Cleansing your face is the primary step of your skin care regimen. Cleansers help to keep your skin clean and fresh. In addition to personal hygiene, cleansers also ensure that other skin care products penetrate efficiently and deliver optimal results.
Ideally, you should cleanse your face twice a day – once in the morning to remove all the oil and bacteria that might have build up from the night before and once in the evening to take off all the make-up, sunscreen and dirt accumulated throughout the day. However, the most important thing is to use a good and suitable cleanser.
Picking the right cleanser for yourself can become a daunting task considering the skin care market that is full of extensive varieties of cleansers. Here are some tips that will inform you about what to look for in a cleanser and how to choose the right one for your skin.
Characteristics of a Good Cleanser
It should not dry the skin and nor strip off the natural moisture.
It should clean the skin well and remove all traces of make-up and sunscreen.
It should not contain any harsh ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate or alcohol.
Choosing the Right Cleanser
Test the Product First
Before you decide to make a cleanser a steady part of your skin care routine, check to see if it suits your skin type. Use the cleanser on your hands before you use it on your face. Even though your hands are not a very accurate indicator, you would still get a hint of how your skin responds to the product. If the cleanser makes your skin feel dry or squeaky immediately, then it might be a little too harsh for your face. Look for a creamier formulation. A good cleanser should make your skin feel calm and rejuvenated.
Buy product samples first so that you can test it before you start using it.
See how your Skin Reacts to the Product
The cleanser should be gentle enough to clean the skin effectively but not so harsh that it leaves your skin feeling dry and irritated. Just as it is important to remove sebum, grime, and pollution from your skin pores, it is also important to preserve your natural skin barrier.
If the cleanser makes your skin excessively dry, it is not the right one for your. Don't think that you can fix the dryness with a moisturizer because no moisture is as good as your skin's natural oils. So make sure you don't damage it.
Check the Ingredients List
Make sure you check the ingredients list before buying any skin care product, not just the cleanser. Your cleanser should not contain any harsh ingredients or large amounts of detergents like odium lauryl sulfate. It will only leave your skin dry and irritated. Even, sodium laureth sulfate, though it is milder than sodium lauryl sulfate, serves to irritate the skin. Look for cleansers that are free of any SLS ingredients and help to normalize the pH balance of the skin.
Consider the Climate
It is important to change your cleanser with the season. During the winter, when the skin is prone to dryness, it is advisable to use a mild cleanser that has moisturizing properties. And during the humid summer months, switch to a stronger cleanser.
Product Suggestions:
Skin Care Heaven Exfoliating Cleanser
It contains 5% Glycolic Acid which aids in the restoration of healthy skin. This product is enhanced with antioxidant A, C, E and Green Tea to help nourish and protect the skin while deep cleaning.
La Roche-Posay Biomedic LHA Cleansing Gel
It is used to purify and prepare the skin and help stimulate and exfoliation. This Cleanser also evens skin tone, helps remove dead skin cells and helps with acne breakouts for a brighter complexion.
Obagi Nu Derm Foaming Gel
