The Best Cleanser for Your Skin Type: Skincare Buyers Guide

cleansers for all skin types

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What is the best cleanser for your skin type? There are many different types of skin, and each one requires a different skincare routine. If you’re not sure what to do with your skin, read through this guide. This article will go over how to choose the best cleanser for every type of skin.

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Benefits of using a facial cleanser

Cleansing can be a step that is overlooked in our skincare routine with more focus on the serums and moisturisers that we use to target skin concerns. Our skin is exposed to a lot of external elements and pollutants, along with SPF and makeup which make it dirty. When dirt accumulates on our skin this can contribute to acne, blackheads, dehydration, and premature aging. To remove makeup and dirt from your skin, a cleanser is more effective than just using water. They have ingredients to help with acne, sensitivity, and dryness too! If we are not using quality products or cleansing correctly this can have a huge effect on how the rest of our products work and our overall skin function!

Firstly – how to determine what your skin type is?

Our skin type is determined by our genetic makeup – although it will be affected over time by factors such as hormonal changes, aging, or changes of season. Based on these characteristics, there are five types of skin categories that you will fall under – normal, dry, oily, combination (both oily and dry skin), and sensitive.

Normal skin

‘Normal’ is a term widely used to refer to skin that appears well-balanced and healthy. It’s neither dry nor oily, not prone to breakouts or sensitivity.

Dry skin

Dry skin lacks the lipids that it needs to retain moisture and build a protective shield against external influences. As a result of this lack, dry skin can feel tight, rough, and look dull.

Oily skin

Oily skin is characterized by an overproduction of sebum, known as seborrhea. Oily skin has a glossy shine, visible larger pores, and is more prone to acne.

Combination skin

Combination skin is characterized by a mostly normal face with an oily forehead, nose, and chin (T-Zone) while the rest of the face tends to be dry.

Sensitive

People with truly sensitive skin have thin, often pale skin that leaves them prone to blushing and allergies. Because blood vessels are closer to the surface of their delicate skin, it’s easily irritated by outside irritants like pollen or dust. For this skin type choosing products will involve a lot of trial and error – patch testing is essential for you! This skin type is different from Sensitised skin is which is usually caused by environmental or lifestyle choices like smoking, skincare products, stress, diet, etc. This can all contribute to an impaired skin barrier or acid mantle which is our protective layer. This is something that can be repaired with the right skincare routine.

As always it is always best to seek professional advice – our therapists are skin experts who can have a thorough look at your skin and give you the best advice on what products you should be using to have your skin looking and feeling healthy!

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What is the best cleanser for your skin type?

Cream Cleanser

A cream cleanser is a type of facial wash that contains oil and water-based emulsifying agents. A creamy cleanser is a very hydrating cleanser that can be beneficial for those looking to cleanse their faces without stripping the natural oils from our pores while still removing all foreign substances on your complexion such as dirt, debris, pollutants in addition to make-up residue along with other harmful toxins at the same time leaving behind healthy moisturizing elements like Vitamin E which helps combat fine lines & wrinkles. A cream cleanser is best for dehydrated, inflamed, mature skins that sit in the normal to dry range!

Gel Cleanser

A gel cleanser or foaming face wash tends to have a gel-like consistency and is typically designed for deep cleansing. These cleansers are especially good for unclogging pores while removing excess oil and acne-causing bacteria from the surface of your face. A foaming cleanser is usually packed with active ingredients like salicylic acid to deeply cleanse the pores so is best suited to your normal to oily skin types. Remember it shouldn’t leave your skin feeling overly tight and squeaky clean or it may be too drying for your skin!

Cleansing balm

A cleansing balm is a blend of oil and cream designed to break down heavy or waterproof makeup, moisturize the skin, and become your first step in double-cleansing. It can be used as an alternative for many people who have dry or more sensitive types of skin because it’s gentler than traditional facial cleansers but still gets rid of most product build-up from their face before they move on with a regular skincare routine.

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Key Ingredients

There are some incredible skincare ingredients in today’s products, which can be broken down into the below three categories:

Emollients –

Emollients are substances that soften and moisturize the skin and decrease itching and flaking caused by trans-epidermal water loss. This is when the top layer of your skin doesn’t contain enough water, it dries out. This causes the skin to crack and flake off, leaving open spaces between the cells in your skin. Emollients fill those spaces with fatty substances, called lipids, which make your skin smoother and softer. Jojoba oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter are some of our favorites!

Humectants –

You can think of humectants as magnets that attract water. They pull moisture from the air into your skin’s upper layer. Glycerin and Hyaluronic acid are great examples for this type of ingredient in skincare products since it helps to keep you hydrated throughout the day while protecting against free radicals which could damage your cells or cause signs of aging like wrinkles on the facial area.

Actives –

Using active ingredients in your skincare and cleanser is a great way to target specific skin conditions! Salicylic acid is an amazing active ingredient for those who are fighting acne and want to help clear up their skin. It works by clearing out the pores, helps with inflammation of your face, reduces redness on your cheeks/forehead area from previous breakouts! Vitamin C brightens the complexion while Retinol can be a game-changer when it comes to balancing and resurfacing dehydrated skins. Hyaluronic Acid is very powerful at hydrating dry areas such as around the mouth where you might have fine lines appearing more frequently than anywhere else on your body.

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How to use a facial cleanser

It is very beneficial to cleanse the skin twice a day. There are several reasons why you should wash your face in the morning. For one, bacteria can accumulate throughout the night and it’s important to prime your skin for skincare by cleansing it first thing after waking up. Not only that but also removing all of last night’s creams or serums from our faces is a great way to start the day with clean pores! Cleaning your face before bed is just as vital to removing makeup and other grime from the day. Additionally, it helps skincare products better absorb into our bodies when we sleep so that they can work their magic throughout the night!

For the first cleanse you should use a small amount of cleanser on your hands and emulsify it into the skin with water – this will remove makeup, sunscreen, and environmental dirt from the day. It is very important to do another deep clean after! This step can help get rid of deeper built-up dirt and oils that may cause breakouts or blackheads. Avoid missing areas like around your nose, ears, hairline then rinse thoroughly when done cleansing using warm but not hot water before continuing onto your daytime or night-time routine!

Tips on how to care for your skin

Cleansing your skin is a vital step in daily skincare that will leave you with healthy, glowing skin. Here are some tips to get the most out of your skincare routine!

  • It is important to be mindful of what you are putting on your skin – not just the product! Even if it is with your hands, a facecloth, or a cleansing device that can cause micro-injuries. If the item isn’t clean and gentle then harmful bacteria could be introduced into your pores which will have negative effects such as acne breakouts or dryness.
  • If you have a Toner in your skincare routine, make sure that it is used after cleansing. This can help to rebalance the skin’s pH balance which changes with water use — specifically as chlorine and other chemicals are often present in tap water. The normal, healthy skin should contain a slightly acidic (5-6) environment.
  • Cleansers are designed to remove all traces of makeup and clean the skin. However, you need to make sure that it is completely removed as cleansers can affect your moisturizer’s absorption, and could cause breakouts if it contains comedogenic ingredients (Read on for more about these!)
  • How your skin feels after cleansing is something to pay attention to! You should not feel overly tight or shiny. This is a sign the product could be stripping your natural oils, which can lead to the skin overproducing them to protect itself.
  • When drying your skin after a shower, always pat it gently with a towel. Avoid vigorously rubbing the skin as this can cause premature wrinkling and micro-injuries to the top layers of the skin which we want to avoid!
  • It is best to apply your products after cleansing or right out of the shower. This will ensure that you are getting as much benefit from it since hydration products absorb better on damp skin.
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Cleanser ingredients to be aware of

When searching for a cleanser it’s important not only to look at if the product will benefit your skin type but also the ingredient list. We’ve spoken about helpful ingredients, here are a few ingredients to keep an eye out for and try to avoid when looking at a new product range:

Parabens –

Parabens are chemicals that help make products last longer. They keep bacteria from growing in things like shampoo and sunscreen, which can change the product’s color or smell over time. Unfortunately, parabens have been linked to health issues such as cancer when they enter our bodies through skin absorption so it is best to look for paraben-free products.

Sulfates –

Sulfates are responsible for the foaming and lathering in common hygiene products. These chemicals may build up over time, which poses a risk to sensitive skin types who develop acne or clogged pores.

Alcohols –

This is a tricky ingredient to incorporate into your skincare routine. When used in small amounts, it can help the ingredients penetrate better and make products feel lighter on the skin – which makes them more effective at moisturizing or treating acne. However, if you have sensitive skin that’s dry/eczema-prone then this may not be for you!

Fragrance –

There are many harmful chemical fragrances in cosmetic products such as artificial fragrances. However, this does not mean that your skin cannot be scented! Look for functional ingredients which can provide benefits to the skin and have their own pleasant smell – like essential oils!

Oils –

When it comes to skincare, not all oils are created equal. For instance, coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it clogs the pores on your face. When you apply coconut oil, it simply lays on the surface because the molecules in the oil are far too big to be absorbed into the skin. Look for products containing jojoba, almond, grape, or hemp seed oils that are much more compatible with human skin. On the body however, products containing coconut oil can be a great option.

Makeup wipes –

Makeup wipes are marketed as an easy option – but they do not cleanse effectively. Many contain preservatives that can be harsh on sensitive skin, even when it says “for sensitive skins” on the pack. After a long day, it’s easy to think about skipping the cleansing process and just going straight to bed. However, your skin will thank you if you give it some love!

Best cleanser, skin type, skincare

We hope this article has helped you in your journey to find the best products for your skin! If there’s anything we didn’t cover, or if you have any questions about our recommendations, please reach out. Our team of skincare experts is always happy to help and provide advice on how to get started with a new routine. Have a beautiful day!