Rich, milky cleanser that coddles and nourishes (without making combination skin types feel suffocated) / 3.4 oz

twelveLab Purifying Cleansing Cream, the update to TWELVE Beauty's Purifying Cleansing Beauty Cream, is one of those beautiful surprises that makes our day when we find one.

It’s usually not the cleanser from any given brand that really wows us, but when we tested the brand, this was one of our favorites in the star-studded line. There’s just something about the Purifying Cleansing Cream that feels as though it feeds your skin exactly what it needs while gently lifting off even the most stubborn makeup, mineral sunscreen, and impurities. And it works across a variety of skin types: its rich, creamy texture coddles and nourishes even the most sensitive without making combination skin types feel suffocated.

Its secret, creator Pedro Català tells us, is a hefty dose of squalane, derived from olives, which helps renew and repair the skin while also purifying. Pedro also revealed that he has a particular soft spot for the cleanser, too; perhaps it’s because the brand's philosophy is to treat the skin gently, supporting its ability to do what it needs to do, and the Purifying Cleansing Cream is a gorgeous example of that. And its delicate scent, which comes from floral extracts and traces of essential oils, makes us think of simple days gone by when women used to leisurely cleanse their skin with cold cream – in a cool, modern way. It’s hard to describe. You really just have to try it.

Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this cleanser works particularly well on skin that tends towards dryness, redness, or reactivity, as well as skin that’s suffering from stress or hormonal changes.

For those familiar with the original TWELVE Beauty Purifying Cleansing Beauty Cream, here's a summary from Pedro of changes he made to the updated formula:

"I replaced the natural gums in the original with cellulose, derived from wood pulp and upcycled cotton, along with inulin to boost the prebiotic effect. You'll also now see jojoba oil and an emollient, derived from glutamic acid, with properties comparable to Type III ceramides for sebum replenishment. The new formula has an updated preservative system with benefits: its natural glycols promote a reduction in transepidermal water loss and come with a lower risk of reactions in very sensitive skin.

"And of course there's the Calyx 12 Complex™ , which is the combination of buddleja, thyme, mallow, artemisia, and imperatoria that I swear by. These are uncommon ingredients that offer many benefits to the skin: antioxidant protection and repair, hydration, wound healing, and anti-pollution effects, among many others."

Like the other items in the collection, Purifying Cleansing Beauty Cream is free from parabens, sulfates, and silicones.