I first became aware of Dr. Sam’s line on Instagram. This lovely clear cleansing jelly showed up on my feed. The cleanser was the first item I purchased from the line which then led to two subsequent purchases. Dr Sam Bunting is a London based cosmetic dermatologist with a down to earth, no fuss & effective approach to skincare. The Flawless Cleanser is a gentle jelly. Details per Dr. Sam’s:
A truly uncomplicated, effective and elegant jelly cleanser that does exactly what a cleanser should do. Flawless Cleanser™ suits all skin types, even redness-prone, sensitive skin. It thoroughly removes make-up, sunscreen, oil and grime whilst respecting the skin’s natural barrier with its acid mantle-friendly pH of 5.0. It’s specifically formulated to be suitable for acne-prone, grown-up skin and to support the use of Active ingredients in leave-on products.
DR SAM SAYS: “Do no harm when you cleanse – and with the right product, you should only need to do it once!”
This cleanser is all about having a clean face in one minute with no oily residue, redness or irritation. It’s fragrance and dye free so it’s great for anyone with sensitivities. It’s got such a simple inci list which is the beauty of it. It’s gentle, non drying and has a pH of 5 which is perfect for not stripping the skins natural moisture barrier over time. It has a thicker clear jelly texture versus a runny gel. It’s actually kind of fun texture wise to just play with it a little. Kind of soothing and relaxing. If you like gel or jelly cleansers this is the perfect one for sensitive skin. This will suit all skin types. This is top in the swatch photo. So from what I’ve seen online Dr. Bunting doesn’t believe in double cleansing. I’m someone who’s hard core into double cleansing because I’ve seen what an oil based cleanser and double cleansing method can do for my skin. However, I welcome all thoughts on skincare because none of us are the same. What works for me may not work for you.
I personally like this cleanser as a morning cleanser the most. That’s when I like to use my gels. It’s also a nice second cleanse. I did try Flawless Cleanser by itself for one minute to see if it could remove all my makeup (including eye makeup). I was wearing non-waterproof mascara and a long-wear, matte, full coverage foundation. In my experience no gel cleanser can effectively remove all my makeup & mascara. I always have remnants left over. This one did a pretty good job but it didn’t take off all my mascara. It didn’t sting my eyes at all & I did have a little bit of makeup residue on the toner pad after cleansing. It did better than many gels but not quite as good as my double cleanse or emulsifying single oil based cleansers. If this one works for you as a single cleanse that’s great. I think whether you single or double cleanse Flawless Cleanser can fit into either lifestyle as a gentle non-drying jelly cleanser.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Poloxamer 188, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Disodium EDTA, BHT.
Next I grabbed the Flawless Moisturizer. This is a simple no fuss moisturizer that also suits most skin types. Details per Dr. Sam’s:
Like a hug for your skin. A luxurious gel-cream that absorbs in a flash to leave skin comfortable, dewy and hydrated throughout your busy day. Fortified with 5% niacinamide, it brightens and boosts skin whilst helping keep pores clear and skin calm. Think of it as a moisturiser with extra – it even makes your skin more tolerant of retinoids. Suits all skin-types. Layers beautifully with your serums and sunscreen. Like the perfect jeans, it supports your form.
DR SAM SAYS: “A healthy barrier is a beautiful one so make sure your moisturiser helps repair + restore skin’s strength as well as locking in water.”
We think of Flawless Moisturiser as being like the butter in a sandwich: use as little or as much as your skin needs. On cold, stress-y work days when central heating is on, skin needs more than, say, on humid vacation days in Miami.
This moisturizer boasts a bouncy gel-cream texture that absorbs rapidly, long lasting hydration and won’t clog your pores. It has a light bouncy cream texture. It’s not really a typical gel cream style product. I find this to be in my medium weight hydration stash. It’s too heavy for me to use on days right now in the hot & humid Texas summer, but it would suit me for nights right now. In the fall this will be perfect for days or possibly nights depending on how the weather flip flops around here. In the winter this will be a great day cream to compliment the oil balms I use at night. It’s not heavy or greasy feeling but it’s not really light either. You can use less or more depending on your needs. It’s got a really nice texture that doesn’t pill and it absorbs beautifully into the skin. My skin feels so amazing after using this moisturizer. Definitely very impressed with it. I love it’s simplicity plus it has a hint of niacinamide as well. It never broke me out or made my skin feel suffocated. It should suit all skin types though oily prone types might check out the hydration level first. The simple non-irritant containing formula will be great for sensitive types. It’s fragrance & essential oil free. This is left in the swatch photo.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water/Eau), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Panthenol, Xylitylglucoside, Polysilicone-11, Stearic Acid, Anhydroxylitol, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xylitol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid.
Lastly I purchased the Flawless Daily Sunscreen. Details per Dr . Sam’s:
A cosmetically elegant broad-spectrum dream that defies your preconceptions about sunscreen. Like a (silky) safety belt for your skin. It calms and coddles blemish-prone skin, with a soft-focus primer-like finish, and makes your morning routine run smoothly.
An elegant, weightless daily shield for your skin, it performs beautifully under make-up, and won’t clog pores. It offers powerful protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays with 11.8% Zinc Oxide and 7% Octinoxate. It’s fortified with 5% Niacinamide, so it brightens and boosts skin whilst helping keep pores clear and skin calm. Think of it as a serum in a sunscreen – it even makes your skin more tolerant of retinoids.
DR SAM SAYS: “Did you know that regularly wearing sunscreen can actually allow your skin to repair itself? So you’re not just maintaining the status quo – by wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, you’re actually improving the first signs of premature ageing. (That’s before you even get around to applying eye cream or a serum.)”
Directions Sunscreen is a bit like medicine. There’s actually a specific dose that’s required to deliver the SPF number on the bottle. We spell this out for you so that you’re in no doubt – because it’s really hard to know what “apply generously” actually means, right?
Protecting your face is easy.
- Apply after cleansing, serums and moisturiser but before make-up.
- Use the 13 dot technique for an even layer that absorbs into your face (not your hands!) – to achieve SPF50, you need to use 3 pumps for your face and 3 pumps for your neck. (Believe me, your neck will love you for this).
- Stroke it evenly to cover the area, and allow to dry down onto skin for a flawless, primer-like finish.
This is a moisturizing hybrid sunscreen. It has both ‘chemical’ and ‘physical’ filters. It claims having a non-greasy primer like finish, won’t clog pores and broad spectrum SPF 50 protection. This sunscreen is nice but it’s creamy textured and quite moisturizing. It’s more moisturizing than the Flawless Moisturizer. I would suggest subbing this for a moisturizer or use it in the winter as a sunscreen unless you’re dry. It’s way to dewy and moisturizing for me as a summer sunscreen. They say to use three pumps for face & three for neck but there’s no way that’s a possibility unless I sub it for a moisturizer. It has a minimal white cast, doesn’t pill or break me out and leaves me with a very dewy glow. I like the product but it’s heavier than I prefer my sunscreens to be moisture wise. If you have dry skin you’ll love this. I plan on using this on my daughter in the winter as her face cream. It would also make a nice day hand cream with sunscreen. This is the bottom swatch in the photo.
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Zinc Oxide (nano), Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Polysorbate 60, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Isostearic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Citric Acid.
Overall I loved the simple, easy no fuss packaging of the line. The two cream products come in airless pumps which is a good bonus. The plastic containers have a nice minimal aesthetic and will be lightweight enough to travel with. I saw they just launched travel sizes as well. Everything is fragrance, irritant & essential oil free so they could suit all skin types including sensitive. The Flawless Cleanser is a must have if you like gel cleansers. I think everyone will love Flawless Moisturizer as well. It’s got such a lovely texture. Even Gothamista raved about it. It’s another must have from the line. The Flawless Daily Sunscreen was a miss for me mostly due to the preference of how moisturizing I like my sunscreens to be. Next I really want to test out the new retinol Flawless Nightly Serum that just launched. Dr. Sam’s does ship to the US from the UK as there are no other stockists right now beyond the main site.