Cleansing is arguably the most important step in your skincare routine. Ensuring your complexion is clear of makeup and grime built up from the day is crucial for overall skin health, but also the efficacy of ingredients to follow. In saying that, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all product, especially when it comes to cleansing. We caught up with Tracey Beeby, Global Education Ambassador for Ultraceuticals to find out how to find the right cleanser for your skin type, as well as how to identify your skin type in the first place.
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Why is cleansing your skin so important?
“Cleansing the skin is the most important part of all skin care routines as this begins the skincare program,” says Tracey. “If cleansing isn’t executed properly then serums and moisturisers won’t be able to perform their action in the skin effectively,” she says.
Is there a simple way of determining skin type, and as a result choosing the right cleansing product?
“Those that suffer from [oily skin may notice] a shine begins to appear fairly quickly during the day and makeup may slide off within a few hours,” explains Tracey. When it comes to identifying dry skin, you may notice “[it] appears a little dull, flaky and possibly rough to the touch. Combination skin generally only suffers from the oily shine down the ‘T’ zone, most often the forehead, nose and chin.”
“Generally a foaming cleanser is [the most] suitable for oily skin,” says Tracey, and a milk product should be your go-to for dry skin. “Cleansing must be performed with a pH balanced product,” explains Tracey, “either foam or milk cleanser, morning and night. In the evenings cleansing should be performed twice (read more about double cleansing here) to thoroughly remove all pathogens that accumulated on the skin throughout the day.”
Are there any types of cleansers that should be avoided altogether?
“Soaps should be avoided” in cleansing the face, “as they are alkaline and will strip the skin of …natural moisture, says Tracey. Also look out for harsh surfactants like SLS or SLES, as these can be irritating to the skin. By ensuring all cleansers are “pH balanced, this means they are acidic like your skin and not alkaline like most soaps.”
Cleansers bh loves for oily skin: Ultraceuticals Brightening Foaming Cleanser, QV Face Gentle Foaming Cleanser, Blessed by Nature Foaming Facial Cleanser, Go-To Properly Clean (find it at gotoskincare.com), Goodness Superfoods Be Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Cleansers bh loves for dry skin: Fresh Soy Face Cleansing Milk (find it at sephora.com.au), Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk (find it at sephora.com.au), Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser, SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser
Cleansers bh loves for combination skin: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser, Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser, Simple Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water
Main image credit @jenatkinhair
What is your go-to cleanser? What formula do you prefer?
I feel like its definitely a trial and error thing also of course known what your skin type is
Trial and error is my way of finding the right products for me.
Some lovely products mentioned