How to Choose the Right Cleanser for Your Skin Type
What is cleansing?
Cleansing is the first step of every good skincare routine, whether your skin type is dry, oily, or somewhere in-between. Think of cleansing as the ultimate skin prepper: before exfoliating, and moisturising, face cleansers work to refresh and renew your complexion.
Your skin and skincare goals are individual and your cleanser should be too. There are a range of cleansers out there, and they each have different benefits. You’ve most likely heard of micellar water before, but you might not know how it differs to a foaming, cream or oil cleanser.
If choosing a cleanser can cause confusion, we’re here to help. Read our helpful guide to understand how to choose the right cleanser to keep your skin looking bright and happy.
The best face cleansing routine is simple and proactive. Read on to find out more.
The Benefits of Cleanser
Before you can benefit from effective skincare ingredients, dirt, makeup and impurities have to be cleared from your surface layer of skin. Our skin is exposed to different stressors each day, including bacteria, oil, pollution and dirt. Water alone doesn’t clean skin, and the gentle ingredients in cleansers are needed to make sure you start and end each day fresh. What makes cleansers so effective is the balance they help to establish between your skin’s pH and moisture levels.
Types of Cleansers
Skincare can sometimes feel tricky to figure out, especially with so much choice out there. However, choice is important, and knowing which products can do the most for your skin will ensure your daily routine will address your unique needs. We’ve broken down the main types of cleansers below, to make your choice super simple.
Micellar water
A favourite of beauty junkies, micellar water has earnt a name for itself as a multi-use skincare hero. ‘Micellar’ refers to the inclusion of cleaning molecules, that when joined together form oil and dirt-lifting structures named ‘ micelles’. Alongside its purifying ability, micellar water can be used to gentle cleanse skin – without causing irritation or stress to skin with unnecessary rubbing.
Gel Cleansers
Certain cleansers are especially good at deep-cleaning, and gel cleansers are one of them. Gel cleansers like the Pinea-C Brightening Foaming Gel Cleanser purify and smooth the surface layer of skin using a foaming texture. Gel cleansers clean by clearing makeup, excess oil as well as dirt and other pollutants. When combined with additional skincare ingredients, gel cleansers can brighten and boost skin’s radiance.
Cream Cleansers
Compared to their gel counterpart, cream facial cleansers don’t foam, and instead mildly cleanse skin with a soft, ‘milky’ texture. An especially hydrating skincare hero, cream cleansers improve the bounciness and moisturisation of skin, whilst gently removing makeup and impurities. Those who like their products to feel luxurious or indulgent should opt for cream cleansers like the Hyalu-Melon Smoothing Milky Facial Cleanser.
How to Choose a Cleanser for Your Skin Type
Matching your cleanser to your goals and concerns can take your skin from dull to dreamy. And as the first skincare step, it’s extra important that your cleanser suits. Your following products – like serums or moisturisers – are only most effective if they’re being used on cleansed skin. For ingredients to work deeply, they need proper access, so make sure your face cleansing routine works for your skin type. Read below to find out how to choose a cleanser for you.
Cleanser for Dry Skin
Those with dry skin types can often feel like they’re in a never-ending battle for plump and hydrated skin. By focusing on milky cleansers that boost moisture levels like the Micellar Milky Cleanser Water, you’ll purify skin without drying it out. For added hydration, the vegan formula Hyalu-Melon Smoothing Milky Facial Cleanser includes hyaluronic acid, to infuse moisture into skin while gently buffing away impurities.
Cleanser for Oily Skin
Excess oil in skin results from an overproduction of sebum, our natural oil. This can lead to enlarged pores, blackheads and breakouts. When cleansing, it’s important to strike a healthy balance of oil removal, so that the right level of sebum is maintained and skin can stay naturally hydrated. To tighten pores, a clay cleanser like the Canna-B Pore Perfecting 3-in-1 Cleanser + Exfoliator + Mask uses niacinamide to control shine and reduce pore size.
Cleanser for Combination Skin
Combination skin can leave some areas feeling dry, and others looking shiny. The best way to target this concern is by using a simple cleanser, which works to purify and rebalance skin’s If you are prone to imperfections or dull and tight skin, use the Pinea-C Brightening Foaming Gel Cleanser, which works to brighten and tighten pores.
Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
The gentler texture of micellar water makes it super suitable for sensitive skin types. If you experience flakiness, redness or tightness in skin, look for cleansers that also work to provides softness. To cleanse skin without causing sensitivity, you may benefit from a gel and micellar combination. The Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash also uses a naturally-derived grape extract to provide a soothing effect on skin without rubbing. For those after a simplified routine, fragrance-free Micellar Cleansing Water refreshes skin without causing irritation, no rinsing needed. Simply apply the micellar water to a pad like the reusable Micellar Eco Pads and swipe across skin to remove makeup and cleanse skin.
How to Cleanse Your Face
Cleansing should be a part of your morning and evening routine, to remove impurities and bacteria that builds up while we sleep and accumulates throughout our day. As the first step in your routine, gently apply your cleanser to a wettened face, moving in circular motions to encourage micro-circulation.
Now that you know how to choose cleanser for your skin type, find out more about the benefits of double cleansing.
