Not All Cleansers Are Created Equal - This One Wasn’t

There’s always going to be a new cleanser on the market and with so many to sort through, it’s our job to tell you which ones we stand behind.

We checked out Rodial’s Vit C Brightening Cleanser which comes in an eye-catching bright orange bottle that took us straight back to 90’s packaging. Inside was a translucent gel cleanser that felt just one notch below Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser in terms of thickness.

Applying it to our damp face, it didn’t really foam up at all which is totally fine if it didn’t promise to turn into a "silky foam when activated with water.” It felt like a dud firework, fizzling instead of actually taking off. What’s more, it smelled like a cleanser left in a budget hotel’s Millennial-friendly offshoot chain.

Designed to brighten skin, this packs vitamin C to help boost radiance, glycolic and lactic acids help to further brighten, smooth, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, fruit acid complex to restore the skin’s moisture levels, and blood orange water helps to refresh the complexion.

We certainly felt clean (cleaner than using Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser by comparison) and it didn’t over-dry our skin.

But for $49 we kind of expected more. If you use papaya soap to brighten your skin, we could definitely see this taking its place especially since that has the ability to strip your skin of moisture and make it feel tight; paired with other skin brightening products, we could see this making its way into your daily rotation. But if you’re looking for an upgraded experience in washing your face, we’ve tried much better. This is a pass.

Rodial Vit C Cleanser, $49 for 135ml

Price point: High