We all have different skin types and some cleansers work better for some skin types than others depending on the ingredients. You also need to decide whether you need a cleanser that will remove sunscreen and make up. Get to know your skin, be aware of how it feels and what it needs at different times of the year .
Choosing the best cleanser for my skin type?
Be gentle with your skin, no harsh scrubbing, use warm water not too hot or cold. Switching to a gentle, natural cleansing routine means switching to something that it is NOT provoking inflammations and something that will NOT leave your face feeling tight, dry or looking flaky.
You want something gentle for your skin, something that keeps it hydrated and minimizes the amount of moisturizer you need to use. Don’t try to over-wash your face! It could be making your skin worse. Once or twice a day is enough.
Should I avoid oils in my skin care? Our skin needs oils and the right oils can keep your skin hydrated and balanced, if we strip our skin of oils our body compensates and produces more oil.
Types of cleansers and ingredients to look for:
Read here for Face Cleansing tips for healthy skin.
Cleansing balms: Good cleanser for winter months.
Cleansing oil: Great for removing make up and sunscreen washed off easily. This type of cleanser does not disrupt your skins Ph. Smooth Cleanser.
The Oil Cleansing Method: Effectively remove makeup, the oils work the same way as cleansing balms. This type of cleanser does not disrupt your skins Ph.
Cream Cleanser: removes dirt and make up and protect the skins moisture balance. This type of cleanser does not disrupt you skin Ph.
Gel cleanser/Foaming: made from water and oil and contains a surfactant (helps the water and oil mix into a lather.) To remove oil and dirt from your skin. This type of cleanser can disrupt your skin Ph as they are usually very alkaline.
The key to these types of cleansers is to make sure that you remove all the cleanser from your skin. (See double cleansing method)
If you have oily/combination/ blemish prone/acne skin/sensitive :
You need to make sure the ingredients are non-comedogenic , in other words do not clog pores. Looking for ingredients to reduce inflammation ,balance oil production reduce redness, with anti-bacterial properties.
Ingredients include and not limited to; Calendula oils and extracts, Hemp seed oil, Tamanu oil, Pumkin seed oil, Argan oil, Jojba oil, Borage oil, Rosehip oil,Castor oil, Pomegranate oil, shea butter, Mango butter, Candela wax, Bees wax, essential oils Tea Tree Ylang Ylang, Clary sage, Lemongrass, May Chang, Lemon Myrtle.
If you are prone to dry/mature/ sensitive skin (not prone to break outs)
Look foroils rich in linoleic and GLA acids to repair and protect: Borage seed oil, Evening primrose, Rosehip seed oil, Chia seed oil, Soy bean oil, Shea butter, Cocoa butter, Mango butter Candela wax, Bees wax,glycerin, honey, lecithin, Essential oils Lavender, Rose geranium, Chamomile, Myrth, Ylang ylang, Frankincense.
If you prefer a mild lather feeling cleanser,
Gel cleanser/Foaming: made from water and oil and contains a surfactant (helps the water and oil mix into a lather.) To remove oil and dirt from your skin. This type of cleanser can disrupt your skin Ph as they are usually very alkaline.
Check that the cleanser is between 4.5-6ph.Look for mild natural surfactants such as Coco Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl glucoside, Castile liquid soap, white willow bark and natural fruit extracts for pore and skin exfoliation ( ph balanced) added oils and butters as emollients and anti-bacterial anti-inflammatory ingredients. (Look at the oils and butters above for oily and dry skin types).
Cleansing grains: Made from clays, flours, minerals
TIP: When using Clay masks do not let them dry out, they only work when they are moist, keep them moist by spraying them intermittently with water or hydrosols.
Oily /combinations/ French Green clay or Rhassoul clay, sulphur, zinc oxide activated charcoal bentonite clay, rice flour, orris root powder, coconut milk powder.
Dry/Oily/ Sensitive: pink/rose and white kaolin, Rhassoul clay, oats flour, almond meal, powders milks.
To sum up the best cleanser for your skin type :
1. Decide what you want the cleanser to do e.g. remove make up,
2. look for nouirishing non stripping ingredients for your skin type
3. look for ph balanced cleansers
4. look for non-comedogenic ingredients if prone to break outs
5. look for oils high linoleic and GLA acids acids for dry skin types
6. Really learn and understand your own skin, it's really a lot of trial and error to see what your body likes
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