Rodan + Fields Soothe Gentle Cream Wash Review

TL;DR:

A mild, milky facial cleanser for sensitive skin that dissolves makeup, dirt, and oil without stripping skin dry

In all honesty, it’s hard to get whipped up and excited about a product that has no obvious bells or whistles. The most extravagant promise that this creamy, white, unassuming fluid delivers is an up-and-down assurance that it won’t dry out your skin, which does lack a certain sex appeal, no? It’s kind of like the cleanser equivalent of a girl scout: earnest, well meaning, helpful. And now that I’ve tried it, I want to hoard it like a lifetime supply of Tagalongs.

Here’s the thing about my skin: It’s fine. Not great, not terrible. It’s a little oily here, a little dry there, and there’s always the threat of an occasional zit or two (fine, three). And that emphatic averageness lulls me into a state of complacency (read: laziness). I’m not loyal to a particular formula and I tend to switch it up a lot (the perks and perils of being a beauty writer with endless access to samples). When I run out of the cleanser that I happen to be using at the time, I reach for whatever’s on the bathroom shelf — sometimes it’s my kids’ baby shampoo. Sometimes, it’s regular shampoo. (Don’t judge; I’m tired. In fact, I’m tired right now).

This non-routine goes on and on until, inevitably, it reaches a pitch and all hell breaks loose in the form of pimples, flakes, and stinging redness under my eyes. That’s when I realize I need to get an actual regimen going, which has never happened — until now. This cleanser is gentle to the point of coddling. The delicate lather deposits a dose of ceramides that leave my face so soft that after the first use I couldn’t remember if I had applied moisturizer or not (like I said, I’m tired). Plus, the formula can double as a genius eye makeup remover — smooth it on and tissue it off (no rinsing) to whisk away mascara and liner without sacrificing lashes. The best part is that after using this stuff for a week, my skin started looking more than just fine. It looked and felt kind of great: supple, pliant, even-toned. That’s why this cleanser wins all the merit badges.