Product Review: Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water 5 oz. - $12

I recently purchased my first Sephora brand skin care product, after I ran out of my Clinique toner. I was perusing Sephora looking for the OCC lip tars, when I stumbled upon the triple action cleansing water. I was intrigued. I wasn't sure what it was. Was it a makeup remover? Was it toner? What were it's triple powers? 

I asked one of the employees, and she basically said you could use it as a toner and a makeup remover. Needing a new toner, I picked it up. Then I went home and read about it. Here's what Sephora has to say about this product:

What it is:A no-rinse cleanser with a texture ideal for delicate skin.
What it is formulated to do:This product cleanses the face and eyes effectively in one simple step. Dispensed from a bottle with a clever pump design, its soap-free formula features cleansing spheres that effectively capture and eliminate impurities and makeup. It also includes HydroSenn+, a natural ingredient proven to deliver immediate and long-lasting hydration more effectively than hyaluronic acid.
What it is formulated WITHOUT:- Parabens- Sulfates - Synthetic Dyes - Phthalates- GMOs- Triclosan
What else you need to know:HydroSenn+ is a plant-derived ingredient that leaves skin feeling soft and luxuriously comfortable. This product is dermatologically- and ophthalmologically-tested. Suitable for sensitive skin, sensitive eyes, and contact lens wearers.

Alright, now that we know the claims. Let me tell you my experience. First things first, I love using this as a toner after I wash my face. It's definitely gentle and non-drying. And it smells fresh and clean. But don't worry, it's not at all overpowering or perfume like. The cleansing water does, in fact, feel gentle and refreshing on my skin without sucking out moisture after I wash my face.

I also love that you can use it even on your eyes. It's a great double duty product. I like using it to remove eye makeup. I typically use it after I wash my face to remove any left over mascara. I think that's a true testament to how gentle this is. I've had not problems swiping a dampened cotton round across my lids. No stinging. No tingling. Nothing. I have also used the exfoliating side of my cotton round dampened with the cleansing water to remove lip products that stain my lips and swiped it off without a problem.

As for using it as a makeup remover all on its own, it's a bit of a double edged sword. Yes, it works. It removes your makeup. But it seems to me that you're better off just using a makeup wipe. You'll use up a lot of product to try to remove all your makeup this way and a lot of cotton swabs (unless you buy the large cotton swabs - then you'll just use a lot of product dampening it enough to get your whole face). I went through six regular-sized flat cotton pads to get my makeup off. It does get your makeup off. If you're feeling lazy, it's much better than skipping your makeup removal.  But, I felt it was much more efficient and just as effective to use one makeup remover wipe, which has more surface area to get all my face anyway. Heck, if I'm feeling that lazy, the makeup wipe is already pre-moistened for me.

But here's the deal. While I got my makeup off, my face still felt sticky or filmy. There's just nothing quite like washing your makeup off (at I haven't found it). I still prefer my cleaning oil as my makeup removing method. A few minutes after I used the cleansing water as my makeup remover, I caved, and washed my face (using my regular cleanser). I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of my makeup had come off. Only the tiniest bit was left for my cleanser to tackle, similarly to when I use a remover wipe.

All in all, I'd definitely keep using this product as a toner and to remove eye makeup before or after thorough cleansing. It's gentle and hydrating, the price is fair, and I like the scent. I'm content and satisfied with my first Sephora skin care product.

Have you tried anything else from Sephora's skin care line? Do you have any recommendations? Will you be trying the cleansing water?