Facial Cleansers. How do I decide which is best?
It can be overwhelming to find the perfect cleanser for your skin. I get this question all the time from my clients. Or I find out that they’re using the wrong type for their skin and its stripping their skin barrier. They key is finding what works for your skin and checking the ingredients. Let me break it down for you…
Cream Cleansers: A cream cleanser is usually thick, creamy, and contains essential moisturizing elements like botanical, natural oils and emulsifiers to lock in moisture while eliminating dirt, oil and impurities. Don’t expect this type of cleanser to always sud up and be soapy. This type is good for mature, dry and sensitive skins.
Gel Cleaners: Just like its name, it is a gel-like texture normally more water-based. Generally designed for deep cleansing, they are effective at decongesting clogged pores, removing excess oil and exfoliating depending upon its active ingredients. This type of cleanser can be great for more acne prone skin thanks to their antiseptic and exfoliating properties.
Foam Cleaners: These start out like a gel or cream cleanser but will turn into a rich, foamy lather. Foam cleansers are great for oily, acne prone skin, or if you need to remove lots of makeup or sunscreen. The only down fall about this type is that it can be drying, or irritating. I hear from a lot of clients that they use this type because it foams so they think its cleansing better and makes their skin feel clean and tight. If the skin is feeling “tight”, you have stripped the skin of its natural oils and that’s not a good thing. To get technical, foaming products require foaming agents [ie., Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)], all of which can be higher in alkaline than the skin.
Oil Cleansers: The term “oil” makes a lot of people not to want to use it. I will admit that I was one of those people. Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it. The oil in the cleanser works with the natural oils in your skin (sebum) to remove any excess oil, dirt, debris, and bacteria. Oil cleansers are perfect to remove makeup, especially waterproof mascara, and sunscreen. This type of cleanser is great for all skin types and can be used daily especially if you’re on the drier side.
Cleansing Balm: These can be more solid in texture but are a rich, thick balm. Some are more oil based so think of it as mixture of a cream cleanser and oil cleanser. The balm melts across the skin and can add water once it melts down to wash away any impurities and makeup. Great to take while traveling so you don’t have to worry about anything leaking. Pro Tip: Make sure to use a tiny spatula so your not placing your fingers in the container to help keep germs out.
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