Skin Cleanser

Cleansing your skin

The days of grabbing the nearest bar of soap and washing your face are gone (unless you are about 5 years old and just finished playing in the mud). Cleansers are created in laboratories, scientifically tested and frequently improved with new knowledge. The end result is a vast array of cleanser choices that can boggle the mind. Deciding which cleanser to use and how much to pay requires an understanding of basic cleansing rules.

Faithful to the End

You should faithfully cleanse your skin everyday to keep the pores clear of pollutants and oils. Clean pores mean healthier, naturally oiled skin that skin aging. Skin that has worn makeup all day is particularly in need of cleansing. Many makeup products close pores and don’t let the skin breathe. But even if you don’t wear makeup, environmental toxins bombard your skin everyday, wreaking havoc. So the first step in choosing the appropriate cleanser is to learn basic facts about cleansing.

  • There are many skin types, ranging from dry to oily and everything in-between. Cleansers are designed for various skin types and you should match the cleanser to your skin.
  • Faithfully cleanse your skin, and thus your pores, ever day. You should never go to sleep at night with makeup on your face.
  • Do not over cleanse. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make with their skin. Over cleansing will strip your skin of natural oils.
  • Cleanser should be soap free.
  • Avoid cleansers with alcohol.
  • Removing the cleanser should not require scrubbing.
  • Avoid cleansers that have strong perfume additives if you have sensitive skin. Even some herbs like mint can sting and leave a rash.
  • Cleanser should not burn eyes.

    • Skin requires natural oils and even bacteria to stay healthy. The purpose of a cleanser is to wash away the day's old oil and dead skin. You don't want to strip your skin of all its healthy nutrients though. If you do that by using a too harsh cleanser, your face will be left dry and tight. A good cleanser balances cleaning with moisturizing for your skin type.

    Devoted Following

    Your skin changes over time. It is important to adapt your cleanser to your skin condition. There are many choices in cleansers. You can buy foaming cleansers, gels, liquids, cleanser wipes and cleansers made with organic ingredients.

    Cleansers also contain various vitamins. Research on the benefits of applying topical cleansers containing vitamins is ongoing. But it appears that Vitamins A, B, C and E may provide nutrients to the skin that reduce wrinkles and keep skin healthy. Keep in mind that cleansers are applied and washed off. It is unnecessary to assume you must pay a lot of money for cleansers, because price doesn’t always determine effectiveness. Cosmetic companies try to insist that because their product has a certain ingredient, it is worth the extra money. That may or may not be true. Beware of false claims. Do the research before purchasing any cleanser. There are cleansers that are meant to do a certain task well.

  • Cleansers that deep clean for the removal of makeup
  • General facial cleansers for routine cleaning
  • Cleansers that are part of a routine for treating acne

    • Once you find a cleanser, use it daily, but watch for changes in your skin. Any sign of drying, flaking or irritation means you are not using the right cleanser.