Thursday, March 10, 2011

Review: Urban Decay Clean and Sober Oil-free Makeup Remover

I got this makeup remover as part of the GWP (Gift with Purchase) for the purchase of the Alice in Wonderland Eyeshadow Palatte as well as the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer in Sin. That was something mid to end last year (my memories fail me at times) and it was Urban Decay's second debut in Singapore when they exit the market years ago.

The GWP during at that time was simply irresistible and it has gotten me, a once anti-eyeshadow palatte gal to give in and start a mini haul.

It comprise of 2 full sized eyeshadow singles at 1.5g each (the very much loved and hated Midnight Cowboy - a light beige with glitter, and Goddess - a navy blue with glitter), 2 sample sized 24/7 eyeliner at 0.8g each (Covet- a nice emerald grass green with shimmer, and Electric - a lovely near turquoise light blue), a sample sachet of the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer in Original and Sin each and finally a full sized Clean and Sober Oil-free Makeup remover which is what i am reviewing today.

Wow, right? : ) That sort of compensated for the very much marked up Urban Decay products that Sephora Singapore is selling.

Back to Clean and Sober......


Urban Decay's Clean and Sober Oil-free Makeup remover - interesting name at first thought. : )


A closer look at the mermaid print.


The pump dispenser.



At first glance, i sort of like the funky packaging in purple (my favourite colour : ), the metallic cap and the nice grip on the bottle, the mermaid print adds an interesting touch to it (reminded me of Fancl's release of their special edition cleansing oil in mermaid print as well). The pump dispenser is decent as it is easy to control the amount you dispense but there is no lock feature which i do hope to see as water can easily seep into the bottle (i placed my cleansers in the bathroom) and i am rather particular about that. If you place your's on your dresser, there should be no problem posed.

In terms of scent, i do notice the presence of a fruity and grape-like fragrance, which is something different from the other cleansing oils or milk that i have previously used (Shu Uemura, Fancl, Estee Lauder, etc.). Interesting enough and it doesn't put me off either as the fruity scent does not last long throughout.

For the testing of the functionality of Clean and Sober, i have picked Bourjois's Metallise eyeliner for it.

Staring the budge and smudge proof Bourjois Metallise eyeliner in 87 Vert Eclatant which i reviewed earlier.


A pump of Clean and Sober ready to be in action.


End result after several vigorous attempt to remove the eyeliner mark.



For a Oil-free makeup remover, i find that the consistency of Clean and Sober is a little thin (Some of my cleansing liquid has thicker consistency than it). Maybe because it is oil-free, so the water content is higher (water is the top main ingredient). This might appeal to gals out there who prefer makeup cleanser with lighter texture. Being gel-based, Clean and Sober is also suppose to be gentle on the skin.

I squeezed out a pump of the remover for the stroke of eyeliner as shown in the picture. According to the plastic film sealing the remover, Clean and Sober can be used in 2 ways, 1. to use it as it is to remove makeup and 2. dilute it with water for usage as a regular facial cleanser. I am testing it for the 1st purpose so i have not ventured into the 2nd yet.

After several attempts of vigorous rubbing and whatnots, the eyeliner remains stubbornly stuck to my skin, it was only after some scraping that i do see parts of the eyeliner coming off as you can see in the last picture above. To be fair i even added water to it afterwards, hoping that it can perform, but nope... the remains of the eyeliner does not budge at all. I tried it on 2 occasions, so its not a 1-time test.

All in all, Clean and Sober despite its name is not what it claims to be. It is unable to perform its function, i simply am unable to picture myself cleansing a day's worth of makeup and grime with Clean and Sober, it is simply too mild too gentle (to use a better word).

Will i repurchase after this bottle runs out?

Nope, unless Urban Decay decides to work out a better formula, i do not see anyone wasting hard earned $ for this. There are better makeup cleansers out there that can perform the job much much better, be it oil-free or not.


Priced at S$32.oo (if i recall correctly) for 100ml or 3.4fl oz, available at Sephora Singapore or www.urbandecay.com at US$18.oo

Main Ingredients: Wate (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Poloxamer 184, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Diethylhexyl Syringylidene-Malonate, Benzyl Benzoate, Fragrance (parfum), Linalool, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Honey Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower/leaf extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower extract, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben and Propylparaben.

Source for list of main ingredients is from www.urbandecay.com as i can't see any on the bottle.

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