SKINCARE 101- CLEANSERS.

What are cleansers? Cleansers are cosmetics that are made to wash our face and get rid of dead skin cells, excess sebum and oil, dirt and pollution, sunscreen, makeup etc. Just wash it all off and keep the skin looking clean and fresh. What is the difference between a facewash and a cleanser? Cleansers dissolve oils, dirt etc. whereas a face wash is not going to remove 100% of makeup, sunscreens and all that. A face wash is meant to delve deeper into the skin and clean all the pores. They usually tent to foam up in contact with water.

Why do we really need a cleanser?

We need a cleanser to keep our skin clean, free of pollutants, dirt, oil etc. These also Maintain our skin’s natural barrier to protect our skin form the harmful outside environment I also recommended not to leave on products overnight like sunscreen, makeup as this leads to further skin irritation and can cause acne or worsen pre-existing acne.That why it is important to always wash your skin especially in the evening or night.

Double cleansing

The first method is usually a cleanser like an oil or a cream cleanser or a micellar waterthat dissolves all that dirt, makeup and spf. This lets the face wash to cleans deeply. If you have inflamedskin, acne prone skin or sensitive skin its recommended to use a micellar water.

Different types of cleanser and skin types they are usually recommended for-

Gel cleanser- gel cleansers have a gel like consistency like aleovera gel or hair gel. They are quite runny and tend to give a deeper cleanse, these are good for unclogging the pore and removing all the excess oil and without stripping the skin of all its natural oils. These don’t leave the skin dry or flacky and usually contain some antibacterial properties. These are really good for people with oily, combination and acne prone skin.

Foam cleanser- When they come in contact with water these foam up to give a deep cleansing action, good for removing excess oil, sebum, etc. These can be a bit drying for certain skin types and are recommended for oily and combination skin.

Cream cleanser- These are usually called lotions and milks. These are thick and creamy in consistency and are good for dry and sensitive skin. Usually these are not to be washed off with water, you can apply it to the skin, massage it, leave it on for a minute then remove with a damp microfiber cloth.

Micellar water- These have micelles, which are trap the all the makeup, dirt and spf. Theses are suitable for all skin types and ideal for removing makeup. These are mostly surfactant based and potent in a double cleansing routine. This is first step and followed by a traditional cleanser.Note- do not leave it on the skin, its meant to be washed off with a face wash.

Cleanser oil- These are usually the first step of a double cleansing routine, breaks down all the makeup, sunscreen and its especially good for removing waterproof makeup. These are really gentle on the skin and are suitable for all skin types except acne prone skin or any skin type with active acne. Note- do not use a tissue to remove these use a warm microfiber cloth or a wash cloth.

Wipes- These should not be used by anyone. Wipes just remove a little makeup, these are really, very, extremely damaging to the skin. These have a lot of alcohol content with is extremely damaging for the skin in a long run. Please do not use wipes.

Something that is not a cleanser is a bar of soap, they actually damage the skin, make it irritated, inflamed, drying it which messes up the skin’s ph balance.

What is ph balance?

Its considered to pick a cleanser with a low ph. Ph stands for potential hydrogen and its used to describe the acid and alkaline ratio of a product, so it ranges from 1 to 14, 1 being most acidic and 14 being most alkaline. Choosing mild cleansers that a re slightly acidic (about 5.5) will benefit all skin types and maintain the skin’s overall health.

If anything hurts don’t use it, if it irritates your skin you will know.