The Ultimate Guide to Cleansing
Cleansing, cleansing, cleansing…it’s an integral part of your skincare routine. However, we know how confusing it can be to navigate through the world of skincare. Especially when it comes to cleansers and you must choose from milks, balms, oils and gels. It can become difficult to understand which cleanser is best for you and your skin, as well as the benefits it can provide. Use this blog as your holy grail for cleanser etiquette and read on to find the best cleanser for you!
Types of cleansers
Before we get into the vast array of cleansers, let’s talk about double cleansing. Throughout the day, bacteria and pollution is drawn to your skin and if these aren’t thoroughly washed away, they can lead to congestion, breakouts and other skin issues. It’s especially important in our current times when we have to battle dreaded ‘maskne’ due to the daily wearing of face coverings. The best way to avoid this and keep skin clear, is by double cleansing
If you haven’t heard about double cleansing before, it is pretty self-explanatory and believe it or not, includes two different forms of cleansing! The first cleanse is traditionally an oil or balm that breaks down makeup, oils, dirt and SPF. Once the first cleanse has been removed, you then follow with your water-based cleanser, such as a gel, which penetrates deeper into the pores to remove further impurities and suitable cleanse skin.
One of our firm favourites for a first cleanse is the Environ Skin EssentiA Dual Action Pre-Cleansing Oil. This is a plant derived, oil-based pre- that acts as a sebum solvent and assists in removing environmental pollutants from skin surface. It also assists in delivering skin hydration and assists in soothing easily irritated skin.
Now let’s get into the best cleanser for your skin type, shall we?
Normal
If you have normal skin, try out the Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser. This is a thorough yet gentle cleanser suitable for all skin types. Formulated with glycolic acid, this cleanser the skin with a deep cleanse while also resurfacing skin for a smoother and more refined texture. This non-irritating soap free formula also contains sorbitol, a natural berry-derived humectant, to keep skin feeling soft and hydrated.
Dry
For dry skin, it’s all about boosting hydration and protecting skin’s natural protective barrier. SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser is formulated for dry and sensitive skin. It conditions, soothes and calms skin and is gentle enough to be used several times a day. This gentle, milk-textured cleanser removes any excess oils and debris so that skin feels refreshed and pure.
Acneic
Acneic skin often appears oily and shinier. If this is your skin type, you need to make sure that you are cleansing your skin and removing any dirt, debris and impurities. Image Skincare Clear Cell Clarifying Gel Cleanser gently removes makeup and eliminates excess oils. This product exfoliates dead skin cells and keeps skin smooth, soft and shine free. It is formulated with a blend of 5% salicylic acid and neem leaf extract to penetrate pores and remove oils from deep within pores. Shop other products from the Image Skincare Clear Cell range here, as they are all formulated to fight acne, reduce inflammation and purify skin.
Oily
Oily skin presents itself due to the overproduction of sebum from sebaceous glands. Now sebum isn’t all bad and its necessary as it protects and moisturises the skin. The Jan Marini Bioglycolic Oily Skin Cleansing Gel is perfect for oily skin as has a deep follicular cleansing agent which provides extra benefits for extremely oils/problem prone skin. This is specially developed for oilier skins and it lathers well leaving skin feeling clean and soft. With continued use, you’ll notice that your skin appears less oily with a smoother, more refined looking texture.
Ageing
Ageing skin is often characterised by wrinkles, loss of elasticity and a rougher texture. Hydration and nourishment are essential if this is your skin type. The Omorovicza Cashmere Cleanser is specially designed to cleanse and soothe skin and is formulated with a unique blend of luxurious ingredients leaving the skin smoother and younger looking. Formulated with the soft feel of cashmere, this unique cleanser glides onto the skin infused with nourishing, gentle and soothing active ingredients with a light formulation allowing this cleanser to successfully cleanse skin without stripping it. Apricot kernel oil rich in Vitamins A and E help to rejuvenate and nourish the skin whilst also increasing collagen production.
Sensitive
Prone to redness, itchiness and allergic reactions? Sensitive skin is prone to irritations, but the Medik8 Calmwise Soothing Cleanser is dedicated for skin with broken capillaries, redness or hypersensitivity. This lightweight foaming cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin types prone to irritation and helps to control the appearance of redness as its root cause, providing fast relief for red, irritated skin.
Looking for more cleanser inspiration? Check out our IGTV, where we look at three incredible iS Clinical cleansers…
Temperature control
Now, it’s great that you have found the perfect cleanser, but did you know how important the temperature of the water is? Too hot and your skin becomes sensitive and stripped. Hot water is very harsh and drying for skin, it strips skin of natural oils and disturbs the natural protective barrier, leaving skin feeling dry.
We’ve all also made the mistake of presuming that cold water is going to have a tightening effect on our pores, keenly splashing our faces on a morning. Whilst this may feel refreshing, cold water doesn’t actually aid in cleansing your skin, as it doesn’t remove the daily grime. Choose the perfect temperature instead…
The Perfect Temperature
Drum roll please…the perfect medium, you guessed it! Cleanse your skin with lukewarm water. Now lukewarm water is subject to personal choice, but we’d say warm to the touch in between hot and cold. Warm water works by loosening any dirt, debris and left-over makeup but preserves skin’s natural oils.
To get the most out of the rest of your skincare routine, apply your serums to slightly damp skin – especially hyaluronic acid, to really lock in moisture.
For amazing cleansers and more, shop online now! To book a face-to-face consultation with our professional clinicians, call 0113 282 7744. If you are looking for skincare advice, take our online skin test now and receive personalised product recommendations direct to your inbox!
Written for you by: Sanah, Face the Future
Image source: freepik.com
