150ml full size, 15ml travel size
ESK · Cleanser
Calming Cleanse
ESK Calming Cleanse · a non-foaming, soap-free cream cleanser for sensitive skin
A creamy, non-foaming, soap-free cleanser at pH 4.5 to 5, close to the skin's own, that removes make-up and the day without stripping. ESK's cleanser for sensitive skin, rosacea, eczema, perioral dermatitis and psoriasis-prone skin, and the everyday cleanser in most of our routines. Suitable for all skin types, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI).
- Soap-free and non-foaming, with coconut-derived cleansing agents, so it does not leave skin tight.
- pH 4.5 to 5 supports the skin's own acid mantle and barrier.
- Removes make-up, morning and night. Also the cleanser we suggest after in-clinic treatments.
- Contains rose, geranium and lavender oils. If you react to fragrance, Soothe & Melt is the fragrance-free option.
3 to 4 months of morning and night use
The cleanser is the step you use most, so it is the step most worth getting right. The 15ml for £18 is enough to test it on reactive skin before you commit to the full size.
Free UK delivery over £65 · Tracked £3.49 · Sent tracked, 2 to 4 working days
- Good to know
- Contains essential oils (rose, geranium, lavender). Non-foaming: it will not lather, which is the point.
- Stockist
- Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Genuine product with full traceability.
If your skin reacts, the likeliest cause is the essential oils. Switch to Soothe & Melt Cleansing Balm, which is fragrance-free, and message us.
Not sure if this is right for your skin? Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment and we will confirm the right routine first.
A cleanser for sensitive skin, honestly
Most people who reach for it have skin that feels tight, red or itchy after washing, or a diagnosis such as rosacea or eczema that makes most cleansers a risk. What matters in that case is what a cleanser leaves out: soap, sulphates, foaming agents, astringents, menthol. Calming Cleanse leaves them all out and washes at a pH close to the skin's own.
What it will not do is treat anything. Rosacea, eczema and perioral dermatitis are medical conditions; a gentle cleanser stops washing from making them worse, and a GP or an assessment deals with the rest. It also will not foam, and it will not take heavy, waterproof make-up off in one go: for that, a balm first, then this.
It does contain essential oils. Most sensitive skin is fine with the small amounts here, and ESK positions it for exactly that skin, but a minority of people react to fragrance allergens, so patch test if that is you. On deeper skin tones, any irritation can leave marks, which is one more reason the cleansing step should be the gentlest one.
Quick facts
- What it is
- A non-foaming, soap-free cream cleanser.
- Sizes
- 150ml (£35.00, around 3 to 4 months) and 15ml travel size (£18.00, around 3 to 4 weeks).
- Best for
- Sensitive, dry and reactive skin, rosacea, eczema and perioral dermatitis; everyday use; after treatments.
- Skin types
- Suitable for all skin types, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI).
- Key ingredients
- Coconut-derived cleansing agents (lauryl glucoside), soybean oil, glycerin, aloe, tamanu oil, green tea and vitamin E.
- pH
- 4.5 to 5.0.
- How to use
- 2 to 3 pumps on wet skin, massage, rinse. Morning and night.
- Free from
- Soap, sulphates and parabens. Contains essential oils.
- Make-up
- Removes everyday make-up. Heavy or waterproof make-up: use a balm first.
- Pregnancy
- A rinse-off cleanser with no actives; widely regarded as suitable. Ask if unsure.
Where it fits in a routine
Sensitive or redness-prone skin: Calming Cleanse, then B Quenched or Repair +, then Zinc Shade in the morning. At night, Gentle Glow and, once settled, Ultimate A. The full set is the Rosacea Kit.
Pigmentation routines: it is the cleanser in the Pigmentation Kit, because a routine of actives needs a cleanser that adds nothing.
Oily or breakout-prone skin: Hydroxy Cleanser is the better fit. Heavy make-up or SPF: Soothe & Melt first, then Calming Cleanse.
The detail
Ingredients, and what each one does
- Lauryl glucoside
- A mild, coconut-derived cleansing agent (a glucoside, not a sulphate) that lifts oil and dirt without foaming or stripping.
- Soybean oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin
- Emollients and a humectant that give the cream its texture and leave the skin comfortable after rinsing.
- Aloe leaf juice, tamanu seed oil, green tea extract
- Soothing and conditioning botanicals.
- Vitamin E (tocopherol)
- An antioxidant included in the formula.
- Essential oils
- Rose, geranium and lavender, at low levels. Listed on the label; patch test if you react to fragrance.
pH 4.5 to 5.0 as published by ESK. ESK publishes no percentages for this cleanser. Descriptions are about the look and feel of skin, not a medical outcome.
Full ingredients (INCI): Purified Water, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Camellia Sinensis (Leaf) Extract, Orchis Mascula Extract, Tocopherol, Rosa Damascena, Dehydroacetic Acid, Pelargonium Roseum, Benzyl Alcohol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Butylene Glycol.
How to use it
Morning and night
- Wet your face with warm water.
- Put 2 to 3 pumps on your fingertips and massage gently over the face and neck. It will not lather.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water, or remove with a soft, damp cloth.
- Pat dry and follow with your serum and moisturiser, and SPF in the morning.
Removing make-up
It removes everyday make-up on its own. For heavy or waterproof make-up, or a full day of SPF, cleanse first with Soothe & Melt, then with Calming Cleanse.
After treatments
It is the cleanser we suggest after peels, microneedling and laser, once your practitioner has cleared you to wash normally. Use lukewarm water and no cloth until the skin has settled.
Starting out
Patch test on the inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours if you react to fragrance.
What to expect, and when
- First wash
- Skin feels clean and soft, with no tightness. Nothing foams, which can feel unusual if you are used to gel cleansers.
- First week
- Skin that was tight or itchy after washing usually stops being so.
- Ongoing
- A cleanser's job is to not cause problems. If redness or flaking persists despite it, the cause is elsewhere and worth an assessment.
- If it stings
- Stop and switch to Soothe & Melt. Message us.
Is it right for my skin
- Sensitive and reactive skin
- Yes. This is who it is made for.
- Rosacea, eczema, perioral dermatitis, psoriasis-prone skin
- Yes, per ESK. It is a supporting step, not a treatment.
- Dry and mature skin
- Yes.
- Normal and combination skin
- Yes. It is the everyday cleanser in most of our routines.
- Deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI)
- Yes.
- Oily and breakout-prone skin
- Usable, but Hydroxy Cleanser does more for congestion.
- Fragrance-sensitive skin
- Patch test first: it contains essential oils. Soothe & Melt is fragrance-free.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- A rinse-off cleanser with no actives; widely regarded as suitable.
Using it with what you already own
- Retinal, acids and vitamin C
- Yes. A cleanser that adds nothing is exactly what a routine of actives needs.
- Soothe & Melt
- Yes, as a first cleanse for heavy make-up or SPF.
- Hydroxy Cleanser
- Some people alternate: Hydroxy in the morning, Calming Cleanse at night, if skin gets dry.
- Cleansing brushes and scrubs
- Skip them on sensitive skin.
- After in-clinic treatments
- Yes, once cleared, with lukewarm water and no cloth.
Questions we actually get asked
What is ESK Calming Cleanse?
A non-foaming, soap-free cream cleanser at pH 4.5 to 5, made for sensitive skin, including rosacea, eczema, perioral dermatitis and psoriasis-prone skin. It removes make-up and is used morning and night.
What is the best cleanser for sensitive skin?
One that leaves out soap, sulphates, foaming agents, astringents and menthol, washes at a pH close to the skin's own, and rinses clean. That is the brief Calming Cleanse is built to, and it is the cleanser we suggest first for reactive skin.
Is it good for rosacea?
ESK positions it for rosacea-prone skin, and a non-foaming, soap-free wash at the skin's own pH is the usual advice for rosacea. It contains low levels of essential oils, so patch test if your skin reacts to fragrance. Rosacea itself needs a GP or an assessment; the cleanser just stops washing from making it worse.
Is it suitable for eczema?
ESK lists eczema-prone skin. It is soap-free, which is the main thing an eczema-prone face needs from a cleanser. Follow with a barrier moisturiser such as Repair +. Active, weeping or infected eczema needs a GP.
Is a cream cleanser better than a gel or foam?
For dry, sensitive or reactive skin, usually yes: creams clean with emollients and mild glucosides rather than foaming surfactants, so they take less from the skin. For oily, congested skin a light foaming cleanser such as Hydroxy Cleanser often suits better.
Why does it not foam?
Because it contains no foaming surfactants. Foam is not what cleans; it is what many people associate with clean. A non-foaming cream removes oil, dirt and make-up without the tight feeling that foam often leaves.
Does it remove make-up?
Yes, everyday make-up. For heavy or waterproof make-up, or a full day of SPF, use Soothe & Melt first and Calming Cleanse second.
How do I use it?
Wet your face, massage 2 to 3 pumps over the face and neck, and rinse thoroughly with warm water or remove with a soft damp cloth. Morning and night.
Can I use it twice a day?
Yes. It is designed for morning and night.
Can I use it after a peel, microneedling or laser?
Yes, once your practitioner has cleared you to wash normally. It is the cleanser we suggest for that period: soap-free, non-foaming, nothing active. Use lukewarm water and no cloth until the skin has settled.
Is it suitable for deeper skin tones?
Yes. It is suitable for all skin types, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI). A gentle cleanser matters more on deeper skin, where irritation can leave marks.
Is it suitable for oily or acne-prone skin?
It is usable, but it does nothing for congestion. Oily or breakout-prone skin usually does better with Hydroxy Cleanser, which carries salicylic acid.
Does it contain fragrance?
It contains natural essential oils, rose, geranium and lavender, at low levels, and they are listed on the label. If you react to fragrance or essential oils, patch test first or choose Soothe & Melt, which is fragrance-free.
Is it fragrance-free?
No. It contains rose, geranium and lavender oils. ESK's fragrance-free cleanser is Soothe & Melt Cleansing Balm.
Can I use it with a retinal or acids?
Yes. It adds nothing, which is exactly what a routine of actives needs from its cleanser.
What is the difference between Calming Cleanse and Hydroxy Cleanser?
Calming Cleanse is a non-foaming cream with no acids, for sensitive and dry skin. Hydroxy Cleanser is a lightly foaming cleanser with salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids, for oily and breakout-prone skin.
What is the difference between Calming Cleanse and Soothe & Melt?
Both are gentle. Soothe & Melt is a fragrance-free balm that melts heavy make-up and SPF, often used as a first cleanse. Calming Cleanse is a cream cleanser for everyday use and contains essential oils.
Can I use it in pregnancy or breastfeeding?
It is a rinse-off cleanser with no active ingredients and is widely regarded as suitable. ESK publishes no specific guidance. Ask your midwife, GP or pharmacist if unsure.
Can children or teenagers use it?
Yes. It is a simple, soap-free cleanser. A teenager with oily skin and breakouts may prefer Hydroxy Cleanser.
Can I use it on my body?
Yes, on the neck and on any area of sensitive skin, though it is priced as a facial cleanser.
How long does a bottle last?
The 150ml lasts around 3 to 4 months of twice-daily use. The 15ml travel size lasts around 3 to 4 weeks.
Is it cruelty free and vegan?
Yes. ESK states that Calming Cleanse is cruelty free and vegan.
Is Melatone an authorised ESK stockist?
Yes. Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock comes directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic.
Can someone help me work out whether this is right for me?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp with a description of your skin, or book a skin assessment at the clinic in Battersea.
What is the delivery and returns position?
Tracked UK delivery is £3.49, or free over £65, and usually arrives in 2 to 4 working days. Sealed, unopened items can be returned within 60 days for a refund.
Buying it from Melatone
Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock is bought directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic in Battersea, London.
If you are not sure this is the right cleanser for your skin, do not guess. Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment, and we will suggest a routine before you buy.
Delivery
Tracked UK delivery, £3.49 or free over £65. It usually arrives within 2 to 4 working days, with tracking by email. The price you see is the price you pay, with any delivery charge shown in full before checkout.
Returns
Sealed, unopened items may be returned within 60 days of receiving your order for a refund. For hygiene reasons we cannot accept returns of skincare once any seal has been opened, unless faulty. Your statutory 14-day right to cancel is unaffected.
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