Situational cleansing: Holifrog cleansers review

While most skincare brands are churning out products faster than our face (and wallets) can keep up, there’s a new brand dedicated to just face washes, and really cute ones too. Say hello to Holifrog cleansers!

The appeal of Holifrog Products

Aesthetic packaging aside, here’s what initially drew me to this brand and their cleansers:

🧪 Low pH to match our skin’s natural pH levels

I can’t stress this enough, but messing with our skin’s pH level with high pH cleansers will damage your skin’s protective barrier in the long run. Which then leads to issues likes dryness, acne, and all sorts of unpleasant side effects.

🧼 No harsh surfactants

Instead of stripping our skin with SLES or SLS, Holifrog uses gentler alternatives like sodium cocoyl apple amino acids and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine. If you’re wearing makeup or waterproof sunscreen or just super grimy, you should double cleanse with an oil-based cleanser first instead of just using a really harsh foaming cleanser. Your skin will thank you for it!

🎨 No extras like fragrance or dyes

As much as I enjoy scented products, I also admit they add no value to our skin health and can even cause irritations. Those with sensitive skin (or nose) will definitely appreciate this feature.

🌱 Lots of skin-loving ingredients

You can argue that these ingredients won’t do much since they don’t stay on the skin for long, and I agree. However emollients like plant oils can help restore some moisture to the skin and prevent that dry/tight feeling after cleansing, so I’m still happy to see them.

👪 A cleanser for every situation and skin type

Or what Holifrog calls “Situational Cleansing“. It makes sense when you think about it, our skin’s needs can change depending on our lifestyle, the environment, and so many other factors, so likewise our routine needs to adapt too.

Currently they have 6 different cleansers available, and after trying all of them for the past few months, here are my thoughts.

6 Holifrog Cleansers Reviewed

Holifrog Kissimmee Vitamin F Cleansing Balm

A medium weight balm full of emollient plant oils like sunflower, marula, and avocado to nourish the skin while removing makeup and waterproof sunscreen. This one doesn’t sting the eyes and emulsifies beautifully with water, though it does leave a moisturizing “film” that some people might find uncomfortable.

I’ve used this both as a first cleanser and a morning cleanser, and honestly the great ingredients are wasted removing makeup. I prefer this as a second/morning cleanse when my skin is extra parched. I’ve also applied it as a mask right before showering and that was *chef’s kiss*. Make sure to shake before use as sometimes the oils can separate.

→ $39 for 2.5oz/74ml on Dermstore, Beautylish, Net-a-Porter

Holifrog Tashmoo Water Lily Milky Wash

Loved this as a morning cleanser! True to its name, the texture is a milky gel that doesn’t foam and feels so silky smooth on the skin. Between its plethora of humectants and soothing ingredients like amino acids and Sodium PCA and a super mild surfactant, this is one of the gentlest cleansers I’ve used and leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed.

However with lots of gentle cleansers available, many of which work just as well, I'm not sure it's worth splurging for this.

→ $35 for 5oz/148ml at Dermstore, Beautylish, Feel Unique

Holifrog Shasta AHA Acid Wash

The most unique of the Holifrog cleansers and a 2019 favorite discovery! This is a gentle non-foaming gel cleanser but has the added benefits of exfoliation from a mix of glycolic, mandelic, lactic, tartaric, and citric acids.

Unlike other exfoliating cleansers that rely on scrubs or harsh acids that can sting, my skin has never felt irritated using this. Reminds me of the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel but gentler and fragrance-free.

I only use this once times a week as a deep cleanse since I use other actives (BHA and retinol) in my routine and I don’t want to risk over-exfoliating. However depending on your routine and skin type, it’s possible to use this daily as a second cleanse.

→ $38 for 5oz/148ml at Dermstore, Beautylish, Net-a-Porter

Holifrog Superior Omega Gel Wash

The strongest of the 5 and sadly a bit too drying for my dry skin. But if you have combo/oily skin, an active lifestyle (aka working up a sweat daily) or live somewhere humid, you'll probably enjoy the Holifrog Superior.

To be fair, this is still pretty gentle when you compare it to most foaming cleansers out there, and I do enjoy it as a sole evening cleanser on my no-makeup days when my face is extra sweaty. This is my least favorite of the Holifrog Cleansers.

→ $32 for 5oz/148ml at Dermstore, Beautylish, Free People

Holifrog Como Popp-E Scrubby Wash

Imagine the Kissimmee, but now in a delicious red balm with poppy seed and bamboo powder to provide physical exfoliation. The scrubs don’t feel nearly as harsh as St.Ive’s but it’s definitely more noticeable than your typical microdermabrasion scrubs. Make sure you massage gently on damp skin!

Overall it doesn’t feel harsh thanks to the super emollient base, but if it’s still too much you can mix this with Holifrog Tashmoo (or any cream cleanser), or you can add in some chemical exfoliation by mixing it with Holifrog Shasta. No matter how you use it, this one will leave your skin baby soft, and unlike the Kissimmee, won’t leave a film behind.

→ $39 for 3.4oz/100ml at Dermstore, Beautylish, Net-a-Porter

Holifrog Sunapee Sacred C Powder Wash

I'm a big fan of powder cleansers for their versatility and their gentle exfoliation. The Holifrog Sunapee delivers the latter with ascorbic acid powder, enzymes, kojic acid, and raspberry + blueberry seed powders.

It's slightly gritty and the physical exfoliants are noticiable, but you can offset this by mixing it into a cream cleanser like the Holifrog Tashmoo. Personally I wish the Sunapee didn't include the physical exfoliants, especially since they already have the Como, as such this is not one of my favorites.

→ $44 for 2.5oz/74ml at Dermstore, Beautylish, Net-a-Porter

Are Holifrog cleansers worth it?

While I thoroughly enjoyed most of these cleansers and do think they’re wonderfully formulated, I also think there are great alternatives to some of these, namely the Cerave cleansers which are dirt cheap and work ridiculously well if you can get over their blandness.

My rule has always been that serums are where you should be spending your $$$. Other products, especially cleansers, do not need to be expensive to be effective.

Also I’ve noticed an issue with the Holifrog cleansers’ pump packaging: if you don’t use them regularly (eg. the Shasta only once a week), they do clog a little bit which results in the product going everywhere when you pump it. Not a deal breaker, but when you’re paying a premium for a cleanser, details like these do matter.

Another factor is the sensory experience. For some of us, myself included, part of paying a premium is for the luxurious texture and spa-like scent, which often means essential oils. Holifrog isn’t wrong to eliminate fragrance as potential irritants, but it also makes their cleansers feel and smell a bit like regular cleansers.

Of the 6 cleansers I tried, I would probably repurchase Holifrog Como because I like the idea of being able to use it alone or with other cleansers. Holifrog Shasta is a maybe because while I do think it’s unique, I still prefer the usage experience (scent) of the Oskia or Kate Somerville.

More affordable Holifrog Dupes

Ah yes we love a good dupe, especially since Holifrog cleansers aren’t cheap either. Here are what I recommend instead if budget is a concern:

Holifrog Kissimmee ➡️ Paula’s Choice Omega+ Cleansing Balm
I absolutely love the PC cleansing balm, and at $28/104ml, you’re getting more for your money too. The PC one has the same lush texture, similar nourishing emollients, and the best part is it doesn’t leave a film on the skin!

Holifrog Tashmoo ➡️ Cerave Hydrating Cleanser
I’m a big fan of Cerave and their Hydrating Cleanser will always be a classic non-foaming cream cleanser for me. As much as I enjoyed Tashmoo I just don’t think it’s worth it when you have Cerave at a fraction of the price and delivers very similar results!

Holifrog Shasta ➡️ Cerave Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Not an exact dupe, but if you’re looking for a cleanser to help clear your pores and acne, this Cerave one contains salicylic acid that will help with just that. But if you want my opinion, use an exfoliating toner or serum instead to get better results!

Holifrog Superior ➡️ Cerave Foaming Cleanser or YTTP Superfood Cleanser or AXIS-Y Cleansing Foam
The least unique of the Holifrog cleansers, I can think of 3 other cleansers I’ve tried that deliver similar results and are more affordable. Both the Cerave and YTTP were less drying too!

Holifrog Sunapee ➡️ Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder
I will admit Holifrog has better ingredients, but if you’re just looking for an enzyme-based powder cleanser that doesn’t feel abrasive, Good Molecules is an excellent choice. Or if you want a more luxurious experience and potent results, I really like the Kanebo Suisai Powder Wash and the Amorepacific Treatment Enzyme Powder.

Final verdict