FAMOUS' Editorial Assistant and resident guinea pig Sophie Penhallow turns super sleuth and sorts the best from the rest in the complicated world of beauty products.

So this time around I thought I'd give a few cleansers a whirl, but when I actually realised I would have to trial three different cleansers in the space of a week, I started to freak out! This is probably the part where I should mention that my skin is super, super sensitive so even adding one new product to my usual routine (let alone three!) would probably end in face-rash city! So I enlisted the help of my trusty FAMOUS colleagues and fellow beauty aficionados Tori and Melanie to be my testing queens for this week (so if by chance anyone did break out, it wouldn't be me...) Only kidding. Kinda.

Sophie xx

SOPHIE'S PICK

Cetaphil Gentle Face Cleanser 500ml, $15 (1800 800 765)

Hit: "I have really sensitive skin, so I use Cetaphil cleanser on my face." OK, so this may have been a quote from Ashlee Simpson but it might as well have been from me. This cheap-as-chips cleanser is my holy grail and after seven years I have never been swayed to change. A gentle, non-foaming cream cleanser, this stuff is the basics of the basics. It always leaves my skin feeling soft and clean and is perfect for those with sensitive, dry or problematic skin. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a dermatologist that doesn't recommend it!

Miss: Because Cetaphil is so gentle, sometimes it doesn't feel strong enough to slough through a face full of heavy make-up after a big night out, so you may have to double cleanse or tone to ensure your face is as clean as can be. Perfect for morning use or for those who don't pile on the pancake, though!

Rating: 4.5/5

TORI'S PICK

Jan Marini Skin Research Clean Zyme Skin Cleanser, $64 and Skin Zyme Mask, $88 (03 9509 9526)

To be honest I was a little nervous when Sophie asked me to trial a professional skincare cleanser and enzyme mask routine. Firstly, what the hell is an enzyme? And secondly the bottle recommends that the product be used under the supervision of a skincare professional... eeeek! But Sophie assured me that I'd be fine and that Jan Marini products are supposed to work miracles. So here I go...

Hit: After using the cleanser my skin felt amazingly soft and supple. By this stage I was getting excited that a cleanser could have such an instant effect on the look of my skin! Next, I gently massaged the mask onto my damp face and left it for 15 minutes until it had transformed into a clear and glossy consistency, before washing it off with the cleanser. Overall I was pleasantly impressed with the results, so much so that it kept me in front of the mirror studying my new and improved glowing skin!

Miss: Although this routine definitely made my face feel nourished, super smooth and hydrated, it was quite time consuming. Having to wash the mask off using the cleanser for a second time seemed a bit excessive for a girl-on-the-go like me but if you've got the spare time and the cash and you're after a luxurious product that has addictive results, then this is the one for you.

Rating: 4/5

MELANIE'S PICK

Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser for Face and Eyes, $48 (1800 659 118)

As a long-time user of Dermalogica products, I was looking forward to testing out the Ultracalming Cleanser. My skin can sometimes be sensitive and unpredictable (a little like me), so I was anxious to see just how calming this calming cleanser could be!

Hit: While I was expecting to work up a bit more of a lather (the formula is a gel-cream so it doesn't foam-up like other cleansers) the results were quite amazing. It contains lavender and raspberry extracts - both known for their calming effects - which explains why I stepped out of the shower without a hint of the post-wash redness that I usually have. With no stinging eyes, oily residue or traces of foundation, I was impressed.

Miss: Although the product states that it's effective in removing eye make-up, this was not the case. While my skin felt as clean as a whistle, I was surprised to see a pair of panda eyes staring back at me in the mirror. On my next trial run, (yes, I'm persistent!) I did a second application and focused on my eye area. This worked a treat and I was dried off, moisturised and re-made-up in no time!

Rating: 4.5/5

CELEB PICKS

Not all of Hollywood's A-list wash their faces with La Mer and Evian water! Check out which cleansers these sassy stars swear by...

Jennifer Aniston - " I don't go out and buy only the expensive stuff. Most nights, I just wash my face with Neutrogena facial soap."

Nicole Kidman - "I never go anywhere without my Jurlique Foaming Facial Cleanser."

Fergie - "I love M.A.C's Green Gel Cleanser - I use it day and night."

Rachel Bilson - "I use a lot of Mario Badescu; it's good for sensitive skin. They have two cleansers I've been using, the seaweed cleansing soap and the Enzyme Cleansing Gel."

Rachel McAdams - "I never used to wash my face at night - but now I wash my face with Dove."

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