A love letter to Marcelle Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water

UPDATE September 10, 2014: People have been commenting and emailing me to let me know they haven't been able to find this in stores. I admit I panicked briefly, but had faith because I know this is one of Marcelle's most popular products. I recently received news that Marcelle Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water has been repackaged in a 300 ml bottle with a well pump as Marcelle 3-in-1 Micellar Solution. Yay!

Hey there, Marcelle Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water. We've been going steady for about four years now, and I just want you to know how special you are to me. You've been with me through thick and thin, good skin days and bad skin days, and I'm ready to tell all our friends about us.

Marcelle debuted Soothing Cleansing Water, part of their Essentials skin care line, about four years ago. It was touted as a no-rinse "3-in-1" toner lotion, eye makeup remover, and facial cleanser that caught my attention as it made the rounds on Canadian beauty blogs. I'm glad I snapped it up back then, because I've probably saved a lot of money over the years in half-used, not-so-great makeup removers!

Reasons why I would break down and cry/go on a mad hoarding spree if Marcelle ever discontinued their Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water:

1. Removes non-waterproof eye makeup in a snap (for waterproof eye makeup, I prefer the bi-phase Marcelle Gentle Make-up Remover for Sensitive Eyes)
2. Also removes lipstick very easily (protip: dip a cotton swab into Cleansing Water and use to clean up a less-than-perfect lipstick application)
3. Removes any traces of face makeup a traditional facial cleanser may leave behind. In fact, I use it after testing a new cleanser to assess its effectiveness at makeup removal: if the Cleansing Water-soaked cotton pad is still clean, then there really is no makeup left
4. Leaves my face feeling clean and refreshed
5. Free of perfumes, aside from a mild scent from aloe juice and cucumber extract, used for their skin-soothing properties
6. Free of common potential skin irritants and super gentle on the skin
7. Non-drying--in fact, slightly moisturizing!--due to inclusion of caprylic glycerides (emollient), glycerin (humectant), and aloe juice

The relatively gentle and no-rinse formula was especially helpful after my corrective laser eye surgery two years ago. In my post-operative care, I was strictly warned against getting any water in my eyes, which meant washing my face the conventional way was out. A Cleansing Water-less person might start worrying about the effects of going face-unwashed for weeks but I didn't even blink, because I knew I had Cleansing Water at home. My skin continued to be completely normal and blemish-free during the time when I was using this exclusively to cleanse my face.

Last year, I committed to being one of the bloggers participating in Annabelle's 24 Days of TwistUp swatch-a-thon. My package arrived from Annabelle and then--awesome!--the eczema around my mouth exploded into a flare-up that meant my lips would be extra sensitive. Thanks to a great formula in the TwistUp lipsticks, my lips didn't get any worse. When it came to removal, Soothing Cleansing Water and a cotton swab was the perfect choice--it took everything off easily and quickly (even the more pigmented shades) without the excessive rubbing or ingredients that would further irritate my lips.

An old Soothing Cleansing Water bottle with a small rectangular opening

To use, simply soak a cotton round or ball with the liquid and gently sweep over your face, hairline, and neck. I personally use this as a follow-up after a conventional face-washing cleanser to remove left-behind foundation and eye makeup, but it can definitely be used as a main method of cleansing for many people. I don't wear long-wear foundation or very heavy makeup, so I can't say how well this would remove that type of makeup. The old bottles used to have a lid that popped open to reveal a small rectangular opening to pour the Cleansing Water out from (I use mine now to hold rice bran oil for my face.) I prefer the new design way more: you just twist off the large white cap completely and quickly upturn the bottle for a second on to a cotton pad--much faster than letting it trickle out of the opening!

Not sure why it took me so long, but after roughly four years and counting of loving Marcelle Essentials Soothing Cleansing Water, I've finally reviewed it here. Maybe because I love some products so much, I feel like I need to think about it a little so that I don't just publish a post with the words IT'S AWESOME and a picture--but anyway you need this in your life, like, now. It's perfect for anybody; if I had to give a beauty product recommendation without knowing anything about that person or their skin type, I would recommend this. It really is an essential product to have.

Do you have a skin care staple you've been using for years?

Ingredients: Water, PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, glycerin, Cucumis satisvus (cucumber) fruit extract, certrimonium bromide, sodium citrate, disodium EDTA


Available at marcelle.com, London Drugs: ~$14.99 CAD / 200 mL (6.7 fl oz)