Shaun, aka The Tech Guy, aka my boyfriend, is back from the depths…  I mean… vacation.  He’s twenty-seven with normal-to-dry skin and suffers from no more acne (much to my envy!).  And who always gets into the products I’m totally digging!  (I reviewed this product a few weeks ago here.)  Why doesn’t he use products that I’m just so-so on?  I think there’s less than 1/4 left!

Shaun enjoys long walks on the beach, vegging out on the couch watching chick flicks, and cuddling with Mellan. Or maybe not! He handles all the behind-the-scenes action here at Temptalia, from tech support to server woes to being my shoulder to cry on.

It’s been weeks… Months…. Years… Days… Probably like a half an hour… I’ve been locked in the Temptalia Vault coding and creating videos when I was finally released from my tomb. I saw the light, AND IT BURNED! I’ll allow that Simpsons reference to fester a bit… Anybody? *crickets* They used to be good I swear.

After my dark period, I went to the TV and turned it on, I exclaimed: “SOCCER?! Did we lose a war?! What’s that buzzing sound? Were we taken over by Bees? What the hell is a Vuvuzela?!” Anyway, as this is a beauty blog I should probably talk about something beauty-related.

I’ve been using Renee Rouleau’s Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel for a few weeks, and I have to say for such a small bottle it lasts a long time. I’ve been gobbing it on my face, and I have yet to be hit by a blunt object by an angry Christine. I’m assuming she hasn’t figured out my obsessive usage yet, so I’ll continue using it and once finished, fill it up with water and mint toothpaste. She’ll never know the difference!

This is a solid cleanser, and despite the purple on the bottle and the obscenely feminine name, it cleans like a champ. I don’t think I’ve ever felt my skin feel better than I have since using this stuff. I never thought I’d use the term “minty-fresh feeling” about my face, but that’s exactly how it feels after usage.

Although, I tend to gob it on, and you don’t seem to need that much, so at $35.50 a bottle, that’s a good thing. If you want to get your man to use this stuff go buy a bottle of Valvoline and dump out the contents. IN THE PROPER DISPOSAL AREA!  No letters please. Then fill it up with this stuff and replace whatever he uses to clean his face at the moment. This could be anything from you know… Nothing to… a S.O.S pad.

Recommendation: My skin feels MINTY-FRESH! Oh, no… I’m turning into a woman… Must go… Lumberjack something…

Summer Cleaning with Renee Rouleau — The Freshness!

Renee Rouleau Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel ($35.50) is a minty-fresh cleanser that leaves skin feeling refreshed. I’ve been using this as my AM/PM cleanser (not makeup remover, though) for the past three weeks, and I really just like the way it leaves my skin feeling, which is cooled and refreshed. It’s particularly been lovely for me as my seasonal allergies have been acting up!

Key Ingredients: Licorice Root Extract – anti-inflammatory properties, Peppermint Oil – vaso-dilator that increases circulation to bring fresh nutrients to the skin, Rosemary Leaf Oil – antioxidant skin energizer, Spearmint Leaf Oil – invigorating, circulation-boosting.

The texture is also thick without being heavy. It’s thick and gel-textured, so you don’t need much — really, you don’t — just one little squeeze and a pea-sized portion later and you have enough. Despite using it for three weeks, I’d say I’ve only used up about half an inch’s worth thus far, which means I anticipate a solid six months or more of usage out of this. It’s not a makeup remover, so while it removed my tinted moisturizer, it’s not going to get off long-wearing eyeliner.

I love Renee Rouleau, the woman behind the brand, even though I have never met her in person. (But seriously, sometimes I just want to go visit Texas so I can book an appointment at her spa so I can meet her.) She is inspiring as a female entrepreneur, but she gives real, meaningful skincare tips on her blog–actually written by her, gasp!–and it feels genuine.

Just for Temptalia readers, get Free Shipping with code TEMPTALIA from May 25th through the 31st.

The Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel is recommended for those with oily/combination skin and not for those with severe redness or rosacea. It contains no artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, parabens, or sulfates for those concerned about ingredients. I have normal-to-dry skin typically, but in the summer I do get a little more normal-to-oily. I like this after a day spent outdoors or after a workout–very invigorating but not burning, stinging, or irritating–refreshing.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 28/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

Recommendation: For those with oily/combination skin looking for a no-fuss, easy-to-use cleanser that cleans skin well while leaving you feeling fresh, I think you may like this one.

Availability: Renee Rouleau

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