This 3-in-1 “facial in a bottle” will simplify your skincare routine and turn it into a mini-ritual

Let me preface all the things I’m about to say with this. I test a lot of skincare products. In part because of my job of course, but also because I’m just stone-cold obsessed with the pursuit of dewy-fresh skin. Even on the nights I have to peel myself from the couch to get to bed, I never skip my skincare routine. Not because I’m afraid I’ll wake up covered in zits (which why are those still a thing at 40?), but because it just feels so good. Over the past few years, I’ve probably seriously tried a hundred plus products (as in I’ve used them for at least a week), and I’ve repurchased exactly three. Vanicream (the drug store miracle worker), Rosehip Seed Oil from The Ordinary (which my skin prefers to any other oil ever), and the reason I’ve gathered you here today: Motif Abundance Plumping PhotoCeramide Cleanser.

What is the Motif Abundance Cleanser?

To call the Motif cleanser just a cleanser is like calling a gorgeous, gold dusted French macaron a cookie. The dermatologist-developed and tested formula, which has accurately been described as a “facial in a bottle,” has turned washing my face into a mini ritual–with maximum payoff.

Unlike a traditional cleanser which you lather and wash right off, Motif is actually a cleanser, exfoliator and face mask all in one. Just massage in a thin layer (it doesn’t foam up) and let it go to work. Wash your hair. Brush your teeth. Light a candle, take a few minutes and just appreciate the subtle spa-like vibe and gear up for whatever your day or night might bring. Every once in awhile I like to turn it into a full sensorial experience. It sounds so insufferable, but there truly is no better way to end a day of chaos than with a hot shower in a candle lit bathroom followed by a generous slathering of lotions and potions. (And I don’t even have an aesthetic bathroom.)

Texturally, Motif Abundance Cleanser reminds me of a whipped clay mask dotted with tiny bits of dried luffa fruits that gently help exfoliate. And as a woman who started her skincare journey by sanding her face almost clear off courtesy of St. Ives Apricot Scrub, it feels nostalgic–but all grown up. It’s creamy without feeling heavy at all, and in fact sometimes I get caught up in showering and forget if I’ve even put it on yet.

As it sits, a collection of exotic, but effective ingredients go to work. Monkey fruit wood and fermented rice help brighten while white orchid and licorice root can assist in fading pigmentation. A powerhouse of pineapple ceramides plumps and hydrates, and when you rinse it off, it doesn’t leave you feeling greasy or stripped. All you’re left with is the softest skin you’ll get outside of time in your facialist’s chair.

The first time I used it, the softness it brought to my skin was incredibly evident. By the end of the first week, I noticed my skin looking bouncier and more plump. I even racked up a “Wait, what are you using right now?” from a friend who owns a med spa and gets up close and personal with every pore when she administers my botox. Which, speaking of, may be coincidental, but I’ve been going longer between appointments since I’m now on my third bottle. The lines in my forehead and at the corners of my eyes definitely show up (no amount of skincare can prevent that), but they don’t seem as prominent once they do. (And yes, wrinkles are a gift, but if you would like to delay that gift, I say you do you.)

It’s gentle enough to use twice a day (which I do) and the only time I’ve taken a break from using it in the past few months was during a super intense eczema flare that made my eyelids swell so badly I almost couldn’t get my contacts in. I waited for the flare to subside for about a week, but reintroduced it with no sensitivity at all.

As far as cost, it’s definitely on the higher side for a cleanser. But when you consider it can replace your exfoliator and clay mask as well, the economics are easier to rationalize. (This is girl math at its finest.) I also love that the brand has literally two products. To me, that always suggests they’re relentlessly focused on perfecting whatever they offer. (Not to mention it helps keep your spending to a minimum!)

I might not get to the spa often, but for two minutes a day, I can at least pretend.

Motif Abundance Plumping PhotoCeramide Cleanser

Motif

Abundance Plumping PhotoCeramide Cleanser

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$65

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