Health, Beauty and Fitness: Wash and try

1 Botanics Organic Face Nourishing Cleanser

5.10 (www.boots.com) ****

This is a gentle olive-oil based cleanser that sweeps away stubborn eye make-up, including waterproof mascara, with ease. It's a gentle formulation and pleasant smelling, with no nasty ingredients that might bring you out in a rash. It's a keeper and it won't break the bank either.

JANET CHRISTIE

2 Clinique Wash-away Gel Cleanser

15 (www.clinique.co.uk) ****

This is a bit of a funny one. The packaging, as always with Clinique, is lovely and fresh with the gel appearing a bright aqua colour. However it is 100 per cent fragrance-free which I wasn't expecting. I like wash-off gels as they're quick and effective and you can take them into the shower, but those with sensitive skin should beware as they can be drying and this one is designed for oilier skins. I'm making it work for me by keeping it in my gym bag, as it's pretty effective at cutting through sweat after a work-out.

ALISON GRAY

3 Sisley Soapless Gentle Foaming Cleanser

58.10 (www.sisley-cosmetics.com) ***

This 'soapless' block cleanser foams up very nicely indeed - leaving skin squeaky clean. You can use your fingers or the sponge provided, but the latter provides a gentle exfoliation that's perfect to refresh a sluggish complexion at this time of year. If you have dry skin, however, it does tend to leave it slightly flaky.

CLAIRE HAY

4 NuBo Velvet Cleansing cream

28 (www.nubobeauty.com) ***

Dispensed as a foam, this new facewash should last quite a while, handy given the steep price tag. It's great for using in the evenings, and you can feel it tingling as the glycolic acid works on dead skin cells and clogged pores. It leaves your skin feeling deep-cleansed, if a little dry.

ALICE WYLLIE

5 Paul & Joe Cleansing Milk

17 (www.paul-joe-beaute.com) *****

With delightfully old-fashioned packaging and a subtle citrus scent, this cleanser easily melts away make-up and leaves skin fantastically soft, plumped and looking like it's had a good night's sleep. Particularly effective for dry skin.

ASHLEY DAVIES

This article first appeared in The Scotsman Magazine, Saturday 29 January, 2011