Two affordable local cleansers, one winner.

This is a quick comparative review on two facial cleansers that I have recently tested. They are Melanox Facial Cleansing Gel and Venus White Beauty Aqua Facial Wash/Liquid Soap. Both of them are from Indonesian companies so they're available locally at most pharmacies and drugstores.

I was merely looking for a more affordable substitute to my Clinique Liquid Facial Soap when I purchased them but I ended up falling in love with one of them. I think in Indonesia there are still few alternatives to mild gel cleansers. It's a pity because I know many Indonesian women who have oily and problematic skin like mine. And from my experience, liquid or gel cleansers are usually gentler to the skin compared to soaps or facial foams.

Using a non-drying cleanser is essential if you've got oily skin. If you use harsh cleansers that strip more moisture off of your skin, you're going to end up with even more excess oil which often leads to acne problem.


I can't stop beating myself up for forgetting how much the Venus White Beauty Aqua Facial Wash cost me but I think it's not more than Rp 27.000 (US$3). The tube is in blue color and I bought mine from a Kimia Farma pharmacy. I decided to try this cleanser as the pharmacist says it's very mild and thus suitable for all skin types.

Ingredients of Venus White Beauty Aqua Facial Wash

Well, what do you know, I ended up disappointed with the product. It has a strong floral smell that I despise in a cleanser and it leaves my face feeling tight. Sure it's a cheap product but come on, this doesn't even clean that well! I certainly wouldn't recommend this for people with acne-prone skin because it aggravated my skin like hell. I broke out with pimples after using this. :(

Ingredients of Melanox Facial Cleansing Gel

On the contrary, Melanox Facial Cleansing Gel is so gentle and feels really good on my skin. It works effectively and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry. The smell is more medicine-y (think Clinique if you want) but I don't have any problem with that. As you can see below, Melanox comes in a clear, liquidy gel form just like Venus but the difference is that it doesn't foam as much (I didn't take pics of the Venus one because the product looks pretty much the same).

I only need a little to cleanse my face and neck so the product goes a long way. If you're not used to cleansers that don't lather up, you might pour more product than you actually have to and finish the product faster.

Melanox Facial Cleansing Gel comes in a 125 ml bottle and costs Rp 35.000 (around $4). I've already repurchased the product once and so far I'm still enjoying it!