FINDING THE RIGHT CLEANSER
Finding a good cleanser isn’t easy. There are an overwhelming amount of options and you might find yourself at a total loss. When it comes to finding the right product for you there is no easy answer. But here are some general guidelines you may want to follow:
Gentle is good
Not all cleansers are made the same. Surfactants are wrongly vilified, but they’re what does all the heavy lifting in our cleansers. When they come into contact with our skin, they cling to dirt molecules and then get washed down the drain when we rinse. So surfactants are great! The trick is to find a cleanser with surfactants strong enough to remove excess oils, but not so strong that they strip your skin. Coconut derived surfactants have been shown to effectively cleanse our skin without stripping protective oils. Other gentle surfactants you might see on the back label are betaines, sultaines, ether sulfates, sarcosinates, taurates, or isethionates. Don’t be scared of them!
pH balanced for the win
Our skin is protected by an acid mantle. It’s a slightly acidic film that maintains our skin’s pH of around 4.5-5.5. The slightly acidic environment is hostile to opportunistic bacteria that could cause infection. A good cleanser will wash away excess oils, dirt, and cosmetic buildup without compromising our acid mantle. If you’re washing your face with bar soap— stop! Soap is by definition highly alkaline. It’s made by reacting fats with a strong base, like lye, that has a very high pH. Some brands have been opted for including “pH balanced” on the label. That’s something that I like to see!
Cut back on fragrance and other irritants
This might be hard to hear, but that floral scented cleanser may be doing more harm than good. Allergic contact dermatitis is an itchy rash that happens when your skin comes into contact with a substance that triggers an allergic reaction. The number one culprit? Fragrance! What’s worse is that fragrances can also sensitize your skin. That means if you were not previously allergic to one molecule, you may develop an allergy to it later.. If you enjoy your cleanser there is no need to throw it out, but if you do develop a reaction to your products, try something without fragrance for a few weeks and see what happens.
Replenish and restore
My approach to skincare is to nourish. While our skin is resilient, it’s also quite sensitive harsh temperatures, pollution, and UV radiation. Every step of your skin care routine should be dedicated to replenishing your skin barrier- cleansers included! Many cleansers are made to include humectants and fatty alcohols to replace what’s been lost during cleansing. eg. stearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin, sorbitol.
And finally…
If there is one thing I want you to take away from this post it’s that finding products that work for you isn’t so straightforward. Sometimes you will have to try and toss a few different products before you find a good match. There are no absolute rules, but consider these guidelines when looking for a cleanser. If you’re still not sure what to try scroll below for some esthetica recommendations. As always, book a free consultation for personalized recommendations.
For Dry Skin:
Skinscript Pomegranate Antioxidant Cleanser
First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
Avene Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion
For Oily/Acne Prone Skin:
Skinfix 2% 2% BHA + Azelaic Acid Cleanser