005. Best of Cleansers, A Week of TV

and A Few Shoutouts

My favorite skincare step is cleansing. Is there anything better than washing SPF, makeup, and grime off your face at the end of a long day? Not for me, there isn't. It always marks the moment I can finally relax, enjoy dinner, and time with my husband and Muto. So today is the inaugural "Best Of" segment of the newsletter! Let's kick things off with the best of cleansers.

I'm only featuring three (photographically) because it's currently the ones I'm using and have on hand. But these are indeed my top three favorites.

The Heart of Gold Astral Traveler Cleansing Fluid ($44, 50ml | 1.7floz) will always be my number one. I've raved about it in my 2019 Index Pt. 1 (Most Memorable Skincare), and I feel the same way about it now (just over 5 months of use with this full-size bottle). Every time I use it, my shoulders drop. For anyone used to working at a desk and feeling anxiety and tension in your shoulders, you'll understand how good that feels. It calms my spirit, but above all, it soothes my skin. I would call this a treatment cleanser though it's gentle enough to use daily. I don't feel I need it every day, so I only reserve it for when I have problematic skin (i.e., hormonal, stress, diet-related breakouts). Nothing moves stagnation in my skin like this cleanser. Deep, painful acne comes to a whitehead just by cleansing with this. I don't understand the magical powers behind this cleanser, but I thank my lucky stars that Ally (founder and creator) have shared it with us.

The scent is also intoxicating: a gust of blue chamomile, clary sage, cypress, shiso, and grapefruit. At once, invigorating and calming. It is also the silkiest cleansing oil I've ever used, plus a little goes a long way. You might notice compared to other pump cleansers; this dispenses very little per pump. I use at max three pumps when wearing makeup, and two on bare skin. Because of this, a bottle lasts a surprisingly long time and has a shelf life of 12 months once opened! It also rinses clean by itself: add a few drops of water after minutes of glorious facial massage and rinse (with or without washcloth). I will always have one of these in my running lineup.

The Heart of Gold Dream Boat Cleansing Balm ($44, 50ml | 1.7oz) is a new addition to the line. Ally was so incredibly kind to send over a jar when she had finalized the formula for me to try, and I instantly fell in love. (A smaller tester jar is shown here. If you purchase it, yours will be larger!) I like to refer to its scent as "the shiso of my dreams." Because that's precisely what it is. I absolutely love the shiso's scent, and particularly the way Ally harnesses its delicate and spicy quality in her formulations. The way the spicy shiso intertwines with the grounding french green clay offers a spiritual experience. And that's just through the scent! The balm itself is my ultimate balm cleanser. As much as I loved Ally's Sea Change Cleansing Balm, it was slightly too heavy for my skin to use consistently and would cause breakouts (small, nothing crazy). So I was thrilled when she created Dream Boat. Performance-wise, this is incredible. I use the tiniest pea-sized amount, and it removes all traces of SPF and makeup without causing my skin to feel dry. It also has a cooling feeling, which I love. This helps tremendously with acne since it's also decongesting. Astral works faster, but Dream Boat offers the same result with continued use. 

Now you may be wondering, these two sound very similar, would one need both? And my answer is, YES. Alright, maybe you don't need both, but I love having both. To me, they just offer different cleansing experiences. Astral Traveler is like showing your skin some tough love in the best way. It's fast, highly effective, and an easy one-and-done. Dream Boat is when you want to bask in the moonlight, take your time massaging the skin, and float in the midnight air surrounded by shiso, blue cypress, rosemary, and bitter orange. Plus, the balm can double as a calming mask! Just like with Sea Change, you can apply a thin layer to the skin for 30 minutes or overnight then remove it with a warm washcloth. 

The pAra botanica Chaya Beauty Balm ($50, 30ml | 1oz) was another item I covered in my 2019 Index. Then I went more in-depth in my brand spotlight pAra botanica video. What's not to love about Chaya? This is the best multi-tasking balm there is. You can use it as your balm step to moisturize and heal, as an in-shower hydration mask (let the steam do the work then remove with a warm washcloth), and of course, as a cleanser.

Of the three cleansers, this one's scent permeates the room the most. And it's an exquisite one: green, spicy and sweet like incense. If Astral Traveler is the silkiest oil cleanser, then this one is the silkiest balm cleanser. And where Dream Boat looks like the surface of a planet or moon deep in the cosmic universe, Chaya is green and translucent, like looking deep through the surface of a medicinal hot spring. In the jar, the texture looks like it might be quite firm, but once it touches the skin, it instantly melts into a beautiful blend of oils. Depending on how luxurious I want the cleansing experience to be, I'll use anywhere between a pea-sized to a blueberry-sized amount. This doesn't emulsify, so I remove it with the steam of a hot washcloth, and it feels incredible. Like the other two, this will remove all SPF, makeup, and grime with ease. I also particularly love using it on the eyes if I have stubborn eye makeup on. Since a little goes such a long way, even using it as a balm, mask, and cleanser, the jar will last a long time! I'm currently just over three months into this jar and still have plenty left for possibly another three months.

Another cleanser I currently have in rotation is the H is for Love RAPHA Harmonizing Oil Cleanser ($54, 50ml | 1.69floz). I didn't include this in my favorites because I have a love-hate relationship with it. I go through periods where I adore it, and others when it frustrates me. It's the most luscious oil cleanser I've ever tried. It's very cushiony and feels fantastic on the skin, especially with facial massage. It will make you feel like you're at a spa getting a facial. I also adore the scent, another beautiful blend of roman and german chamomile with rosemary, frankincense, and lavender. This doesn't rinse off on its own, so I have to steam remove it with a washcloth. And sometimes, at the end of a long day, I just wish it were easier to remove. Also, depending on my skin, sometimes it's a bit too heavy for me and causes breakouts (again, nothing major).

My biggest hurdle is the price point. This cleanser is by far my most pricey because of how much I have to use. It comes at the standard 50ml bottle, and directions say 4–6 pumps onto dry skin. This is another pump bottle where each pump dispenses very little (this one dispenses even less than Astral). I find I have to use at least six pumps to remove makeup thoroughly. More often, I'm using anywhere from 7–8. Because of this, I'm blowing through this bottle, and at this price, I don't see myself repurchasing since I go through cleansers quite often. It's a lovely treat but, ultimately, not sustainable for my budget.

I will be repurchasing the pAra botanica Komala Facial Cleanser the next time I finish an item in this category. Last time, I purchased the large size at 100ml (3.4floz, $52) and passed it along to a friend so someone could benefit it at its peak! (Because I was rotating several cleansers, I felt I couldn't finish this size in time.) But I miss it in my life because I love using this cleanser on days where I'm not wearing makeup. The scent is so uplifting (honey and citrus blend), yet extraordinarily decongesting and soothing. It's a gentle cleanser that packs a punch! I'll be ordering the smaller size next time ($34, 50ml | 1.7floz).

Last but not least is a longtime friend I've been missing as of late: the Marie Veronique + Kristina Holey Pure + E.O. Free Oil Cleanser. This has been a longtime favorite for three simple reasons: it's incredibly affordable ($40, 120ml | 4floz), removes makeup like none other while remaining gentle, and is free of fragrance, coconut oil, castor oil, and essential oil. This makes it an incredible cleanser for a wide variety of people and skin! Is it the best smelling cleanser? No. Is it the most fuss-free? Maybe not (packaging makes it a bit difficult). But is it approachable, affordable, and effective? Yes! When I repurchase one again soon, I'll hear my wallet give me a sigh of relief.

---

I want to share a secret. While I refrain from going on all social media during the workday, I will go through lots of television. Sometimes I can't find the right music to put me in the right mood or energy for a job. So instead, I'll look for a tv show or movie. Most often like with music, I'll replay shows or films I've watched (usually lighthearted things). But sometimes I've just rewatched them far too many times to do it again. And thus, I'll put on new tv shows that I'm curious about but don't want to devote my free time to in fear that it will disappoint. So let's roll on all the television and movies I've blown through this past week.

The Great (Hulu): This is one that I have been devoting time to watching with husband in the evenings. We've only watched three episodes so far but love it. Some of the initial luster has worn off by the end of the third episode, so curious to see how the rest plays out. The show is beautifully shot and so rich (pun intended) with sincere laugh out loud moments. It's a very dark comedy, so beware that there's tons of lewd language, sexism, and "gore."

Unorthodox (Netflix): *Thank you, Trish, for putting this on my radar! I watched the first three episodes on a day off and watched the last this week. Both the first and last episodes were the strongest. I'm more impressed by what it took to film this show, versus the final result. It looks beautiful (shot like a documentary), and there are some incredibly moving moments, yes. But as a whole, it didn't hit home completely, apart from an amazing performance by lead actress Shira Haas. I hope to see her in more soon. (Same with Amit Rahav, who plays Yanky.) What's perhaps most worth watching is Making Unorthodox: a documentary short on the logistics of authentically bringing this show to life.

Never Have I Ever (Netflix): *Thank you, Shobha, for putting this on my radar! If you can believe it, I binge-played (because I listened more than watched) this in a day. The first episode was laugh-out-loud funny, and the mom has some truly terrific zingers. Be warned; there's a lot that will make you cringe if you're 23 and up. If you are, just know that the "hot guy" actor is 29 years old, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, who plays our heroine, Devi, is 18 (at least she's of legal age). A good coming of age comedy that deals with grief in a surprisingly honest and healthy way.

High Fidelity (Hulu): I also binge-played this in a day. To sum it up, it was okay. With an incredibly great cast, it's unfortunate it doesn't offer something more. I have to admit that I've never watched the original John Cusack version, so I'm unsure how close the show sits with the movie. But I imagine Zoë Kravitz plays it similarly to Cusack's version? Whether she does or doesn't, I hate that I found her very distracting throughout the show, especially when she breaks the fourth wall. It comes off disingenuine in dialogue, which I think is more the writing's fault than hers. I found myself more interested in the supporting cast (which is fantastic by the way): all-in-all an enjoyable, entertaining show, but nothing I would want to watch more than once.

A Star Is Born (HBO): This is my second time watching this movie, and I stand by my original rating. I wanted to love this a lot more than I did. I remember feeling disappointed the first time I watched it. This second time around, I feel less disappointed only because I knew what was in store. The one incredible thing about this film is Lady Gaga's performance. Everything else is subpar with the exception of one scene with Bradley Cooper and Sam Elliott. I haven't seen the three versions released prior to this one. (Yes, three.) For the most part, I appreciate the deeply true portrayal of this, particularly tragic and familiar love story.

The Hustle (Hulu): Wow, don't watch this. When this movie ended, I had one of those "thank goodness I played this in the background and didn't spend time watching it on the big (tv) screen" moments. Both Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson are no newcomers to comedy, but this screenplay is terrible. Avoid this at all costs.

Teen Spirit (Hulu): Another Elle Fanning pick. What can I say, the Fanning family sure deliver some great actors. Anyway, the film first popped on my radar back when it released in 2018. Why? Because the director is Max Minghella, most known for his role as Nick in Hulu's 'The Handmaid's Tale.' He also comes from a film family because his father is none other than Anthony Minghella, an Academy Award® Best Director winner (for 1996's 'The English Patient'). So obviously, I was curious to see if the directing chops had passed down or skipped a generation. I'm still undecided because I want to see what Minghella would do with different material, but Teen Spirit is an excellent effort. On the surface, it looks very one-note (these puns just happen, I'm sorry), but I applaud that he really leaned into it. For a film about a teenage singing competition, it carries that superficial quality but holds some real moments of fearlessness. *This is also for fans of Robyn and Grimes back in their moments of fame.

---

1. Shobha just released the second interview in her "Pretty When We Win" series and this one features Michelle Ranavat of RANAVAT! I highly recommend this read. It's short and sweet and filled with nuggets of wisdom. *And did you know today is Shobha's birthday? Go wish her a happy birthday! Happy Birthday, Shobha!

2. Thank you, Bird, for the “placemat” in the cleanser photos! I kept the wrapping from a previous package you sent because I love the color and texture.

3. Last but not least, Memorial Day is Monday. Husband and I will be taking a moment to remember all the men and women who fought, served, and died for our country and our freedom. For those who have a long weekend, please stay safe and enjoy it with loved ones!

---

Thanks for reading! As promised, ZeroZeroZero recaps will return next week. Please meet me in the comments or reply to this email what some of your favorite cleansers are! Have you watched anything you loved or hated recently? I'd love to know that too! Hope you have a great long weekend or regular Monday!

---