Pai Middlemist Seven™ Cream Cleanser Is 15 Years Old: Does It Still Live Up To The Job?

Last Updated on December 7, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Did you know? Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser has been around for 15 years! In the world of skincare, that’s a lifetime. The cleanser was one of the first products Sarah Brown, founder of Pai Skincare, formulated for her new brand. You know what they say: if it an’t broken, don’t fix it. And true, it has gone through a little reformulation in the past couple of years, but it was mostly a packaging makeover. The formula inside is pretty much still the same. So what made it last the test of time and should you incorporate it into your skincare routine?

What’s In Pai Middlemist Seven™ Cream Cleanser?

CAMELLIA, CASTOR, & SWEET ALMOND OIL TO CLEANSE SKIN

You guessed it, Pai Middlemist Seven™ Cream Cleanser is a creamy, oil-based cleanser. Oils work because like attracts like. Camellia, castor and sweet almond oils attach to the oils on your skin and in your makeup and take them on a trip down the drain.

Plus, they double up as moisturisers. If you’re used to this type of cleanser, you know they can leave a greasy residue behind. This residue is moisturising, but you can always remove it with a washcloth or water-based cleanser if it really bothers you. Either way, these oils leave your skin both clean and soft. Win win.

Related: What The Heck Is The Oil Cleansing Method & Should You Switch?

GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN

Pai Middlemist Seven™ Cream Cleanser is one of the most hydrating cleansers I’ve tried. On top of the moisturizing oils, it also has its fair share of glycerin, a humectant that attracts moisture from the air into the skin. Thanks to this extra moisture, your skin stays well hydrated during the cleansing process. There’s no way this cleanser can dry out your skin – unless you’re too rough with the cloth (more on that later).

Related: Why The Heck Is Glycerin In All My Skincare Products?

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

• Aqua: It’s just water, nothing crazy. Water’s what holds everything together in the formula and lets you actually spread this on your face instead of having oils and butters sitting there doing nothing.
• Lactobacillus ferment: This is probiotics but for your skin which sounds weird at first but makes sense when you think about it. Your skin has tons of bacteria living on it naturally and this helps keep that balanced so your skin can handle irritants better and doesn’t get inflamed as easily.
• Cetearyl alcohol: Okay yeah it says alcohol but trust me this isn’t the bad kind that dries you out. It’s a fatty alcohol that actually makes your skin softer and gives the cream that nice thick texture instead of being all runny and gross.
• Glycerin: Honestly one of the best hydrators you can get in skincare because it pulls moisture from the air straight into your skin. Works for basically everyone and makes your skin look fuller and feel way smoother, like you can actually feel the difference.
• Butyrospermum parkii butter: Shea butter’s crazy rich and nourishing, like if your skin’s really dry this is what you want. Has vitamins A and E and helps fix up your skin barrier when it’s compromised, plus it calms down redness and irritation.
• Tocopherol: Vitamin E works as an antioxidant protecting your skin from damage and also keeps the formula from going bad. It moisturizes too and can help your skin heal faster when you’ve got irritation or damage.
• Cetearyl glucoside: Just an emulsifier that keeps oil and water from separating in the bottle. It’s plant-derived and really gentle which is why natural skincare uses it a lot instead of harsher emulsifiers.
• Rosa damascena oil: Rose oil smells incredible and actually has some anti-inflammatory benefits along with antioxidants. Only thing is it’s fragrance so if you’re sensitive to scented products this might bug you a bit.
• Pelargonium graveolens flower oil: Rose geranium has this lovely floral smell and some antimicrobial stuff happening. But like most essential oils it can irritate you if your skin doesn’t play nice with fragrance or if you’re just sensitive.
• Sodium levulinate: Natural preservative from plant sugars that keeps bacteria from growing in the product. It’s way gentler than old school preservatives which is why clean beauty brands love it.
• Lavandula angustifolia oil: Lavender smells great and people think it’s calming, it does have anti-inflammatory properties. But heads up it has linalool and other stuff that can actually irritate sensitive skin or cause reactions even though everyone acts like lavender’s so gentle.
• Lactic acid: Gentle acid that exfoliates a bit and brightens while also balancing the pH. It’s also a humectant so it hydrates, might tingle if you’re not used to acids but it’s pretty mild compared to other AHAs.
• Litsea cubeba fruit oil: May chang has a fresh citrus vibe and kills bacteria. Like citrus oils though it can make you more sensitive to sun or just irritate you if your skin’s temperamental.
• Sodium stearoyl glutamate: Another emulsifier that’s plant-based and keeps everything mixed up properly. Super gentle and makes the texture feel nice, pretty standard in natural formulas.
• Sodium anisate: Works with sodium levulinate to preserve the product, comes from anise. It’s one of those natural preservative options that doesn’t mess with most people’s skin.
• Citral: This is already in the essential oils in here, they’re not adding it separately. Gives a citrus smell but it’s listed because some people can react to it or get sensitized over time.
• Citronellol: Comes naturally from the rose and geranium oils and adds to the smell. They list it because it’s a potential allergen and some people’s skin doesn’t like it.
• Geraniol: Also from the floral oils already in the formula, gives that rosy scent. Like the other fragrance stuff it can cause sensitivity so they have to call it out even though it’s naturally occurring.

Texture

TIt’s thick and creamy, like really creamy actually. Not one of those gel cleansers that’s all watery and runs everywhere, this has actual body to it. It feels kinda rich when you pump it out, thick enough that it doesn’t drip all over the place but still spreads on your face without being annoying or tugging your skin around. It’s got that luxurious feel to it but not in a weird heavy way.

Fragrance

Technically it’s fragrance-free because there’s no synthetic fragrance added, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t smell like anything. It’s got essential oils in there – rose, lavender, geranium, may chang – so it smells really nice and herbal and floral. It’s not overwhelming or fake smelling, just natural and kind of spa-like, the kind of smell that’s actually calming when you’re washing your face and not giving you a headache. But, it can still irritate sensitive skin, so be careful.

How To Use It

It’s the first step of your skincare routine at night. Massage it all over your face and remove it with the muslin cloth it comes with. The cloth has a textured side to exfoliate skin during cleansing and a soft side if you want to skip the exfoliation. If you have sensitive skin that can’t tolerate acids or scrubs, do use the textured side. If, like me, you prefer chemical exfoliants, use the soft one. Either way, I like that Pai is giving us the option.

Packaging 

White bottle with a pump, nothing fancy but honestly that’s what you want for a cleanser. It’s simple and sleek, looks clean on your bathroom shelf without being boring. The pump’s the best part because you can get just the right amount without squeezing the bottle and having too much shoot out everywhere, it’s just practical and works well.

Performance & Personal Opinions

Pai Middlemist Seven™ Gentle Cream Cleanser comes with a muslin cloth – that’s how it’s meant to be used. I used both the texture and soft sides during the month I tested this. They both remove the cleanser well without scratching skin. Having said that, it’s not the gentlest washcloth I’ve tried. If you already have softer face towels at home, feel free to switch.

I must admit I don’t like using muslin clothes or face towels with cleansers. Not because they don’t work – they do. I’m just too lazy to do all that laundry. Muslin cloths are a breeding ground for bacteria when wet. You have to wait until they’ve dried out completely before using them again. And that’s if you don’t use makeup. If you do, they get dirty pretty quickly. It’s a hassle. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it for you.

Pai Middlemist Seven™ Gentle Cream Cleanser works both with and without the muslin cloth. So, which one is the better option? It depends. Using the cleanser with the matching muslin cloth provides a better experience. The cloth helps remove makeup and ensures that every trace of the cleanser comes off too.

When you use the cleanser without the muslin cloth, you’ll feel like you still have a slightly greasy layer on your skin. That’s not dirt or makeup – the cleanser removes both well with or without the cloth. It’s the oils in the cleansers. Remember what I told you above? Oils do a terrific job at removing makeup but they can leave behind a moisturising residue. I don’t mind, but if you do use it with the cloth.

Talking about makeup, Pai Middlemist Seven™  Gentle Cream Cleanser does remove everything – even waterproof mascara. Keep in mind, that I don’t like heavy makeup. The Kardashians look that’s so popular today is so NOT for me. If that’s what you dig, it’ll probably take you a little longer to take everything off. The only thing I’d do without is the lavender and geranium oils. My tough skin can take them fine but they could cause irritations if you’re sensitive to them.

What I Like About Pai Middlemist Seven™ Gentle Cream Cleanser

• It removes makeup really well, even waterproof mascara comes off without you having to scrub your face raw
• The texture’s thick and creamy so it feels nice on your skin, not watery and useless like some cleansers
• You can use it with or without the muslin cloth depending on what you’re in the mood for, it’s flexible
• The ingredients are mostly natural and gentle stuff like plant oils and shea butter, no harsh sulfates or synthetic fragrance
• It smells really nice from the essential oils, herbal and floral without being overpowering or giving you a headache

What I DON’T Like About Pai Middlemist Seven™ Gentle Cream Cleanser

• The lavender and geranium oils can irritate sensitive skin even though everyone acts like they’re so gentle and natural
• If you use it without the muslin cloth you’re left with this slightly greasy residue from the oils, which I don’t mind but some people hate
• The muslin cloth that comes with it isn’t the softest one I’ve tried, there are gentler washcloths out there
• You have to deal with washing the muslin cloth and waiting for it to dry completely or it becomes a bacteria fest, it’s annoying

Who Should Use It? 

• This is good for people with dry or sensitive skin who need something gentle that won’t strip their face.
• If you wear makeup regularly and want something that actually removes it without being harsh, this works well.
• It’s also great if you like natural skincare with plant-based ingredients instead of synthetic stuff.
• Just skip it if your skin freaks out at essential oils, especially lavender and geranium, because those are in here and they can cause reactions even though they smell nice.

Does Pai Middlemist Seven™ Gentle Cream Cleanser Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

£34.00 at Cult Beauty, Face The Future, John Lewis and Look Fantastic

Do You Need It?

If you have dry skin, this is a good option to consider.