While cleansing your skin is important, you need to make sure you use the right materials. It’s important to get the right products for your type of skin. The aim isn’t just to cleanse but to nourish and support.
Cleaning your skin is more than just getting rid of the dirt and grime. You want to offer as much support to your pores as possible. It’s important to kill the bacteria and help to balance out the natural oils produced.
If you have oily skin, you want something that will help to remove the excess oils. Those types of cleansers would be damaging to already dry skin, where you need excess oils added into your skin to help get rid of theirritating and flaky skin.
So, with that in mind, here’s a look at your ultimate skin cleanser cheat sheet. This will give you all the information you need to make the best cleansing decisions for your skin type.
When Foaming Cleansers Are Worth the Purchase
One of the most common types of cleansers available now is the foamy cleaners. You push a button, and the cleaner comes out almost like a shaving foam.
These types of cleaners are excellent for oily skin. They help to get deep into the pores to remove all the dirt and bacteria that builds up throughout the day. They are also extremely effective on makeup, regardless of how thick you’ve applied it. There’s little chance of the makeup getting stuck in the pores, meaning bacteria forms while you sleep.
While cleansing the skin, the foamy cleansers leave no residue behind. You’ll barely even notice that you’ve used it. Your skin feels fresh and soft, ready to rejuvenate throughout the night.
There is a major downside to foams, though. They are drying on the skin, which is why they’re excellent for oily skin. They will strip the skin of the oils, especially if they’re left to soak into the skin. If you have already dry skin, you will want to avoid the leathers. If the foams have alcohol in the first four ingredients, they have a higher concentration of the ingredient, further drying out the skin.
If you’re worried about dry skin, even if you have naturally greasy skin, you can consider moisturizing creams. Look for oil-free moisturizing creams. Don’t forget to look for foaming cleansers that have salicylic acid to help fight against acne-causing bacteria effectively.
It’s also important to look at the ingredients used to create the foamy texture. Unfortunately, some of the most popular brands use toxins that will damage the cell structure in your skin. There are various carcinogenic ingredients that will increase your risk of cancer. It’s best to find cleansers that use mostly natural ingredients.
Opt for Cleansing Milks for Dry Skin
If you do have dry skin, you’ll want to avoid too many products. They can become irritating, rather than soothe the dry skin condition. This means you want to find a cleanser that doesn’t just get rid of dirt and grime but also improves some oils in your skin.
This is where cleansing milk products are good. They are still as effective as foaming cleansers when it comes to removing dirt. The problem is they can’t always get into the pores to get rid of waterproof makeup. You’ll need to use a different product first to get rid of that and support your skin.
Milkdoesn’t create a lather on the face. Instead, they are extremely gentle on the skin. This is why they don’t quite get rid of all makeup since they’re designed not to affect the deeper layers too much.
Of course, there is a moisturizing benefit. Milk will help to boost the collagen production and improve the hydration within the skin.
If you have oily skin, you may find the hydration is too much. They leave a residue behind, which can cause some problems for excess oil production.
When you want something for dry skin that removes waterproof makeup effectively, you need to consider cleansing oils. These are gentle and can leave a residue behind, but they get deep into the pores. Oils are good for encouraging particles towards them, pulling them gently out of the pores—whatever the type of particles.
There is no lather in oils. You will need to apply them with a sponge or cotton pad, leaving them on for a while to give them a chance to work.
The oils will help to encourage more oil production within the skin. They moisturize the skin, adding hydration into the deeper layers of the skin. This makes it possible to soften and support dry skin. Irritation and flakiness become a thing of the past. There’s no need to use moisturizing creams afterward, unless you have extremely dry skin that requires it.
If you have oily skin, you’ll want to give oils a miss. They add too many extra oils into the skin, without encouraging your own body to stop producing natural oils. Your skin will look and feel greasy and slimy.
Massage the Skin with Cleansing Balms
Another type of skin cleanser you may come across is something called a cleansing balm. This is another excellent option for those with dry skin. It doesn’t just moisturize and clean the skin, but the balm will help to nourish and soothe dry skin conditions.
Cleansing balms will get right into the pores. All bacteria, dirt, and makeup are removed. The balms are high in emollient oils, moisturizing deep into the layers. It doesn’t matter if your skin doesn’t produce that much oil daily.
The oils are best when massaged into your skin. This helps to boost the amount of blood flow circulating into the skin, boosting the collagen production and improving elasticity. The extra blood flow will also help to settle some dry skin conditions, as the moisture locks into the pores and continues to support the hydration of the skin.
There isn’t a lather produced by balms, but they do leave a residue behind. The oils can be too much for those with naturally oily skin. The residue can also be visible, making your skin look greasy and sticky.
One of the good sides of the balms is that they are gentle. Like many of the rest, they can be good for those with sensitive skin, while cleansing deeply.
Micellar Waters for Those with Sensitive Skin
If your skin is sensitive, you want something that is soft and gentle. While three of the options above are gentle and hydrating for the skin, they can still include toxins and acids that make sensitive skin irritated and itchy.
You want to find something that is cleansing but extremely soft. This is where Micella Water comes into play. This is a cleanser that doesn’t need rinsing off. You just have to let the ingredients get to work on your skin throughout the day. Because it doesn’t need rinsing, it won’t leave a residue behind and doesn’t lather, either.
It’s hydrating on the skin but doesn’t leave too many oils behind. It’s good for those with either oily or dry skin that is sensitive or if you suffer from some skin conditions.
The downside is the fact that it can be too gentle. While it will get rid of dirt, many will struggle with removing makeup—even non-waterproof makeup. The cleanser doesn’t get deep enough or draw out the makeup particles as well as some of the other options above.
Cleansing Wipes for On the Go
What if you need something for traveling or when you’re in an emergency? Well, cleansing wipes are worth having in your bag. But you don’t want to rely on them for everyday use.
Cleansing wipes can be gentle for sensitive skin, but they’re sometimes too gentle. They can also be drying on the skin, drawing out the oils as well as all the dirt and grime. They’re not cleansing and aren’t the most efficient option for removing makeup.
This can depend on the type of wipes you get, though. Some are designed to remove waterproof makeup so that your normal cleaners can get into the pores and get rid of the smaller particles. Others are designed to tone or moisturize your skin, rather than effectively clean it.
Some of the cloths will leave a residue behind. Many are infused with lotions and oils. The benefit is you don’t need to rinse your face afterward. So, if you are traveling and need something a little refreshing or cleansing, then this could be an option.
Don’t use them if you have irritating or itchy skin or some skin conditions. The wipes require some friction and scrubbing to get rid of the dirt and particles. This can irritate your conditions further and make your skin itchier than before.
Watch Out for Soaps
Bars of soap was once the most popular option for cleaning the face. It’s unlikely that you’ll see many brands today only offering soaps because the ingredients used react in the wrong way on the skin.
Soaps are drying to the skin. They strip and disrupt the natural oil production. Even those with oily skin can find their face and body are left irritated and itchy. The skin loses some of its protective barriers due to the high pH levels, meaning that the skin becomes more sensitive and damaged.
They can be effective for cleansing the skin. It is possible to get deep into the pores, but that’s not worth it when your skin is left painful and raw.
If you do use soap, make sure you have a nutritious moisturizing cream or oil afterward. Consider coconut oil to help balance the natural oils again and offer some protection back to the skin.
Think Carefully About Exfoliating Products
There are plenty of exfoliating products on the market. These are a hit and miss regarding effectiveness and efficiency.
You don’t need to exfoliate your skin on a daily basis. In fact, you want to exfoliate only once or twice a week, whatever type of skin you have. In fact, if you have sensitive skin you can skip exfoliating weekly and leave it to something once or twice a month.
Exfoliating removes the dirt and grime from deep within the pores. It will get rid of the bacteria but also gets rid of the oils. You can be left with dry and irritated skin. This is especially the case if you use exfoliating products with microbeads and particles.
If you want to exfoliate, considering making your cleansers. Baking soda or sea salt can be good. They moisturize and nourish the skin while cleansing thoroughly and brightening the skin.
Watch Out for Anti-Acne and Anti-Aging Cleaners
If you want a product that fights against acne and aging, you want to look for moisturizing creams. It’s time to avoid the cleaners.
The downside of these is that they don’t stay on the face long enough. You rinse themoff because they have a chance to effectively work on the cells or get rid of all the bacteria in your skin. All you end up with is dry and irritated skin.
There are plenty of creams and toners you can use instead. Apply them before you go to bed to help give them the chance to soak into your skin. Avoid the cleansers because they just don’t work—and they certainly don’t cleanse!
Look After Your Skin with the Right Productions
Think about the type of products you buy for cleansing your skin. Don’t take too much notice about the marketing ploys on the front of the products. It’s the type of cleanser you want to consider—whether it’s foamy, oil, or a balm.
Each type of material will affect your skin in different ways. Some are perfect for drying out the excess oils, making them irritating for those with already dry skin. Others will add extra oils in, making them bad for those with greasy skin.
Use the guide above, and you will find the perfect skin cleanser for your needs.
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