MyChelle Cranberry Cleanser

I've recently gone on an organic skin-care kick. I have extremely acne-prone, extremely sensitive combination skin. I've tried everything under the sun to help keep my high maintenance skin happy, and most all of them are chock-full of chemicals, most of which irritated and/or dried out me out. I figure that since I've gone the chemical route, I'll try the organic road.

While I was at home over the summer, I stopped by the local Elephant Pharmacy (these stores are fabulous, by the way -- like a Whole Foods without the food, and cheaper to boot!) and asked around after a cleanser that would help control sebum in my T-Zone without drying out my cheeks, keep my breakouts to a minimum, generally not irritate my skin, and not cost over $25. Picky, yes, but I've learned to be.

The SA took me all over the store, before finally asking a colleague's advice. The new SA lead me straight to the MyChelle skin care line. She recommended the Cranberry Cleanser, saying that she had been using it herself. Her skin was nice, but she promised me instant gratification, saying that cleanser would work quickly, keeping my skin clear and shine-free. I bought it with the guarantee that if it didn't, I could return it.

True to her word, within days, my skin was infinitely better -- not perfect, but great nonetheless. I wasn't oily, nor was I breaking out everyday. Plus, my skin was soft and smooth everywhere, not slick in the T-Zone and super-dry in the cheeks. Even more plusses: you only need the tiniest amount to cleanse the whole face, so it lasts months and it's inexpensive enough to be considered a bargain. I also didn't need any additional exfoliant; the cleanser was strong enough to keep my dead skin sloughed off.

I rarely ever re-purchase skin care product, simply because nothing works to the point of me wanting to stock up. MyChelle Cranberry Cleanser was the exception. Right before I returned to Hawaii, I bought another 4 ounce bottle.

The bottle does suggest that after the skin is nice and clear and no longer over-producing sebum, you should switch over to another of their cleansers. I didn't pay any attention, thinking that it was a gimmick to get you to buy more of their products. Sure they work, but I don't want a million little bottles lying around because they told me to buy more for whatever reason.

However, after going through one bottle, I've noticed my skin is considerably drier. Not necessarily tighter feeling, but my skin is dry to the touch and flaking quite a bit around the chin and mouth.
I've since given my beloved cleanser a break, and moved onto something gentler. The fact that it eventually dried out my skin doesn't give me enough cause to give it a bad review. Still highly recommended, especially if you break out with some frequency and/or have oily skin.