018. Klur Gentle Matter, The Last Dance

A new slow beauty addition, finding similarities with one of the greats, and what I'm listening to.

Hi! I'm Maggie and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below! No pressure but thank you if you do.

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I ordered the KLUR Gentle Matter cleanser back at the beginning of July during a pre-order. I was so excited when it finally delivered to my doorstep! First, let's state the obvious.

The brand design and packaging is absolutely stunning. The website is distinct and clear, easy to navigate. The Gentle Matter Daily Moisture Cleanser comes in a 60ml (2floz, $22) and 100ml (3.38floz, $40) option. I opted for the 60ml as it was my first time trying the brand and this product. And let me just say, right off the bat, I love the price point of this cleanser.

Lesley Thornton is the founder and formulator and has been an esthetician for nearly a decade. Her esthetician background laid the groundwork for what KLUR is today. As stated on the site, the brand is an independent, self-funded, Black-owned, woman-owned, and operated company. Simplicity is a word used often when describing the philosophy, formulation, and routine of KLUR. And that funnels through to its tightly edited skincare line of just seven items: 1 cleanser, 1 exfoliator, 4 serums, and 1 body oil. Everything is also sustainably made here in the U.S.

All of their products are housed in pharmaceutical-grade amber-lead-free glass, making it infinitely recyclable. Their pumps and caps are made of aluminum or BPA-free plastic, also 100% recyclable. All shipping materials and secondary packagings such as the bottle cartons and boxes are also, you guessed it, 100% recyclable. And this includes their sustainably sourced packing paper printed using vegetable or soy-based inks. You can read more about KLUR's sustainability efforts and brand philosophy in this article (shared by Lesley herself).

The packaging cartons and boxes that contain the bottles are soft-touch in a chic muted beige, with black printed copy, and an embossed KLUR logo. But the bottle itself is where the magic truly happens.

Crisp, clean white embossed lettering adorns the amber bottle. The most impressive part is the pump and cap. The cap grips back onto the pump in the most satisfying way and feels secure with the tiniest of clicks. It's similar to the Monastery skincare pumps and caps, but the KLUR one is even better! It dispenses the product perfectly and cleanly, meaning no drips or aggressive spurts.

I purchased this for the purpose of a gentle cleanse. Either to use on days where I'm not wearing SPF or makeup or as a second cleanse on heavier makeup days and during the summer. The texture out of the pump is gel-like, but once mixed with water, it develops a light lather. The lather isn't foaming and is instead silky.

I apologize that this is a very detailed and lengthy section! But hope it helps if you have a similar skin type (normal–dehydrated skin).

The first time, I'll admit, I went all in too fast. My skin was doing great, and I was wearing SPF and makeup that day and thought I'd just go in with this as my first and second cleanse. I felt I needed two cleanses because this wasn't specially formulated to remove makeup. Directions say to apply three to four pumps and gently massage into the face (on wet or dry skin). I used three pumps on dry skin and massaged away. It didn't lather much over dry skin and felt like it absorbed into my SPF and makeup. I wet my face, massaged a bit more, rinsed, and removed everything with a washcloth. But my skin didn't feel particularly clean afterward. I still felt a bit of grime, and unevenness (like it removed my makeup unevenly), so I went in with another two pumps as a second cleanse. This time over wet skin, the cleanser lathered, and as I massaged, it felt like it absorbed into my skin instead. I rinsed and patted dry with my washcloth. 

Within seconds, a tightness formed. My skin felt dry and parched. I followed with my skincare and gave a more substantial dose of moisturizing to counteract the tightness. It helped, but my skin still retained that tight feeling. The next morning, I had dry patches in a few areas on my face. I don't get dry patches usually, and especially in Summer, just for comparison. Because my skin felt sensitive, I laid off the cleanser for about a week or so. 

I absolutely know it was my error that caused the sensitivity and tightness. I used way too much for my skin (which very much follows a less is more approach), although I still used less than the amount suggested. The next time, I used two pumps on dry skin over makeup, and the same thing happened. The cleanser penetrates and absorbs into the makeup, making it tough to massage without dragging the skin. And even with water, it doesn't emulsify back into a lather, and won't remove all the makeup. *I should note I use plant-based, green beauty makeup. Most of these are pretty easy to remove, and even on heavier makeup days, I'm not wearing much. Then, I went back in with one pump on damp skin, and it lathered and removed most of the rest except for a bit more of eye and lip makeup. I removed the remnants with a balm instead. My face felt tight again like the previous time, and I overcompensated with my skincare that followed. This time, knowing about the dry patches, I ended my routine with a balm, which I rarely do in summer. So all this is to say, this won't remove heavier mineral SPF and makeup.

Since then, I've been strictly using this as a second cleanse (an oil or balm as first cleanse). And I've found I only need 1 pump applied to damp skin. Even with this tiny amount, my skin tends to feel tight and dry afterward. There's something about this cleanser that feels like it permeates and absorbs into my skin, and not in a good way. I hate to say this, but it feels stripping. 

I happened to be emailing with Lesley while I was researching KLUR, and since I was having so much trouble, I asked her for a bit of advice. She was so kind as to schedule a free consult over the phone, and her advice was a gamechanger.

We talked through my skincare routine, how Gentle Matter fit in, and how I had been using it. She brought up some excellent points that (as suspected), this may be too much as a first and second cleanse for me. My skin is normal–dehydrated, and so she suggested the following routine:

1. Use an oil cleanser (that doesn't include surfactants or rinse clean on its own) to break down SPF, makeup, and grime.

2. Remove with a dry or damp washcloth. Do not use water to rinse.

3. Mix one to two pumps (I used one) of Gentle Matter and a drop of the previous oil cleanser. You can substitute the oil cleanser with a carrier oil if you have one on hand (jojoba, argan, etc.). This will turn it into a beautiful cream cleanser!

4. Apply cream cleanser, massage, and rinse with water and washcloth.

This turned what was originally a finicky and difficult experience into a beautiful one! My skin no longer felt dry and tight afterward, and instead was clean, plump, and fresh. What I had been hoping all along this cleanser would deliver! For reference: I used the Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil as my first cleanse and to mix in with Gentle Matter.

If viewing on a phone, pinch zoom for texture closeup.

Lesley explained that often with easily dehydrated skin (yours truly), double cleansing can be too much, especially with two cleansers that both have surfactants in it. Using water twice in the routine can also contribute to dehydration. She wrote an excellent journal post on KLUR that speaks to this topic in detail.

I'm so grateful that she took the time to figure out the best way to use Gentle Matter for my skin. We even got a chance to talk through another KLUR product that might help me retain moisture that I hope to try in the future (after my no-buy). There's also a comment she made during our call that I have to include here today. She said there's nothing wrong with waiting (in terms of purchasing products). That whenever we're ready to dive in, KLUR will be there waiting for us. Isn't that lovely?

Even though I have to use this cleanser in a specific way, I would absolutely recommend it. Mainly, I can see this working for so many people! It's a no-fuss, gel cleanser that I think first and foremost would work great for those with normal to oily skin. I can also see men really loving this cleanser. There's no discernible fragrance aside from a very faint floral, alcohol scent. At this price point, it's most certainly worth a try and especially if you're in need of a new cleanser. And if you have easily dehydrated skin like I do, I love that you can transform Gentle Matter into a delightfully gentle cream cleanser instead. I've also been missing a cream cleanser in my life, so I am thrilled this now fills that gap!

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Two weeks ago, Husband and I finished the sports docuseries, 'The Last Dance.' A little background: I love sports documentaries. I may hate all forms of exercise, but boy, do I love the energy behind sports. And I don't watch games either. However, time and time again, my career has forced me to. I've worked on countless sports series from professional baseball following the San Francisco Giants to the 2016 Eurocup, and all the college NFL, Boxing, and ESPN's The Grantland Basketball Hour in between. And each and every time, I fall in love with the sport and its teams. And like many, my only knowledge of sports back when I was a kid, was Michael Jordan. The star of the NBA and the world.

What's funnier is that life has a way of throwing you into the unknown. Who knew I'd marry into a family of basketball. My brother-in-law would've played pro if not for an injury, and my sister-in-law actually did play pro in the WNBA. Needless to say, my family's got a lot of basketball knowledge, and they were the ones who first put 'The Last Dance' on my radar back when it premiered on ESPN in April.

This was everything I hoped it would be: knowledgeable while remaining accessible (you don't have to know the sport), casts a wide net of interviewees from multiple players and teams, and structured in a way to keep you on your feet until the centered 1998 championship game of the Chicago Bulls. And make no mistake, this series is about Michael Jordan. No matter how much you might hear about Scottie Pippen, team rivalry, and the golden era of the NBA.

It's an intimate look into what one could almost say is Jordan's own peculiar method of madness that allowed his name to be written in the stars. Even though I'm nowhere near Jordan's performance level, I found myself relating to and endlessly inspired by Jordan's ambition and tough work ethic. If greatness were so easily achieved, everyone would be a champion.

He mentions how competitive he is and how that drove him in his training, playing the game, catapulting his career. I admire that he acknowledged both the best and worst in himself. Yes, sometimes those nearest to him shed light on that, but he was the one who took action. But speaking of those who contributed to his phenomenal basketball tenure, it was a true joy hearing the same games from multiple viewpoints: Coach Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman (I particularly loved his episode), Steve Kerr (another one I loved), plus rival teams and players, and journalists.

There's so much to be gained from sports: discipline, sportsmanship, practice, the list goes on. I'm always in awe of top athletes who genuinely hold themselves to a higher standard in performance. It takes so much sacrifice and willpower. The Chicago Bulls were not to be messed with because each player harnessed these values and worked for everything they earned. With their hardship came great reward. It's a Cinderella story, and one for the ages. I mean, 6-time championship winners? How is that even possible.

This is an excellent docuseries to watch even if you don't enjoy sports. And for those who grew up during this time, you'll especially love the throwback to the 90s era, whether it's with song or fashion.

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Thanks for reading! And here's a little behind-the-scenes fun fact: the music I listened to while writing this week's newsletter are the following:

• Hogwarts Classroom | Harry Potter Music & Ambience

• Studio Ghibli Emotional Melody: Cello Collection with Calcifer

Thank you, and you're welcome. I hope you have a great start to your week! See you soon!