To say that I like cleansing my face would be an understatement. First off, it is an important part of my self-care routine. It’s refreshing in the morning, relaxing at night, and it feels like a reward at the end of a long day when I am wearing a thick layer of product (foundation, sunscreen, etc) on my skin. Second, my skin will immediately get spotty when I fail to cleanse it properly– especially on days when I wear foundation or when I am a bit stressed out/don’t get enough sleep (the skin tends to produce more oil). Needless to say, cleansing is a priority in my daily routine, and it is the most important part of my skin care regimen, which is why I often try new cleansing products to see what works best for my skin. The latest addition to my cleanser stash is the new MUN Skin Akwi Purifying Cleanser*.
Being that the creator of MUN (Munemi Imai) is a celebrity makeup artist with many years of experience in the beauty industry, it is easy to understand why this cleanser’s oil-based formula is especially effective at dissolving makeup (even heavy-duty, waterproof makeup) and unclogging pores. I have used it on days when I was wearing a full-face of makeup (falsies included), and it truly breaks down all product effortlessly, so I don’t have to do any harsh rubbing, but simply massage.
Although oil-based (and therefore excellent for a first cleanse), the Akwi cleanser contains gentle surfactants that make the product thin out when in contact with water. It has a gorgeous, slightly difficult-to-describe texture. A pump of product comes out as a white, lightweight cream. As I apply it and begin to massage the skin it turns into a clear balm that looks like a gel but feels creamy and soothing. Starting with dry skin and dry hands, I like to dispense about 8-10 pumps of product into the palm of my hands, which is more than enough to cover my entire face. I then distribute it evenly on my face and begin to massage it gently all over my skin in circular motion, focusing on the areas where I where there’s more makeup and where I can feel clogged pores at the touch (usually on my forehead). When I feel like I can no longer massage it comfortably, I wet the tips of my fingers, which softens the texture and begins to thin it out. As I keep massaging in circular motions I can feel the clogged follicles releasing the debris, which to me is one of the most satisfying parts about cleansing. I keep adding water as needed, and then I grab a clean face towel and start to remove whatever is left on the skin. The scent is wonderful–fresh and uplifting, which is the reason behind its name, Akwi, which means “awakening” in the Berber language.
The Akwi cleanser has a pH-balanced formula, so it does not disrupt the skin barrier (acid mantle) and does not leave my (uber-delicate) skin feeling stripped or irritated. In fact, this formula is designed to suit all skin types, from dry to oily, including the most delicate ones. The only essential oil present in the formula, Yuzu, is known not to be an dermal irritant, sensitizer, nor a photo-sensitizer, unlike most citrus essential oils. It is also free of all the harsh cleansing agents commonly found in face cleansers that tend to leave the skin feeling tight and squeaky-clean, such as harsh surfactants and sulfates. This is the complete list of ingredients:
Castor*, Argan*, Camellia Seed*, Rice Bran, Cucumber Seed* oils (antioxidant-rich plant oils with emollient and moisturizing properties); Yuzu essential oil (antioxidant); Water; Silica Silyate (silica-derived texturizer that gives it a gel-like consistency); Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Bis, Coco , which are gentle cleansing agents (surfactants) derived from coconut, corn and sugar; Tocopherol (Vitamin E)** ; Isopropyl Palmitate. *organic **non-gmo
As listed in the directions on the packaging, I highly recommend wiping off any product residue left on the skin after rinsing with a soft face towel, because a thick balmy residue may be left on the skin, as you typically would experience with this types of cleansers. For that reason I personally recommend using this as first cleanse to remove all makeup, dirt, sunscreen, and other debris, and to either use a hot (non-scalding), wet face towel to remove any product residue, and/or follow with a second cleanse (with a low-foam/emulsifying cleanser).
For more details, and to purchase the product you can check out the official website MUN skin, (where code GENUINEMUNGLOW saves you 20%!), or other retailers like The Choosy Chick and Integrity Botanicals.
Giveaway
To celebrate the launch of the Akwi Purifying Cleanser, MUN Skin is generously gifting a few of my readers with a free Akwi Cleanser!! Head over to this Instagram post here and follow the (super-simple) instructions so you and a few of your friends can win it! Good luck :)
