Gel makeup remover, anyone?

I've lost count on the number of posts/reviews I've done about makeup removers in this blog of mine. I don't know why but every time I see a small bottle of makeup remover, especially one I haven't used before, I am just compelled to buy it and try it. I've tried Western ones, as well as Eastern ones and I have to say, I think I'm just scratching the surface. As far as I know, I still have a lot of removers to try and I just can't wait. So here I am, adding another makeup remover review to the pile. Hopefully my posts help you in your own quest as well as inspire you to go out there and also try the stuff I feature, good or not.

Here I have the SilkyGirl Pure Fresh All-in-One Gel Makeup Remover. (Note: "All-in-One" means that this can be used on the face, eyes, and lips.) This is a water-based makeup remover that's also 100% soap-free and has Vitamin B5 (or Pantothenic acid). It also has Aloe Vera extract, which contributes a lot to this makeup remover's consistency.

According to the product description, this is a lightweight oil-free formula that's gentle on the skin but still effective in removing all traces of makeup. It has aloe vera that makes the skin feel softer, Vitamin B5 and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein that nourish the skin, and a pH 5.5 level that restores skin balance. All these components in this product help leave the skin feeling cool, fresh, and clean after use. This can also be used on all skin types.

Let's talk about consistency. As this has a gel formula, it looks quite solid and heavy on the bottle but it's actually very light and fluid. If anything, the consistency is quite comparable to an aloe vera's. Like a jelly but still liquidy and wet. When you squeeze it on a cotton pad, it doesn't get absorbed easily. You really have to fold and squeeze the cotton pad in order to get the product absorbed.

When I used this, I immediately felt the cooling sensation of this product. It's quite refreshing, actually, and it doesn't feel greasy at all. I also like how it smells, definitely fruity like peaches or apricots. For the most part, it does remove makeup but I find it too gentle. I find that when you use it to clean off cream products, it might take a while, along with a few cotton pads. It can't deeply erase makeup on one go and when you're tired after a long day, the last thing you want to do is wipe your face over and over. So if you're a full-face makeup wearer, you might want to skip this. Also, this isn't effective on waterproof mascaras, which makes sense since this is water-based. For that concern, I recommend using something that isn't oil-free. 

Overall, it's an okay product. I love its cooling properties and scent but I feel like its makeup removing ability is underwhelming. This is good when you're just removing a light layer of makeup but when you have gel liner and a waterproof mascara on, cleansing might take a while. Also, you have to wash or rinse your face after using this. The face feels a bit tacky if you don't rinse it away and besides, you only get to feel the softening part of this product afterwards. I still feel the need to use a facial wash or scrub, though, since I feel like my face isn't that clean yet. 

Am I going to repurchase this? Probably not. But it was nice to try something new in terms of consistency and formula. I wish it was a little less gentle on removing makeup, though. Oh well, back to my bi-phase removers I go!