I tried the Wake facial cleansing gel—from the brand that has thousands of five-star Amazon reviews

When it comes to skincare routines—the sheer amount of steps, products and brands can be overwhelming. Sometimes you just want to know exactly which is the best hyaluronic acid serum, or which Korean beauty product will work best for your skin type. Which is sometimes why simplicity is key. Enter the new gel cleanser from WAKE, a basic, everyday cleanser designed to gently exfoliate and clean your face—without all the fuss.

Finding the right cleanser for your skin can be difficult, as, often it can seem like a throwaway part of your routine—because you wash it on, and almost immediately off again. But, as I have recently discovered, your facial wash can actually be the root of a lot of your skin issues and, when you’re using the right one, it can make a huge difference.

Before using WAKE, I always had dry skin around my nose, cheeks and under-eyes, I would experience foundation piling and sometimes an odd, bumpy texture on my skin's surface. No serum or moisturizer seemed to soothe my stressed-out skin—now it’s obvious that I was using a cleanser that was too harsh for my skin, leaving it stripped and dull-looking.

Now I can safely say those skin complaints are a thing of the past and while I still don’t have jello skin—I still have a lot of good info to share about this new addition to the Wake Family, but first, allow me to overshare about my skin type…

What is my skin type?

I have been blessed with fairly clear skin, minus the occasional hormonal breakout and some stubborn blackheads on my nose and chin. I do however have very sensitive skin and suffer from dryness and redness. Trying new products can be a bit of a minefield for me—either my skin loves it, or it really doesn’t and it makes me pay for it...for days.

I keep my skincare products pretty simple, often preferring a foaming cleanser—though many I have tried have left my skin very stripped, so I was slightly apprehensive about WAKE’s new gel-to-foam cleanser.

Wake facial cleansing gel review

Whats in the Wake facial cleansing gel?

So first things first, let’s talk about the formula…

The ingredient list is fairly simple (which is a good thing, in my opinion), it includes glycerin, citric acid which helps to even skin tone and aloe vera to refresh and soothe the skin. Plus it's paraben-free, sulphate-free, and cruelty-free.

I’d also like to take a minute to say that I’m really here for WAKE’s brand ethos—their products are all-natural, ocean-friendly and where possible, their packaging is 100% recyclable. They're a small brand wanting to make a big difference. Who doesn’t love that?

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Wake Facial Cleansing gel

RRP: $16/£12.99

Wake's hydrating cleanser gel works to refresh the skin's surface while relieving dryness and retaining moisture. This vegan foaming face wash formula works on all skin types and is the perfect everyday facial wash.

• View at Wake in the US (opens in new tab)
• View at Amazon in the UK (opens in new tab)

My verdict on the Wake facial cleansing gel

Now onto the cleanser—I really like it, not only did it open my eyes to how stripping my now-retired cleanser was, but it has left my skin feeling so soft, and healthy.  It doesn’t really have a fragrance, it smells fresh—similar to how a lot of CeraVe products products smell.

The formula lathers up quickly with just a small amount of water and feels so soft on the skin. Despite its light texture though, it really feels like it’s cleaning my face—especially if I’ve been lazy with removing my makeup.

While I wouldn't say my pores look minimized, my overall complexion is clearer and brighter and my skin actually looks hydrated for the first time, maybe ever. After four weeks of use, I have no dry patches, nor any redness and without makeup, my skin has a bit of a glow.

The description does promise that the cleanser will help with my blocked pores, so perhaps with even more use they will start to shrink but if you’re looking for an immediate solution, this cleanser might not be for you as it does seem to be very gentle.

If you’re a fellow sensitive skin sufferer though, it’s definitely worth a try—especially if you experience ‘winter skin.’

This cleanser will perfectly slot into your everyday routine—and it is great to pair with another cleanser if you prefer to give your skin a double-whammy. I’ll definitely be repurchasing!