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This review contains PR samples° and affiliate links* Listen, I realise I’m getting close to reviewing every single Geek & Gorgeous product ever put on the market, but what can I do when they keep wowing me like that? So, here is my review of the crazy good Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker Cleanser!
Few product categories are as hotly debated in the skincare community as the cleansing category. I myself have basically made it my life’s mission to find the best cleansers out there at any given time, and especially this year – with maskne becoming the bane of our skin’s existence – it has become… a bit of an obsession. As someone who loves to try new beauty products regularly and is always curious about whatever new thing is out there, I will probably never have a long-term “one and only” cleanser. But then trying new products and sharing my experiences about them is my job, so this constant trialing of new products should not be expected of anyone else. Most people, I assume, are very much in search of that one cleanser which does what it is supposed to do: cleanse the skin – preferably without stripping, drying out or even damaging the skin. If said cleanser is then also affordable even on a small budget, that is just the icing on the cake.
Well, I think I might have found a potential “one and only” option for many of you, a possible “forever fave” that is just perfect for those who need something with a little bit more cleansing action than the beloved Cerave Cleansing Lotion, but equally gentle.
Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker – A Cleanser for all Skin Types?
Geek & Gorgeous describes their Jelly Joker Cleanser as “A gentle but hard-working jelly cleanser that cleanses skin and dissolves (water-soluble) makeup while being respectful to the skin barrier.” This is a non-foaming cleanser which uses micellar technology (similar to cleansing water) to achieve its cleansing power.
I’m not a scientist, as you all know, so make sure to check out actual scientist Michelle from Labmuffin for a comprehensive description of how micellar cleansers work! Basically, the non-sciencey, “tl,dr” version is that “micells” are cleansing agents that have both water- and oil-loving molecular parts, and are thus able to remove both water- as well as oil-based gunk from our skin. They are also usually less stripping and more skin-friendly than harsher cleansing agents, which is why many derma brands in both Europe and Korea use them in their cleansing waters. Fun fact – French pharmacy legend Bioderma, a long-time favourite of mine, was the brand that first developed a micellar cleansing water, and their Sensibio Micellar Solution is still the best-selling micellar water worldwide to this date (and rightly so – it’s amazing).
Here is the full list of ingredients for the Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker Cleanser:
“Water, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Poloxamer 184, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.”
Jelly Joker contains a mix of sugar-based humectants to provide some extra hydration during the cleansing step, as well as skin-soothing Panthenol and Allantoin. Just like every other Geek & Gorgeous product, the cleanser is free from any harsh alcohols or fragrance of any kind including essential oils. I know many of you will approve! It also doesn’t contain foaming surfactants, so this is a melting jelly style cleanser that does not foam up.
According to Geek & Gorgeous, this can be used as a one-step cleanser which can remove basic makeup and, so I assume, most sunscreens except the strongly sweat- and water-resistant ones, which may need a double cleanse, as does a more elaborate makeup look. The brand calls this a low pH cleanser, and even though I don’t have the means currently to check a product’s pH I am inclined to believe them, given that there is pretty much nothing in this formula that could turn this into a harsh, high pH cleanser.
Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker – Definitely No Joke!
I presume that the choice of name for the G&G cleanser was probably meant to be a nod to its universal suitability – like a joker in a card game, you can basically adapt it into pretty much any routine, and it should work for pretty much any skin type (personal sensitivities of course apply, as always).
Just as a basic info for any new readers here: I have oily, dehydrated combo skin and am in my early 40s, with a tendency towards redness and hormonal breakouts during that time of the month. Cleansers can often lead to dryness and redness for me if they aren’t gentle, and especially in winter I need to be careful what I choose for my daily cleansing routine. I do double cleanse in the evening, but honestly lately I’ve started skipping on the oil cleanse more and more due to rarely using makeup.
As you hopefully can see in the above image, the texture of the Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Cleanser is indeed a bouncy jelly, with a slightly milky semi-opaqueness. The jelly has a very faint “chemical” smell, but nothing too intense, you really need to consciously sniff to make it out.
As for how to use Jelly Joker: it is best to wet your face and then directly apply a generous amount – squeeze a glob of this into your palms and then use your palms to apply the gel, using your fingertips to massage the cleanser into your skin all over your face. For me this is gentle enough to use around the eyes as well, but do check carefully if your eyes can handle it. Thanks to the micellar technology, this should be strong enough to manage simple, non-waterproof powder, tinted creams, and sunscreens. I tried it with powder and simple mascara, and it did manage to get most of it off. With anything heavier, you should probably double cleanse.
Now as to why this is such a great cleanser apart from the actual cleansing action: well, it is gentle. Oh, so gentle! This feels like using an aloe gel or similar when you apply it to the skin, it just melts on contact and glides over the face easily, a pleasant experience. The thing I don’t 100% like about the famous, beloved Cerave cream cleanser is that for me, it always seems to leave a bit of a film on the skin, just a slightly odd sensation where I always want to do just one more rinse to get rid of it. Well, the Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Cleanser rinses off without any residue, while also not stripping the skin. It just leaves behind this clean, fresh feeling, rather wonderful.
This is a no-frills style cleanser that still has a sort of elegance to it, which is precisely what Geek & Gorgeous just does so damn well. For instance, their B-Bomb serum is so similar in terms of ingredients to that beloved The Ordinary 10% Niacinamide Serum, yet the texture is far superior in terms of comfort and pleasure of use. The same is true for their Jelly Joker – they just get the formula right for a pleasurable cleansing experience, while being such an affordable product (it retails at 8.80€, around 10$).
Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker – Final Thoughts
It amazes me how a tiny brand from Hungary just keeps nailing skincare basics in a way even larger brands often can’t, while consistently keeping their prices more than fair. The Jelly Joker Cleanser is another winner, gentle and effective. Especially for those of you who struggle with foaming cleansers, suffer from sensitivities and/or a damaged skin barrier, or are just looking for something simple and effective, this will be a great cleanser choice. It removes dirt and impurities while being non-stripping, leaving skin feeling relaxed and hydrated. My maskne-inflicted skin is thankful to have such a simple, gentle cleanser on hand for troubled skin days!
You can purchase the Geek & Gorgeous Jelly Joker Cleanser directly through their online store*, where the 150ml tube costs 8.80€, which is around 10US$.
Let me know in the comments: What’s your current go-to cleanser? What makes a cleanser perfect in your eyes?
Take care guys, and stay safe!
Sugarpeaches
°PR Sample, kindly provided by a brand or shop – I am not obligated to write this blog article, was not paid for the article, and my opinions are entirely my own.
*Affiliate Links, meaning I earn a small commission if you decide to use the link to purchase an item. This does not raise the purchase price for you, and it helps me and my blog to grow – so, thank you for supporting me in this way!!!
Do I have to buy their products from their website? I’m in America. I wonder if the shipping costs more than the products.
I have recently switched to buying cruelty-free skincare and beauty products . Would you please let us know in your blog if a company’s products are cruelty-free. If they sell their products in China, they aren’t. China requires animal testing.
Yes, they exclusively sell via their website – we here in Europe have the same problem when we buy small brands from the US, usually the shipping costs are very high because it is very costly for small brands to ship to other continents. Actually, if a company sells exclusively online from a non-Chinese store to China they do not have to animal test, the whole “China animal testing” issue is a lot more complex than many people think. There has also been rumours that they are planning to lift the animal testing regulations in 2021, so that’s good news if true! So, in any case, G&G is cruelty-free. 🙂
That really sounds gorgeous! Again you make a good job explaining the use and incis and I love your pictures.
Thank you for your kind words! <3