A face cleanser is the first step in the at-home skincare regimen. It is used to remove makeup, dirt, dead skin cells, oil, and other unwanted debris on your skin, helping you to keep the pores on your skin clean and prevent skin conditions like acne. If a good face cleanser is used, it will prep and prime your skin for a skincare routine and other skincare products.
Signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, and dullness are caused by environmental factors but the good news about this is that they can be fought back using a good quality and well-known brand’s face cleanser. All you need is to have a proper skincare routine and clean your face. With the right use of face cleanser, you can improve your skin texture, firmness, long-term health, and elasticity.
Finding the right face cleanser that is suitable for your skin type is also important. You cannot do this if you don’t have in-depth knowledge of the different types of face cleansers available. There are mainly three types of cleansers available in the market –
- Gel cleansers – These cleansers are like clear land and have a gel-like consistency. They have deep-cleaning and exfoliating properties which makes them ideal for oily and acne-prone skin.
- Cream cleansers – They are thicker than others and have moisturizing properties. They clean the face without stripping it of any natural oils. It is perfect for people with dry or sensitive skin.
- Foam cleansers – These cleansers work as purifying foam cleansers. These lightweight solutions create a foamy lather when dispensed from a pump package. Foam cleansers are easy to use and remove excess oil. It is as effective as gel cleanser and is ideal for skin that is a combination of textures.
How do cleansers work?
The pH of normal skin is between 4.5 and 6.5. When you clean your skin, there is an interaction between cleanser, skin’s moisture barrier, and skin pH. You may think why not use a regular soap instead of a cleanser? But using soap can affect your skin negatively as soaps contain harsh surfactants that can modify the normal skin barrier and even increase the skin pH.
Face cleansers also contain surfactants but these surfactants work by attracting oil, makeup, dirt, and debris and help in easy cleaning of the outermost layer of the skin.
All this will increase the potential for dryness and irritation. Face cleansers are free of soap but are just as effective but gentler, causing less harm to the skin barrier and minimal change to the skin pH.
Some cleaners do their job perfectly as a cleaner like removing bacteria, debris, and excess oil but some go the extra mile with their additional ingredients to address skin problems like acne.
- Acne cleansers – These cleansers, as their name suggests, are perfect for people who have acne-prone skin. They are devoid of ingredients and oils that can irritate.
- Exfoliating cleansers – Tiny particles are sometimes added to the facial cleansers to automatically remove dead skin cells. These cleansers are ideal to use 1-2 times a week but regular use should be avoided as it can dry the skin.
Benefits of using a face cleanser
- Remove Any Kind Of Build Up
The most common benefit of facial cleansers is that they help in the removal of dirt, oil, or any other unwanted substances. Throughout the day, your skin is exposed to bacteria, pollutants, viruses, and debris.
Using a facial cleanser will remove all these impurities and give your skin a clean and fresh look. It will sweep away all the dry and dead skin cells, revealing a fresh layer of skin altogether.
Without cleansing, using any other products on your face is futile as nothing will penetrate beneath the dirt on your skin.
- Hydration
Regular facial cleansing along with the use of a good moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated. Cleansing helps in maintaining the appropriate pH levels of the skin, enabling sufficient water and product retention.
Hydrated skin looks smooth, soft, supple, and youthful.
- Clear Skin
The glands under your skin produce oil called sebum which protects the skin from the harmful substances in the outside world. Excessive dirt build-up on the follicles of the skin causes blockage which traps sebum, sweat, and dead skin cells. The lack of sebum on the skin’s surface will allow bacteria to penetrate beneath the follicles causing inflammation which eventually leads to acne.
Proper skin cleansing cleans the pores allowing sebum oil to reach the skin surface which decreases the chances of a breakout.
- Blood Circulation
Applying facial cleanser will increase blood circulation which will boost blood flow in your face. The increased blood flow will make your skin look younger and help fight signs of skin aging.
How do you choose the right facial cleanser?
With thousands of cleansers available in the aisle, it is obvious for you to get confused. Some tips that will help you choose the perfect cleanser are –
Choose a cleanser that matches your skin type. For dry skin, choos cleanser with a low alcohol content and for oily skin use cleanser with low pH level. For sensitive skin, your skin needs a basic cleanser that is free from heavy fragrances and additives.
Cream-based cleansers are better for dry skin whereas purifying foam cleansers are suitable for oily skin types.
The choice of cleanser also depends on your lifestyle. For example, if you sweat a lot, a cleanser targeted towards clogged pores is better for you whereas if you are a regular makeup wearer, then a cleanser with removal properties is fit for you.
Select a cleanser that has an appropriate pH level and helps you in maintaining the natural skin balance.
Check reviews of the cleanser you are thinking of buying.
Wrapping Up
Throughout the day, our face skin comes in contact with a lot of impurities, and to remove these, a face cleanser is the best option.
