don’t smell too synthetic to me.
Leon
3 Jun 2009 at 9:33 pmHey Sesame, What a co-incidence, I was thinking of reviewing Lavera Calendula Scrub today but was feeling lazy to write he he he
sesame
3 Jun 2009 at 11:11 pmThe exfoliating wash? I like the one from the Wildrose range.
Leon
4 Jun 2009 at 2:48 amYes the exfoliating wash, will do it tomorrow because I am feeling too lazy to write a review today,lol
sesame
4 Jun 2009 at 11:28 amHaha…I feel like that on some days too.
knockingknees
4 Jun 2009 at 6:21 pmWhere/what is Phyto Organics? I never saw this $7.00 promotion at Watsons and I go there at least every other day!
sesame
4 Jun 2009 at 10:03 pmPhyto Organics is at #B1-74 Raffles City Shopping Centre. The $7 promo was sometime back.
pf1123
4 Jun 2009 at 6:35 pmI read a book by a Japanese skincare/makeup expert. I can’t remember the author’s name and the book now with me now.
She said in the book that we need to be observant of our skin condition. And there is no need to use a cleanser to wash face in the morning because it might strip the skin too much.
She also mentioned that she doesn’t use toner everyday in the morning too. Anybody share the same idea?
sesame
4 Jun 2009 at 10:05 pmI have come across similar views but it really depends on individual skin type. If the cleanser used is gentle, it shouldn’t strip the natural lipids at all.
pf1123
4 Jun 2009 at 6:41 pmI meant to say that the book is not with me now. Oops.
Bee
11 Mar 2012 at 9:47 pmI have been using this product for a while last year. I love the smell, so orangy and fruity, I really like it! But I have to agree with some other users here, my skin got a little bit dry after using it. ):
sesame
12 Mar 2012 at 12:07 pmThe citrus ingredients might be the causing the dryness for some skin types.
Rosi
8 Apr 2012 at 5:21 amMy skin feels smooth after using it, but my Rosacea (and I only have a mild one) literally sets ablaze. The skin also feels too dry afterwards, not only for the day, but even on the next day. I wouldn’t rate this product as a good one.
Sesame
8 Apr 2012 at 3:40 pmProbably something in the product disagreed with your skin type. It’s quite a mild cleanser though.
Voodoo Blonde
29 Oct 2012 at 4:54 pmQuick question: would this be good enough for a gentle morning wash for oily/combination skin? Every morning I wake up with excessive sebum layers on my skin, esp forehead and nose (t-zone), so I need something really gentle just to remove the sebum and refresh my face before a moisturizer. Thnx 🙂
Voodoo Blonde last post is: Pakiranje kozmetike za putovanje
Sesame
29 Oct 2012 at 9:26 pmIt should be okay cos I have combination skin too.