It feels like it's been a while since I've talked about Renee Rouleau Skincare. Texas based celebrity Esthetician Renee Rouleau was one of the first skincare brands that I actually established a full routine with many years ago. I decided to grab a few more things last year during the August Anniversary Sale. Moisture Protecting Cleanser is one of my new favorite gel cleansers. It has a thicker gel texture plus it's low pH, non drying and suitable for daily use. Details per Renee Rouleau:
Moisture Protecting Cleanser is a luxurious and silky gel-to-milk formula to gently remove makeup and impurities while leaving the skin’s moisture barrier perfectly intact. Delivering a barely-there froth when activated with water, dry skin types will feel comfortably clean without experiencing tightness or irritation associated with many gel cleansers. This sulfate-free cleanser is truly revolutionary and is a must for all dry, sensitive or aging skin types. The result? Beautifully clean, calm and dewy-looking skin.
Key Ingredients
- Allantoin - calming and comforting to reduce sensitivity.
- Glycerin - hydrating properties to maintain moisture levels in the skin.
- Aloe Vera Extract - soothing and hydrating.
- Sweet Almond Oil - Sweet Almond Seed Extract - moisturizing properties.
- Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract - nourishing properties to maintain moisture levels in the skin.
Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Allantoin, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Butter Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide.
This cleanser uses gentle surfactants to cleanse. It has other hydrating/soothing things like aloe, allantoin, glycerin, apple extract, sweet almond, coconut, melon and cucumber. I also love that this has coffee seed extract as it's one of my favorite ingredients. The scent is very light and almost nothing. It's just enough to be fresh & pleasant. It's lightly citrus meets fresh like cucumber and melon. The pH is 5 which is perfect for keeping the skin's moisture barrier intact. It's not drying and suitable for daily use. I like this for a morning cleanse or second cleanse but mostly prefer as a morning cleanse. This isn't one I would use to remove makeup, more of a general light gel cleanser. This will suit a wide variety of people well and as always her stuff is affordable while also have nice larger than average sizes.
Vitamin-Infused Cleansing Emulsion is a repurchase for me. I bought it when it launched but I don't think I fully appreciated it back then. It's a creamy gel cleanser. Details per Renee Rouleau:
Vitamin-Infused Cleansing Emulsion by Renée Rouleau is a luxurious cleansing emulsion that effectively melts away makeup, environmental debris and surface dry cell build up while minimizing signs of chronic irritation that can lead to premature aging. Dry, sensitive skin immediately regains a moist and dewy glow and will be perfectly primed for maximum results from the skincare that follows.
Key Ingredients
- Niacinamide - repairs skin’s moisture defense barrier function.
- Green Tea Leaf Extract - soothing plant antioxidant.
- Vitamin C - Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate - stable form of lipid (fat) soluble vitamin C to protect skin cells and restore a brighter radiance.
- Vitamin E - Tocopheryl Linoleate - vitamin E to protects cells from damage.
- Mugwort Extract - provides soothing relief to keep skin calm.
Ingredients
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Laureth-4, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate (gentle foaming agent), Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Tridecyl Stearate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Artemisia Vulgaris (Mugwort) Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Retinyl Palmitate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Laminaria Digitata (Horsetail Kelp) Extract, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol (water-binding humectant), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Carbomer, Ethyihexylglycerin (skin conditioner) , Lauramidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodiurn Glutamate Diacetate, PEG-8, Butylene Glycol (water-binding humectant), Citric Acid
This has a gel cream like texture, is very hydrating, slippery and light. It's like merging a creamy cleanser and a gel together. I'm personally not a huge fan of creamy cleansers because of the residue so I like this texture. It has a very light fresh scent that's very negligible. This is gentle enough to be used daily if you wish. It's not drying at all. I love that it doesn't leave residue like typical creamy cleansers. It has gentle surfactants, oils, hydrators like glycerin plus antioxidants, vitamin C and A (weak retinyl palmitate). This can take off makeup with some extra work and time by massaging it on the skin. It can be used in the morning or at night. I like it the most as a second gentle, hydrating cleanse at night. The pH is 6. This would also make a great morning cleanser as well. Think gel cream hybrid plus gentle & hydrating.
Moisture Infusion Toner is a moisture infused serum like toner. Details per Renee Rouleau:
Moisture Infusion Toner by Renée Rouleau is an alcohol-free, serum-infused skin toner formulated with natural botanicals to soothe and bring moisturizing comfort to sensitive skin. Formulated with essential vitamins and omega 3, 6 and 9, this will instantly calm and correct signs of redness, rosacea, and irritation while leaving a silky coat of moisture to elevate hydration levels deep within the intercellular matrix. Ideal for retinol and retinoid users to decrease sensitivity and flakiness. The result? Skin will look instantly dewy and luminous and be perfectly primed to achieve maximum results from the skincare that follows.
Key Ingredients
- Phospholipids - a moisturizing lipid to hold comforting moisture between cells.
- Vitamin C - Ascorbyl Palmitate - stable vitamin C to protect cells and reveal a brilliant clarity.
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) - improves skin barrier function to elevate moisture levels from deep within.
- Black Raspberry Seed Oil, Blackberry Seed Oil - rich in omega 3, 6 and 9 to deeply hydrate.
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Laureth-4, Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Rubus Leucodermis (Black Raspberry) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Phospholipids (moisturizing lipid), Superoxide Dismutase, Beta-Carotene, Retinyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin (skin conditioner) , Phenoxyethanol (water-binding humectant), Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil
This toner is really more of an essence texture wise. Very hydrating with a thicker, slippery, silky texture. It has raspberry & black cumin oils plus phospholipids to hydrate along with sodium hyaluronate and silicones. Silicones are great at hydrating the skin. This also have vitamins E, C, A (weaker retinyl palmitate) plus B3 aka multitasker niacinamide. This has a very light scent from the rosewood, very minimal. The scents of Renee Rouleau products are always very minimal and sometimes almost undetectable. They're there, but light & pleasant while almost being nothing. This is slippery and silky in texture likely due to the silicones. I find this way more hydrating than an average toner or essence even. It's also really lightweight compared to serums. You can apply this with a cotton pad to the face or just splash some in your hands and apply directly to the face. Because this is so hydrating it's best for drier skin, winter seasons or skin that really needs a moisture boost. It's an easy way to add a lightweight hydrating layer without the serum weight. It's not something I reached for as often as I thought I would. It was almost too heavy (even though I'm drier). It was too heavy as a toner and as an essence I tend to prefer the more slippery textures. I just had a few essences I liked more right now. This is lighter than Laneige Cream Skin if that comparison helps you. Out of the three I most definitely reached for the cleansers way more often, especially the Moisture Protecting Cleanser.
Here's some older Renee Rouleau reviews HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Keep in mind a lot of these are older reviews with a very different writing style compared to now (we all get better right?)