You know that washing your face is necessary to remove dirt, dust, pollutants, makeup, and dead skin cells. Cleansing helps protect our skin from all of the bad stuff, it’s exposed to in a day while helping to maintain moisture and encourage healthy cell turnover. How do you choose the best cleanser from all of the available choices? The shelves are crowded with bar soaps, foaming washes, gels, lotions, astringents, pads, and scrubs. It can be a bit confusing, but you can select the right cleanser for you.
The first step is to figure out your skin type. Is it oily and prone to breakouts? Is it dry and tight after you wash? The wrong cleanser can make any skin issues you have worse. If you have sensitive skin, the wrong cleanser can cause irritation, and if you have oily skin the wrong choice can lead to more oil and breakouts. Understanding your skin type is fairly easy.
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Normal skin has little or no imperfections, no sensitivity or irritation, barely visible pores, and a generally radiant complexion.
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Dry skin has almost invisible pores, little elasticity, can feel tight after washing, has more visible lines, and can have a rough complexion.
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Oily skin can appear shiny and feel oily, have enlarged pores, and have blackheads or other visible blemishes.
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Combination skin can be dry in some spots and oily in others, such as the T-zone (across the forehead and down the center of the face). The pores may be large and there may be visible signs of oiliness and blackheads.
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Sensitive skin, usually shows visible signs of irritation such as burning, redness, drying, and itching. There may also be allergic reactions or flushing when exposed to certain products.
Once you have determined your skin type, you can begin your search for the right cleanser. The best way to do this is to read the labels. Most products will be clearly labeled with the skin type they are specifically made for. If you aren’t sure, then read the ingredients. If you have dry skin you should avoid anything with alcohol. Cleansers for oily skin may be labeled as being an “acne” wash or have ingredients that break up and remove oils. If you have sensitive skin, look for gentle cleansers without alcohol, fragrance, or other irritants. Most cleansers for sensitive skin will say so right on the label.
If you wear makeup on a daily basis, you might want to choose a cleanser that is also a good but the gentle makeup remover. There are many companies that make cleansing cloths to help do just that, but read the labels for ingredients that might irritate your skin or contain ingredients that are contrary to your skin type.
When looking for the right cleanser, make sure you know your skin type and read labels to avoid buying the wrong cleanser. Don’t wash your face more than twice a day, and it’s also a good idea to wash your hands before you wash your face, especially for sensitive skin.
