I just want to start off by saying that I love both of these facial cleansers and think they are a fabulous edition to my skincare routine. I use Fresh Farmacy on a daily basis for the most part and alternate with Coalface maybe once a week. Both of these products are Vegan. Coalface is one of Lush's best selling products. Now off to the review:
Description (per the Lush website):
Fresh Farmacy: Cleans and calms blotchy skin
Fresh Farmacy looks like soap and you use it in the same way, getting it wet and smoothing the light lather over your face, but it's a good deal more special. Wash your face (and even your whole body if you're prone to soreness) with our calming calamine, chamomile and rose facial bar. And if you're prone to breakouts, lavender and tea tree will banish pimple-forming bacteria. The result: happier skin and a fortune saved by not having to shell out on concealerCoalface Cleanser: Removes impurities and tones combination skin
Who would have thought charcoal and liquorice could get along? One is tough and gritty, the other sweet and syrupy. But charcoal and liquorice could just be the odd couple of skin care, teaming up to fight oily, troubled skin in our Coalface cleanser. Powdered charcoal removes impurities and mildly exfoliates while liquorice heals naturally. Sandalwood oil tones the skin (and mediates should charcoal and liquorice disagree about anything). Fresh Farmacy:
Calamine Powder, Chamomile Decoction (Anthemis nobilis), Elderflower Decoction (Sambucus nigra), Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycerine, Lavender Oil (Lavandula hybrida), Chamomile Oil (Anthemis nobilis), Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), Rose Absolute (Rosa centifolia), Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Limonene, nalool, Perfume, Marigold Flowers (Calendula officinalis). *Naturally occurs in essential oils
Liquorice Root Decoction (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Propylene Glycol, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Stearate, Rosewood Oil (Aniba rosaeordora), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Powdered Charcoal, Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album), Glycerine, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, *Linalool, Perfume, Silver Edible Lustre (Potassium aluminum silicate, Titanium dioxide, Iron oxides and hydroxides).
Cost:
Both items can be purchased to the cost of your liking. You can request the piece by size or simply just ask for a $1, $5, or whatever and they will cut the piece and weight it. I got a $4 piece of Coalface and it has lasted a while (months)..but I do not use it daily. Fresh Farmacy can go pretty quickly so I buy a $9 piece at a time and it can last about 6-8 weeks. If you buy the pre-made cut at 3.5 oz, Coalface is $10.95 and Fresh Farmacy is $8.95.
Application:
Fresh Farmacy:
This is one of the softest soaps Lush has. It can be incredibly crumbly and can melt fairly quickly so I advise to cut it into little squares and keep it in a dry area. I usually wet my face, wet my hands, and rub the little bar in my hands until it creates a good lather. This soap should be able to create a good amount of lather for you..if not, wet it a bit more. Then I just rub on my face in circular motions for about 30-60 seconds. Then rinse off! Some people complain of a 'film' that is left on their face..but I have never felt this film before. Also, you can definitely feel the calamine powder as you rub it on your face. It's like this soft, velvety feeling mixed in with soap..but when I rinse it comes right off. Some people complain of a 'medicinal' smell, but it just smells like soap to me.
Coalface Cleanser:
Let me start by saying that the first few times I used this, I hated this! First, it has a strong smell of charcoal which really bothered me. In fact, it bothered me so much that I quit using it. Well, I decided to break it back out and I am glad I did. Now, I don't even smell the charcoal as strong and I think it is because I use more water with the product. I apply it the same was a Fresh Farmacy and it creates a great lather as well. This soap will have little gritty bits of charcoal which provide great exfoliation properties. Again, cut it into little squares. This product doesn't melt extremely easily, but it is best to keep it in a dry area, as with most Lush soaps.
Results:
Fresh Farmacy:
This is a fantastic facial cleanser for sensitive skin. I love how soft it makes my skin feel, yet I feel clean and refreshed. I have noticed an improvement in my complexion and the overall clarity of my skin. I think the calamine powder has significantly 'calmed' my skin. The description the Lush website provides definitely describes this soap perfectly.
Coalface Cleanser:
I do not recommend this cleanser for people who have extremely sensitive skin. I don't have sensitive skin, but I do have acne prone combination skin. This soap can be extremely drying!!! I started out by using it twice a day and quickly realized that this should only be used once a day. I love the exfoliating bits and always feel super clean after I use this soap. You definitely have to follow up with a good moisturizer. I don't think I could use this on a daily basis but my skin seems to do fine with it one to two times a week.
Good luck and I hope I helped!
