We Put Kylie Jenner’s Face Wash to the White-Towel Test

Despite the sweeping success of Kylie Jenner's near billion-dollar cosmetics empire, her skin care line is off to a rocky start. Even with mostly positive reviews rolling in, Twitter users are coming in hot with the criticism. Before the line even launched, people dragged the fact that Jenner was releasing a walnut scrub, since dermatologists have warned for years that crushed walnut shell powder can cause microtears in your skin.

This left many followers wondering if she even uses her own products, and some even went so far as to say it was dishonest of her to release the line, given her access to exclusive derms and expensive treatments.

But despite all that, the launch sold out its first day (as expected with any Kar-Jenner drop), and all seemed well in Kylieland. However, in the week following the launch, Jenner shared a Kylie Skin tutorial that had Twitter riled up once again. The now infamous video features Jenner washing her face with the brand’s Foaming Face Wash, and then wiping it off on a fluffy white towel. At first the video seemed like any other “Get Ready With Me” vlog, but after closer inspection it’s clear the towel was covered in foundation. The brand claims the face wash “cleanses skin by helping to remove dirt, oil, and makeup for a fresh, bright complexion,” but the clip didn't exactly show that off.

This lead to a storm of tweets with comments ranging from jokes like “Rihanna would never have done this to us” to more accusations that Jenner doesn’t use her own products. “What’s off to me about Kylie Skin is the fact that she’s selling products she clearly doesn’t even use," wrote one user, adding, "She washed her face for literally SECONDS and her foundation was all over the towel. If I did that my acne would be popping."

Even Kim Kardashian West joined in the chorus to point out that Jenner did have only 15 seconds to film the tutorial, so naturally she wouldn’t be able to do a thorough cleanse. Kardashian West also mentions that Jenner didn’t show a first cleanse with her wipes, which are intended as a makeup remover.

So...does it really work?

With a restock of Kylie Skin on the horizon (and in the name of intrepid beauty reporting), we enlisted Glamour staffers to put her face wash to a white-towel test of our own. We washed our faces for the derm-recommended 60 seconds to see what it was really capable of. Watch our video below, and read on for our honest reviews.

The Test

Staffer: Khaliha Hawkins, producer

Makeup level: Light coverage foundation, no eye makeup

Results: I had low expectations for the Foaming Face Wash, considering Kylie didn’t even properly wash her face in the video, but I was pleasantly surprised. I had light amount of foundation and concealer on, and after rubbing in the product for around 50 seconds, it broke down most of makeup. I’d definitely recommend using a cleansing balm before this, though. My face felt a little tight afterward, and it burned my eyes a lot. As someone who uses waterproof mascara exclusively, I need a face wash that can take off whatever is left over from my makeup remover. This wasn't it, but the makeup wipes did help.

Staffer: Bella Cacciatore, beauty associate

Makeup level: Medium coverage foundation, mascara

Results: At first I was appalled by Kylie's video, but the more I thought about it, it made sense that she would have makeup all over her towel. She really did have only a few seconds to show the product in action, and even when I double-cleanse, I often have foundation left on my own towel. The foaming cleanser broke down a good amount of my foundation, most of what was on my towel was mascara, which it had a harder time removing. I personally found the wash a bit too drying for my skin, but if I were to use this, I would definitely use an oil or balm first, to really break down all my makeup. It's more of a second step in double cleanse kind of cleanser—and I prefer oil removers to makeup wipes, which aren't as environmentally friendly.

Staffer: Azadeh Valanejad, social video editor

Makeup level: Full coverage foundation, mascara, liquid eyeliner

Results: The Kylie Skin Foaming Face Wash definitely exceeded my expectations. It was extremely gentle but powerful—it completely wiped off my full coverage foundation. Plus, it smelled really good. Although it was drying for the others, it felt great on my skin. Just remember the fact of the matter is that it's a basic, no-frills cleanser—not an eye makeup remover.

The Consensus

So did Jenner deserve the criticism? Yes and no. While the time constraints play a huge factor in the video, she probably should have known that people are more educated than ever when it comes to skin care, and the Internet has no problem calling out celeb fails. Still, the Foaming Face Wash does its job when used correctly—even better so when paired with makeup wipes. Maybe just launch an oil cleanser next, Kylie?

Originally Appeared on Glamour