As a beauty writer, my bathroom is filled to the brim with beauty and skin-care products. From my strengthening shampoo and conditioner to my micellar water, there’s not a step to be missed in my routine. But while I love all of the products I use, it’s reached a point where I needed to pare down my routine. So I decided to give Gntl’s Skin Wash ($33)—a 6-in-1 face-and-body cleanser—a try.
I’ve tested the dad-favorite 3-in-1 body wash, shampoos, and conditioners before, but never a 6-in-1. At first glance, the promise of being able to pack six products into a single product seems a bit extreme—and maybe even impossible—but I wasn’t going to knock it until I tried it.
What is Gntl?
For some context, Gntl is a skin-care brand dedicated to making multi-use products that are effective and suitable for all skin types. The idea is that fewer products will lead to a more sustainable (not to mention time-saving) routine—a hack that experts say is one of the easiest steps you can take toward an eco-friendly regimen. “Ideally, I try to find products that are multi-use so I’m just using less in general,” says sustainability expert Jhánneu Roberts.
The brand touts itself as using “effective base formulas, mild surfactants, and hydrating humectants,” all of which are tough enough to remove makeup and oil while remaining gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive skin.
Gentl’s first product, the 6-in-1 Skin Wash, is a multi-purpose gel cleanser designed to be used on the face and body. It purports to rinse away dirt, oils, and residue without stripping the skin of its natural moisture, and claims to take the place of your makeup remover, cleanser, body wash, hand soap, bubble bath, and shaving gel. Plus, it’s free from synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, colorants, formaldehyde, and drying alcohols.
First thoughts on the Gntl Skin Wash
The product comes in a recyclable pouch with a nozzle at the top to dispense it. As someone who doesn’t have a lot of shower space, I was a tad bit worried about the bag falling off my shower ledge and spilling everywhere, but luckily that didn’t happen.
When it was time to wash my face, and body, and shave in the shower, that’s where the magic happened. With just a quarter-sized amount, I was able to cleanse my entire body from head to toe with my loofah. It did lather quite a bit, which I didn’t mind because to me I felt like it was working.
In terms of using the product as a shaving gel, I felt like it created a suitable barrier between my skin and the razor. I didn’t get any unwanted irritation after shaving my legs, so I give it some extra brownie points there. For the sake of this review, I also used it as hand soap and thought it served as a solid replacement. As someone with sensitive skin, I didn’t get any unwanted redness or irritation, which I appreciated, and it also left me smelling nice and fresh.
The only area where I didn’t find much success was with the makeup removal. It was able to remove my foundation pretty well, but my eyeshadow and eyeliner were still very much there. While it may function well as a face wash, if you’re wearing makeup you’ll want to use it as the second step in a double-cleansing routine after a micellar water or makeup remover.
Final thoughts on the Gntl Skin Wash
Full disclosure: I don’t think I’d make this part of my staple routine simply because I already have all of the products I like and use.
That said, I feel that this could come in extremely handy for travel when space is tight and there’s little room to carry individual products. Though the pouch is far too big to get you through a TSA security checkpoint, you can easily transfer it into a reusable travel-sized bottle, like the ones from Ríes.
As for the cost, it’s a bit pricey at $33, but you do get a lot of product — 33 ounces to be exact (so roughly $1 per ounce, if you do the math.)
Next time you’re in need of a body wash that’s perfect for travel—or if you’re looking to pare down your routine to be more sustainable—snag a pouch of Gntl’s 6-in-1 Skin Wash and see the magic for yourself.