Hello again, dear friends. Welcome to this week’s post.
Today, we’ll be building on the knowledge you must have gotten from our previous post that talked about how to identify your individual skin type. It’s now time to discuss the best cleansers for you based on your particular skin type and skin concerns.
Just as a reminder, the different skin types are Dry, Normal, Oily, and Combination skin, right? You’re doing great so far!
Now to the discussion of the day.
The most important thing to note on your beauty journey is that there really is no hard and fast rule to this. If you already found a cleanser that works magic on you and leaves your face clean and you happy, then by all means continue. For those of us still on the trial-and-error ride, get your pens and papers right away.
There is a wide range of cleansers available right now, what’s more? Newer ones are constantly being produced!! For the purpose of this post, however, we’ll be focusing on certain ingredients and types of cleansers, for example, Light foaming cleansers, Gel cleansers, Cream and lotion cleansers, Oil-based cleansers, and Cleansing wipes.
OKAY! Let’s get right into it, shall we?
DRY SKIN
Generally, people with dry skin are better off avoiding products with ingredients (like, soap [such as sodium tallowate or cocoate] or high percentage of alcohol) that would end up drying them out even further and causing tight, flaky skin.
Useful ingredients to look out for are those that would help the skin retain moisture, for example, honey, hyaluronic acid (which naturally boosts skin moisture), aloe Vera (a natural moisturizer), Shea butter, glycerin and emollients such as petrolatum, lanolin and ceramide.
As such, cream and lotion cleansers are the best for this skin type.
NORMAL SKIN
“Normal” in this context refers to skin that is not easily irritated and rarely breaks out. It is neither overly dry nor excessively oily.
For those that are blessed with this skin type, the options are limitless as they have been shown to react mostly favorably to different types of cleansers. Yay!
As long as you remember the cardinal rules of skin care and use products with ingredients to maintain the balance between your skin’s hydration and its oil-production, you’re good to go.
OILY SKIN
A good number of people that fall in this category also happen to have acne-prone skin so the right type of cleanser would be one that helps regulate (not completely eliminate) the oil production, fights bacteria that could cause acne, and still keeps the skin well hydrated.
First of all, you’ll want to look out for the term ‘non-comedogenic’ on your product labels. What this term means is that the product has been formulated in such a manner that it does not clog your pores.
Next! Some cool ingredients you want in your products include:
Tea tree oil (which dissolves skin oils and kills bacteria that can cause acne), Salicylic acid (known to help break down blackheads and whiteheads), glycolic acid (which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid [AHA]), Benzoyl peroxide (especially good for acne-prone skin). Others are Aloe vera, citric acid, grapeseed oil, hyaluronic acid.
The best type of cleanser for this skin type is the Foamy or Gel cleanser.
COMBINATION SKIN
Given that this skin type is both oily (in some places) and dry (in other places), the best products would be the ones that help find that efficient balance between hydration and oil-production by the skin so that no one component goes into overdrive.
Useful ingredients include – hyaluronic acid,
Cleanser type: Non-foaming Gel cleanser
Extra Tips:
- Always remember to wash your face after workout or other strenuous activity. This helps wash out the dust, sweat and However, avoid washing the skin too frequently as this strips the skin of its natural oils, leading to in an increase in oil production, which is the opposite of the desired effect especially in oily-skinned individuals.
- For those with mild or sensitive skin, the best cleansing product would be mild, fragrance-free and sulfate-free formula.
- If you have any medical condition, please ALWAYS confirm the safety of your products with your doctor before you commence usage.
- People that are allergic to Aspirin are generally advised to avoid items and products that have salicylic acid in them as they may trigger an allergic reaction which may be life-threatening.
So, that’s it, darlings. I hope now we all know what to look out for and what to avoid in our cleansers. Remember, patience is a huge part of any skincare routine. Take the first step in the right direction today and your future self would thank you for it.
See you in our next post. Till then, stay glowing, stay PERFECT!!