Garnier Vitamin C Cleanser vs Clicks Rooibos Cleanser: Which Suits SA Skin Better?
Two budget-friendly cleansers under R100 — one brightening, one exfoliating. We compare Garnier's Vitamin C Even & Bright Serum Cleanser with the Clicks Rooibos & Anti-Oxidants 3-in-1 Facial Cleanser on texture, tone and everyday fit.
Clicks Skincare Collection
Rooibos & Anti-Oxidants 3-in-1 Facial Cleanser
R67.99
Two ways to clean SA skin for under R100
South African skincare shelves are full of cleansers promising more than a basic wash-off routine. Two accessible, sub-R100 options worth putting side by side are the Garnier Vitamin C Even & Bright Serum Cleanser and the Clicks Skincare Collection Rooibos & Anti-Oxidants 3-in-1 Facial Cleanser — one built around brightening, the other around a three-in-one cleanse-and-exfoliate format.
What's actually in the bottle
Garnier's cleanser leans on glycerin, lemon fruit extract and ascorbyl glucoside — a stable, water-soluble vitamin C derivative that's gentler on skin than pure L-ascorbic acid, though also less potent gram-for-gram. The Clicks Rooibos cleanser is formulated as a three-in-one product: cleanser, make-up remover and light exfoliant, using rooibos extract — a South African antioxidant staple — alongside physical exfoliating beads.
Which is better for dullness and uneven tone?
Garnier is the more direct fit if brightening is the goal — the ascorbyl glucoside and citrus extract combination is squarely marketed at uneven-looking tone. That said, a rinse-off cleanser only sits on skin for seconds, so treat it as a supporting step rather than a substitute for a leave-on brightening serum or daily SPF, both of which do far more of the actual work. The Clicks Rooibos cleanser can help lift surface dullness through its exfoliating beads, but physical exfoliation is easy to overdo — skip it on days you're also using a chemical exfoliant or retinoid, and never scrub hard enough to feel friction burn.
Which is better for combination skin?
The Clicks Rooibos cleanser is positioned for normal-to-combination skin, and its light exfoliation can feel satisfying on a humid Durban or Cape Town summer day when oil and sweat build up fast. Garnier suits shoppers who want a conventional, brightening-first daily cleanser without an exfoliating step baked in — useful if you're already exfoliating elsewhere in your routine and don't want to double up.
Texture and how they feel in a South African bathroom
Both are rinse-off formats that don't require refrigeration or special storage — a practical plus for Highveld heat or coastal humidity, where more delicate leave-on actives can degrade faster. Garnier foams to a light lather; the Clicks formula has a noticeably grainier feel from its exfoliating beads, which some skin will love and others will find too abrasive for daily use.
Price and value
| Garnier Vitamin C Even & Bright Serum Cleanser | Clicks Rooibos & Anti-Oxidants 3-in-1 Cleanser | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~R90 (on special from R125) | ~R67.99 |
| Format | Brightening rinse-off cleanser | 3-in-1 cleanse, remove make-up, exfoliate |
| Key actives | Ascorbyl glucoside, lemon fruit extract, glycerin | Rooibos extract, exfoliating beads |
| Best for | Even-tone-focused daily cleanse | Budget-friendly cleanse with light exfoliation |
Retail pricing and promotions change often in South Africa — recheck current listings before buying.
Our take
Neither cleanser replaces a proper leave-on routine, but both are sound, affordable entry points. Choose Garnier if brightening is your main goal and you want a straightforward daily cleanser. Choose the Clicks Rooibos cleanser if you want a budget three-in-one product and your skin tolerates gentle physical exfoliation without turning reactive.
Which one actually makes sense for you
Better for a brightening-focused routine
Garnier Vitamin C Even & Bright Serum Cleanser — built specifically around ascorbyl glucoside and uneven tone.
Better budget-friendly all-in-one
Clicks Rooibos & Anti-Oxidants 3-in-1 Cleanser — cleanses, removes make-up and lightly exfoliates in one step.
Better for reactive or easily irritated skin
Garnier — its rinse-off vitamin C formula skips the physical exfoliation that can aggravate sensitive skin.
Better value per rand
Clicks Rooibos, at roughly R22 less and doing double duty as a light exfoliant.
Key takeaways
- Garnier's cleanser uses ascorbyl glucoside, a gentle vitamin C derivative, for a brightening-focused rinse-off step.
- The Clicks Rooibos cleanser is a 3-in-1 formula with exfoliating beads — effective, but easy to overuse alongside other exfoliants.
- Both sit under R100 and don't need special storage, which suits South Africa's heat and humidity swings.
- A cleanser is a supporting step, not a replacement for a leave-on brightening serum or daily SPF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the Garnier Vitamin C cleanser and Clicks Rooibos cleanser together?
There's no real benefit to alternating two cleansers in the same routine — pick one based on whether you want a straightforward brightening cleanse or a light exfoliating one, and stick with it daily.
Is the Clicks Rooibos cleanser too harsh for sensitive skin?
Its exfoliating beads can feel abrasive on reactive skin, especially if you're already using a chemical exfoliant or retinoid elsewhere in your routine. Patch test first and avoid scrubbing.
Does a vitamin C cleanser actually brighten skin?
A rinse-off cleanser has limited contact time, so it's a minor supporting step at best. For visible brightening, pair it with a leave-on vitamin C serum and daily sunscreen.
Which cleanser is better for humid coastal climates like Durban?
The Clicks Rooibos cleanser's light exfoliation can feel more satisfying in humidity where sweat and oil build up fast, though either cleanser works fine as a twice-daily wash in any SA climate.
Editorial disclaimer: SKINLABS's views and opinions are independent. This article is not paid or sponsored content. Product information is assessed using publicly available information, ingredient analysis, editorial research and, where applicable, product testing. Prices, availability and formulations may change.
Reader discussion
Buhle_Rustenburg
Been using the Clicks Rooibos cleanser for ages and never knew it had exfoliating beads worth being cautious with — useful heads up.
2026/08/28
Johan_Kimberley
Good breakdown for anyone starting out — both are cheap enough to just try and see what your skin prefers.
2026/08/28
Precious_Polokwane
Switched to Garnier after reading this since I'm already exfoliating with a separate product — made sense not to double up.
2026/08/29