Mont Echo Sea Buckthorn Cleansing Cream Review

Over the years, I've gone from foaming face washes to creamy ones. The older I get, and more educated and informed I become, my need for gentle cleansing rises. Regardless of skin type and concern, it's so important to use a gentle cleanser on your face. You never want to strip your delicate skin of all it's natural oils and should opt for treatments (masks, serums, moisturizers, etc) to help normalize your skin. That being said, I was in the market for a new cleanser. While browsing one of my favourite health food stores, The Big Carrot, I came across Mont Echo Naturels.

They are a small family owned Sea Buckthorn company, located in Quebec (Canada), that extracts their own sea buckthorn oils on site. They believe in quality and sustainability, which is seen through their EcoCert certification and their commitment to "working with local growers, which supports local agriculture and reduces our carbon footprint". Canadian? Check. All natural? Check. Sea buckthorn? Added bonus! Of course I had to try it.

Description: A rich and nourishing cleansing cream formulated with our Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil and Calendula extract which gently removes makeup and dirt without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. BENEFITS:
• Provides beneficial nutrients to the skin, while removing impurities
• Hydrates
• Soothes and softens skin
• Exfoliates dead skin
• Unclogs pores
• Smoothes skin and improves tone & texture
• Reduces redness and inflammation
• Antibacterial

Let's start with the packaging, which I have a love/hate relationship with. I love the cute and chic design of the box and label. The sea buckthorn berries is genius and they made it look so elegant, yet simple. The jar, not practical and very annoying to use. I don't like that I have to stick my finger in there all the time for a few reasons; it's not hygienic, the water separates which means I have to stir it before using, and I end up using way too much. The cleanser isn't thick enough that it can't be in a pump bottle, which would make it much more practical for daily use and for travelling with. That's pretty much my only negative, the packaging. The cleanser itself, once stirred, is beautiful. It's not quite a cream, not quite a lotion, and rubs into the skin with ease. It leaves my skin soft, makeup free (with a double cleanse), hydrated, glowing, and radiant. I have definitely noticed that the redness in my cheeks has gone down a bit. The smell is..umm..I don't know. Lavender and calendula, I guess. Either way, you can definitely smell the essential oils, but it's not overwhelming at all and doesn't linger on the skin. The ingredients in this product are divine, edible really. All very nourishing and packed with goodness. It does contain grapefruit seed extract, so that's something to consider if you're trying to avoid that ingredient. I really enjoy using this cleanser and, if they change the packaging, I would definitely repurchase.

Retails for approx. $23.95 CAN for 120ml. Can be purchased through Mont Eco, The Big Carrot and some other stores in Toronto. You can go to their Where To Buy section to find a retailer near you.

Have you ever tried this brand? What is your favourite cleanser?

Ingredients: Water, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Organic Coconut Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Avocado Oil, Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil, Organic Herbal Infusions of Alfalfa Leaf, Comfrey Root & Leaf, Horsetail, Chamomile Flowers, Chickweed, Organic Bulgarian Rosewater, Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Calendula Extract, Organic and Wildcrafted Essential Oils of Lavender, Geranium & Palmarosa, Rosemary & Sage Antioxidants, Grapefruit Seed Extract