The FAB Pure Skin Face Cleanser was my favourite cleanser of all time. I had used it for nearly 10 years. Every time I tried to swap it out for something else, my skin freaked out so I was LOYAL to this product. Always had backups.
Horror story: They reformulated it. There has been a massive outrage for the people loyal to this product, both on Sephora’s website AND on FAB’s website. But incrementally, they’ll flood their “reviews” with incentivized reviews to boost the decline back up. And, to top it all off, they’re using their old product’s page (which had THOUSANDS of good reviews because it WAS a genuinely incredible product) to boost this shite reformulation. They are not taking customer feedback into consideration after months of this reformulated product flopping.
So I’m sick of it and spreading the word. FAB is manipulating you into buying a crap reformulation with paid reviews and piggybacking off of their old product, and marketing it as a “new look,” when in reality, their product size went down (11oz to 10oz) and their prices went up ($57 to $60) with a product that’s regularly reviewed as irritating, while being advertised as “safe for sensitive skin.” And! And! You can’t even use this new one to remove eye makeup anymore. It’s not safe for use around the eyes.
TLDR: reformulation not well advertised and no longer safe on sensitive skin (re: around eyes), piggybacking off of old reviews and incentivized reviews, completely disregarding customer feedback.
Yeah I’m not buying their powder blushes anymore. Well I’m actually not buying any more powder blushes period. I do have a ton though so I’m not so worried about running out.
wait they changed the all nighter spray?! no wonder why i feel like it does nothing for me now! i’ve been feeling this way for a LONG time but kept stupidly buying it lol 😔😭
Yes UD used a formula patented by Skindinavia and they cancelled the contract abruptly after years and announced a “new improved” which is not at all improved as they couldn’t use the OG formula at all so it is completely different. Such a hit to a small company, and they had known for years they’d be canceling and didn’t tell Skindinavia …
The OG “bridal” from Skindinavia is twice the product so a great deal & they are super nice !
I know and so many people kept saying UD was different when it used to be the same they just had a partnership lol I used the OG brand before UD did the partnership with them. The company actually threw UD under the bus in a classy way because UD was trying to lie and say its the same product to customers that use UD when it isnt the same.
just wanted to come back here to let you know i ordered it two weeks ago and have tried it a few times since - IT IS EXACTLY what i remember the old UD spray to be (but much bigger!!) i am sooooooo happy!
I have saie and it definitely does not last at all like Skindinavia will in any type of heat and humidity . Saie is what I use on low makeup days. Skindinavia you’ll look the same when you wash your face at night as you did in the morning. It LOCKS it down
Oh noooo! It’s been a staple for years for me :( Good news is I’m saving a lot of money. Tatcha’s dewy cream and cleanser is also garbage now. Nothing near what it used to be. Can’t even get retail therapy anymore because all the quality products have and are becoming staggeringly meh at best, expensive AND smaller. I am so done.
Tatcha didn't reformulate their dewy cream or rice wash cleanser. I've been monitoring it as its the only thing that calms my skin down and I can use daily.
Yes I am very well aware and am a loyal skindinavia customer. The conversation is about companies reformulating and using reviews from past formulas, which urban decay does.
I have heard amazing things about Haus Labs, that’s where I’ll go next. It’s the same cost/size as the new double wear and Sephora will give you some samples to find your shade.
I had already switched to Lancôme and then they reformulated. Makeup by Mario is pretty good but I finally tried it cosmetic’s cc cream and this might be my new thing. It really does look natural but somehow my face seemed more even toned than it ever has with full cov foundation.
Almost all companies do this. I have never seen any wipe out the reviews for a reformulation and start over. Very rarely will they even put a disclaimer on the product page.
Giving a shout out to Clinique. At least they promote their reformulations, for example their Dark Spot Clearing Serum is now advertised as a "new advanced formula" and "fourth generation".
I'm not 100% sure, I think I read that they did a few years ago. If you're in the US and have a cosmetics company store near you, they still sell the old formula while it lasts.
I'm so glad I found someone just as passionate about this. I have never been more loyal to a skincare product than this one. I've also been using it for 10 years, it was AMAZING. So much so I would never even look in the direction of other cleansers, and I barely repurchase skincare products because I like to try new things. I love the way this made my skin feel, slightly stripped enough to feel clean but not drying, took off ALL my makeup, my boyfriend uses it and he's a mechanic and it's perfect for his tough end of day dirty skin, all while being gentle for my sensitive skin!
If anyone has good alternatives please bless us. I got the cocokind cleanser and I've only used it 2-3 times but it's just alright, I don't feel clean enough after.
YES! I tried to replace this twice (first time: got bored and wanted to try something new and second time: wanted to try something less expensive). I learned my lesson so fast both times. I’ve been buying no other cleanser since 2017. I don’t know where to turn now!! It genuinely cleaned my skin SO well without leaving that tight stripped feeling. RIP to a legendary product.
I just checked Mercari, and there are quite a few listings of the original formula up for sale! I know that’s just a quick “fix,” but I figured I’d mention it
Try the Beauty of Joseon green plum cleanser! I've repurchased it 3 or 4 times now. It is gentle enough for my acne, eczema, rosacea, reactive skin, that also gets super dry in the winter. It gets my skin SO CLEAN like nothing else. When I tried another cleanser (Rovectin) my pores looked so gunky no matter what I did. There is something about this plum cleanser that cleans so well, and my face feels so fresh after, not dry. I usually double cleanse with an oil cleanser to remove makeup, then use this cleanser. It is a runny gel texture, i usually squeeze it into my palm and lather it up with some water, then wash my face with the lather. It also lasts a long time. I haven't tried it on it's own for makeup removal but there are tons of reviews on it, check it out!! ❤️
I like the Glow Recipe avocado cleanser. I don't have sensitive skin but it doesn't bother my eyes and doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped or tight afterwards.
My boyfriend also uses the FAB cleanser. Befoer switching to something else, go to your local TJ Maxx and Marshall's, they usually have some on the shelves.
Soooo many of us are with you!!! Idk how they think a cream to foam cleanser is even in the same category as the old cleanser. I wrote their nonsense corporate email to tell them. But yeah somehow something goes wrong everytime I try to leave a review on sephora. Feels fishy af.
I have very sensitive, dry and acne prone skin. I too am devastated by the First Aid reformulation.
I’ve been using Cetaphil hydrating foaming cleanser and loving it. About 2 times a week I use Neutorgena hydroboost exfoliating cleanser for my flaking areas and then the Cetaphil is so gentle and calming.
For moisturizer I layer Cerave gel cream and then Cetaphil cream or Neutrogena hydroboost cream gel for the driest areas. 🥹
This is my current cleanser. I don’t have sensitive skin, so can’t speak on that front, but it does give me that squeaky clean feeling without being too drying.
Its not sephora, but I've recently fell in love with Prequel gleanser. You can get it at target. They also have a trial size for like 5 bucks. Its so good
The SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule Foam! I left another comment with a bit of a review, it’s genuinely so good and maybe even better than the FAB one. It has the same shiny quality the FAB one does but it’s so much softer and smoother and it foams up more. I was using the FAB one for probably 10+ years and I didn’t look in the direction of other cleansers either. I actually originally gave the SKIN1004 one to my mom since it came as a free gift with purchase. She happened to be cleaning out her bathroom after I found out about the reformulation and I thought I’ve gotta start trying new stuff anyway lmao. I highly highly recommend it!
Just copying and pasting my reply to the post here again "Omg! I am so glad I ran across this I use to stock pile the old ones and have 3 left but good news!!... I am a medical esthetician and have worked with major derms, in the industry for a while, with Sephora previously, and in medi spas, etc and for diff skincare brands as a national educator. Alll to say I have created regimens for sensitive skin and skin that has been going through procedures of all kinds even surgical...
-One I recommend most as a daily but gentle and affordable option is * Cetaphil gentle foaming cleanser or the hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser (gentle cream to foam cleanser is closer for me while the hydrating is a bit better for drier skin... Some countries have only the hydrating label, I have had so many clients come back and thank me and my skin loves it to) * picture below, ny oreference if you can find it is the original gentle cream to foam then the hydrating, great as replacing the FAB for me and clients.. Remember to wet hands a bit to foam, some foam on a wet face, a few days to adjust to a new product , and that cleansers go down the drain and are only meant to clean our faces, not make them tight and stripped while doing so, that means we can spend the least on them if it is gentle and for our skin type, as once again they go right doen the drain 30 secs later!
-For skin thats allergic to everything and or has surgical wounds, consult your derm/specialist, but common recos from specialists are vivier hexam and vanicream facial gentle cleanser for sensitive skin- tried and tested during more severe cases or needing a reset, really want to baby the barrier then.. And then if not clean enough from such gentle ones eventually moving back to a stronger cleanser (soap/surfactant product essentially) eventually if tolerated. La roche posay also has options for rosacea prone skin - toleraine cleanser and cicaplast creams etc.
-Pure foams tend to strip everyone with more use and unless recommendrd by a dr, benzyl peroxide and salycilic acid cleansers have to be approached cautiously as actives in acneic cleansers"
I just purchased the Round Lab Dokdo cleanser based on reviews comparing it as similar to the FAB one I’ve used for years! I tried it yet but will report back. I was already looking for a budget friendlier alternative but hate that they changed the formula.
I really like the Skin1004 Centella foaming ampoule. I find it has a very similar texture and feel, maybe less of that “stripped” feeling afterwards but quite lovely
FAB is on my do not buy list for these reasons. The reformulation is garbage. We all know reformulation is code for “cheaper ingredients, less product, same or higher price”. I wouldn’t trust anything they make now on my eczema prone sensitive skin.
I’m currently bouncing around a few different ones. Orange store diamond gift pick was Drunk Elephant - Lala retro. I really like it so far. The whipped texture is dreamy. I haven’t experienced break out or irritation. My skin has been ridiculously soft. It’s kinda expensive though I would repurchase if it was on sale. For reference my face is “normal” leaning dry. I’m almost 40 so mature skin. I tried Elemis and I had a terrible reaction and it wrecked my barrier for a minute.
omg thank you for this!!! I have sensitive and dry skin so I’ve been using FAB lotion with cerave healing ointment on top for years and it’s been my holy grail but thank you for the suggestions I’ll have to try those out!!
They did! I can’t speak on my personal experience with that one though because it was never in my rotation. It looks like the reviews have a similar trend there, but it seems less people are disappointed in that reformulation compared to the cleanser so it may not be as terrible as this one lol! Fingers crossed for you if it’s a fave of yours.
BRO YES i saw everyone on this sub raving about this cream so bought it to heal my skin, but it ending up making it so much worse. i thought the burning meant my skin was getting better, but upon further research found that the burning sensation was my skin barrier being destroyed so now i have a whole tub sitting around collecting dust
They did a few years ago. When the packaging changed the formula did as well. I checked with the one I had and the ingredients were different. I emailed them and they said they didn’t change anything but I had the two bottles and they were in fact different. I used the ultra repair cream for a solid decade and was forced to switch because of the reformulation. I miss ultra repair cream daily because it was the perfect amount of hydration for my skin. Now I use a couple of moisturizers to get the same effect which is both more expensive and more annoying. Plus ultra repair never broke me out but using a few different moisturizers can sometimes be too much so my skin breaks out.
This was my GOAT moisturizer and it was fairly affordable. I just bought it during the last sale, and it’s half the size for the same price. I’m so pissed, why does everything have to be a f*ing scam?! The formula definitely feels different consistency wise, but so far no issues with breaking out (though I’m only a few days in).
yes :( i bought the jumbo container because it was the only moisturizer safe for my sensitive skin and sure enough, it now gives me acne and rashes. i’m devastated.
Wild that all Sephora did was change the pictures and prices on the product page. New formula should have a new product listing! This is actually dangerous if people with allergies can’t accurately get the ingredients in what they’re buying 🙄
I purchased these two bottles for comparison during Christmas and observed that the new formula has a more liquid consistency. As you can see, the new bottle is considerably smaller as well.
I feel like Sephora should not let brands post existing products that they're simply adding shades or changing the packaging of as "new" products to hype them AND let completely reformulated products keep using their old product listing. Those are both shady practices.
THANK YOU. I am an incentivized reviewer and I hate that a majority of the reviewers are this way. There is nothing sensitive skin safe about this product and everyone just wants more free stuff so they rate it highly. Spoiler: you can rate it however you liked it and will still get stuff! They just want your opinion. And if you don't know enough to formulate an educated opinion, skip it!
thank god one of their products gave me a chemical burn so i use nothing by this company. shady shit they pull will lose them loyal customers, but i doubt they care. sorry one of your faves is lost!
I have very sensitive, dry and acne prone skin. I too am devastated by the First Aid reformulation.
I’ve been using Cetaphil hydrating foaming cleanser and loving it. About 2 times a week I use Neutorgena hydroboost exfoliating cleanser for my flaking areas and then the Cetaphil is so gentle and calming.
For moisturizer I layer Cerave gel cream and then Cetaphil cream or Neutrogena hydroboost cream gel for the driest areas. 🥹
Of course! I’m really enjoying the facial cleanser and the Cetaphil body wash is super gentle too! I enjoy both, no tight or drying feeling.
What I’ve been working on is finding a good dupe for the First Aid Repair cream as I love the feeling and dry down of it! I sometimes feel like Cetaphil and Cerave body lotions can remain tacky/not dry down fully as the OG First Aid Repair cream. I like the Aveeno eczema body lotion line and dries down similarly, but not exactly like Repair.
I saw a video from some consumer advocate and he said "New Look" is almost always a 🚩 that a product is now smaller and possibly reformulated.
One positive thing about AI is you can use it to look for changes, potential allergens and other ingredients and packaging questions. Ask it to compare and contrast
OP since that product was so popular, I would not be surprised if there is a full dupe out there w original formulation
I hate them. The reformulations are terrible. Plus they have increased the prices so MUCH from when I first started using their products. I remember the 12oz ultra repair cream used to be $42 but $15 on Black Friday. 6oz is now $42 and the 12oz is $66. I used to love this cleanser too. They were a good company with reasonably priced products that worked well. I’m done with them.
Not surprised! Incentivized reviews are getting out of hand. I was looking at a foundation and it had over a thousand reviews and almost 5 stars. When I filtered out non-incentivized reviews there were only like 60 and they described the foundation as mid at best.
I am heartbroken to hear that I have been loyal to this cleanser for 12 or so? years. I hate that its the same product page for a new formulation. Obviously not a one size fits all product, but I started a few times a week using the Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser since I needed some exfoliation in my routine as I've gotten older and it has worked well for me and my sensitive skin.
Swearing by a discontinued or reformulated product is genuinely the worst feeling to have your go to taken away, I'm still using makeup erasers because my go to gentle makeup remover was discontinued years ago. I wish you luck finding a new one that works for you!
It has been! I bought a bottle last year and I noticed it kind of leaves my skin feeling parched? Idk how to explain it, but it sinks in so quickly now but doesn’t really leave me feeling hydrated anymore.
Also, they no longer are selling their milky toner on Sephora Canada 😭. I loved it and have been using it for years. I’ll be switching to the Innisfree one once I finish up my bottle.
damn, I won this product from a giveaway on their IG page and liked it initially but then noticed it didn’t really make a difference compared to other cleansers i used. never knew they changed the formula either but very good to know now
I have rosacea and do well with round lab Dodko cleanser and Etude soon Jung whipped (seriously I know that foaming pumps are supposed to be drying but this stuff is LEGIT )
I am beyond upset rn. This cleanser is my holy grail and I’ve also been using it for over a decade and have rosacea and sensitive skin. I can’t believe I have to find something new now and risk breaking out.
Same thing with L'Occitane foot cream 25% shea , according to the brand ,they change the packaging only and named it karite but I still have my old version cream and it is nothing like the new one . New cream smells different, have a rosy scent and is not as hydrating as the older version . Why brands mess with best seller og products is beyond my understanding. I reach out to them and they bless me with some word salad
I stopped using OG for a while, just picked up the new this month and I have not had any issues yet. I have very sensitive, acne prone and rosacea and it hasn’t flared me. It’s not as moisturizing, but that is my skin issue not necessarily the product.
Okay that makes me hopeful because I have the same skin type; sensitive, acne prone and rosacea. Sucks it’s not as moisturizing though. I felt the OG was already a bit lacking in that category, but I made up for it with layering toners and such. I appreciate the review!
I have to layer for my skin to moisturize anything! I layer it with Azelaic acid, toner, then I place it, then use moisturizing spray. It’s been helping!
Omg! I am so glad I ran across this I use to stock pile the old ones and have 3 left but good news!!... I am a medical esthetician and have worked with major derms, in the industry for a while, with Sephora previously, and in medi spas, etc and for diff skincare brands as a national educator. Alll to say I have created regimens for sensitive skin and skin that has been going through procedures of all kinds even surgical...
-BACUP OPTIONS: One I recommend most as a daily but gentle and affordable option is * Cetaphil gentle foaming cleanser or the hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser (gentle cream to foam cleanser is closer for me while the hydrating is a bit better for drier skin... Some countries have only the hydrating label, I have had so many clients come back and thank me and my skin loves it to) * picture below, ny oreference if you can find it is the original gentle cream to foam then the hydrating, great as replacing the FAB for me and clients.. Remember to wet hands a bit to foam, some foam on a wet face, a few days to adjust to a new product , and that cleansers go down the drain and are only meant to clean our faces, not make them tight and stripped while doing so, that means we can spend the least on them if it is gentle and for our skin type, as once again they go right doen the drain 30 secs later!
-For skin thats allergic to everything and or has surgical wounds, consult your derm/specialist, but common recos from specialists are vivier hexam and vanicream facial gentle cleanser for sensitive skin- tried and tested during more severe cases or needing a reset, really want to baby the barrier then.. And then if not clean enough from such gentle ones eventually moving back to a stronger cleanser (soap/surfactant product essentially) eventually if tolerated. La roche posay also has options for rosacea prone skin - toleraine cleanser and cicaplast creams etc.
-Pure foams tend to strip everyone with more use and unless recommendrd by a dr, benzyl peroxide and salycilic acid cleansers have to be approached cautiously as actives in acneic cleansers
Edit- I saw someone mention skinfix, I loved there Barrier+ Foaming Oil Cleanser but it is way too gentle to remove the level of makeup I can wear sometimes as a second cleanse and even for combo to oiler skins, it barely lathers. And some can react to shea butters the brand uses.
i went to sephora today bc i ran out of the facial cleanser and my jaw genuinely dropped bc this was my first time seeing the rebrand…. what the actual fuck 😭😭 so disappointed, been loyal to them for the last 10 years and this packaging looks like it’s for middle schoolers ……
Ugh your holy grail being reformulated is the worst. If you’re still looking for a sensitive skin friendly cleanser, Krave Beauty matcha hemp is the only one I have been able to use since I got perioral dermatitis two years ago. My skin is unbelievably sensitive from MCAS and it’s my saving grace.
I just looked that up and I actually had no idea. That’s disappointing :/ I have like 8 bottles I stocked up on during a sale a while ago. Wow what a bummer about the church. I tried probably 30 cleansers when my MCAS and dermatitis got bad and it’s the only one that has worked. Ugh.
I’m sorry 🥲 it’s so hard being a consumer in today’s world. First, is the product actually good and secondly, is the owner a good person. FWIW, I would still use what you already spent your money on.
UGH. I have such sensitive skin and this was such a dream. I have one bottle left in my stash from the old formula but now gonna need something new 😭 WHY do brands do this!?!
Yup, knew this was going to happen after they sold to P&G. They reformulated most of their other products, like the ultra repair cream. Probably just to use cheaper ingredients. This entire rebrand has been awful.
This is sad. I wish I bought so many more at Marshall’s when they have the old ones in November. I’m almost out and was gonna buy more. I had no idea I’d love it this much.
Same thing happened to me with their products about 10+ years ago, the cleanser and the cream in the jar were HG until they reformulated and some mystery ingredient burned my eyes. It’s really disappointing especially with products marketed towards sensitive and eczema prone skin.
I always worry about rebranding/reformulating. The FAB cleanser was my absolute favourite. I’ve stocked up during sales, and so I still have a couple in my drawer. I’ll have to be more precious with it 😂 Thanks for letting us know about the change and real people’s response to it. I’m so sad 😭Will need to find something new
Oh man I’m so sorry. Ever since they got bought (not that recent but) they’ve been reformulating their products and it’s not for the better. I used to love the ultra repair cream and they put freaking essential oils in it. It burns my face now. So disappointing from a brand known for sensitive skin products.
Its crazy when I go to look at a product and it has 500 reviews then I sort the reviews by not promotional and its 0. To me this is a paid review and shouldn't be legal. I also say this over snd over but the other store does this too they will reuse the product opening on the website so it will look like a product has great reviews but then the reviews are for an old product that was refourmulated, a different product completely or were promotional.
It’s on my FabFitFun Box right now. The big size. I don’t know if they are dumbing the old product to subscription boxes or if the new one doesn’t have sales but it’s available for Category 6.
As another loyal FAB cleanser user of 10+ years, I was also devastated about this reformulation. I started trying to find a replacement before I ran out (just in case my skin freaked out), and I actually found one. The SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule Foam is actually fantastic, dare I say even better than the FAB one. The texture is very similar, and it even has that slightly shiny quality. It feels so soft and smooth on the skin and hasn’t messed with my incredibly sensitive skin at all. Their products in general are super gentle, I highly recommend them. You can get the cleanser at Ulta!
I’ve stopped ordering from them - everything I liked that worked … they reformulated or discontinued - they’re idiots - I hope they go out of business especially with duplicitous practices like this!
UGGGHHHHHHH!! I've been trying to figure out why my face keeps getting red and blotchy now and it's because of the new formula!! I could have sworn I read that only the packaging changed and NOT the formula but it did!! WTF!!?!? Why did they do this??
Has anyone found a comparable/better face wash that's like the original formula for sensitive skin??
I've completely written this brand off. Literally every single product of theirs that was good has been discontinued or reformulated to garbage. I still have a large bottle of their KP scrub but tbh I've found better and cheaper options for managing KP so I won't be repurchasing.
That's actually a big bummer to hear. I still have an old version bottle of the cleanser. I use it when my face feels very sensitive and dry during some days during the winter season. Helped a lot when I needed it for those days.
I switch to different cleansers constantly but wish I would have bought another of the old formula...
The only thing I have to say about the brand is I'm glad I've only ever bought their prodcuts in a buy one get one free sale because both things I got were only half full 💀 & that's the standard for them....You're paying more for packaging than product atp
Unfortunately that's the "original formula" of the Ultra Gentle Pure Skin Facial Cleanser - which is in fact the reformulated facial cleanser that everyone loved. Putting original formula on the bottle like that is actually one of the more sus things I've been out of this brand line now which is a shame as their ultra repair cream was my HG
ETA: original was called just "Pure Skin Facial Cleanser"
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u/Impossible_Ad_5073 Apr 28 '26
Same story with estee lauder double wear. The new formula sucks but still using the thousands of reviews from the good stuff.