Cleansers are used to remove impurities such as makeup, dirt, pollutants and excess oil from skin. Cleansers also balance natural oils while prepping it for other skincare products.
Many modern cleansers are gentle enough to support the skin’s moisture barrier and ensure soft, hydrated and youthful-looking skin.
Cleansing
Cleansing is the cornerstone of an effective skincare regime. Cleansing can remove makeup, dirt, oil, sweat and daily pollutants as well as dead skin cells from the face to avoid impurities from accumulating and clogging pores – leading to breakouts or dullness if left behind.
Modern cleansers differ significantly from soap in that they are designed to be gentler on the skin’s natural pH balance and barrier function. Cleansers often release surfactants onto its surface to lower interfacial tension and dissolve impurities from within pores.
Some cleansers contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like lactic acid or fruit acids and/or beta hydroxy acids like salicylic or willow bark extracts to gently exfoliate without irritating skin. Foaming, gel or cream cleansers are tailored for every skin type while micellar waters offer no-rinse formulas with micelle molecules to quickly lift away makeup and impurities without leaving residue behind or damaging barrier function.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation can help smooth the complexion for oily or dry skin types alike, eliminating dead skin cells that clog your pores, making your face appear dull and giving other skincare products such as acne treatments or moisturizers better access to penetrate the pores more efficiently.
Physical exfoliants consist of abrasive particles such as ground nutshells, granules or salt that use frictional forces to buff away dead skin on your face surface. Examples of such exfoliators can include scrubs and washcloths or facial brushes.
Chemical exfoliants utilize ingredients that dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells so they slough off easily without causing irritation, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid and mandelic acid; beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid or polyhydroxy acids like lactobionic acid and gluconolactone.
Exfoliation should take place no more frequently than twice per week with physical products or exfoliators; any more can make skin irritable, sensitive and vulnerable resulting in redness and flakiness.
Hydration
Selecting an effective face cleanser that matches your skin type can make a tremendous difference in its look and feel. Regular cleansing helps unclog pores, prevent breakouts and excess oil production while reducing redness or any other imperfections on the surface of the skin for more even complexion.
Gel cleansers are lightweight formulas designed to gently remove dirt and other impurities without disrupting the skin barrier, while often including humectants to hydrate complexion and provide relief for sensitive skin types. Ideal for all skin types.
Bar cleansers are thick, soapy formulas that contain ingredients such as petrolatum, lanolin, squalene or mineral oils to clog pores and cause breakouts for those with oily or acne-prone complexions. Emollients like petrolatum, lanolin squalene or mineral oils may also help restore moisture loss from the complexion by helping retain hydration levels in your complexion.
Oil-based cleansers rely on moisturizing oils (like jojoba oil) to effectively dissolve makeup, dirt and impurities while simultaneously leaving your complexion hydrated. They’re often the first step of a double cleansing routine – CeraVe’s Hydrating Micellar Water is an ultra-gentle, no-rinse cleanser with ceramides & niacinamide that removes makeup without drying out your complexion!
Absorption
Skin is designed to keep water in and other materials out, while still being capable of absorbing small molecules such as vitamins or fragrance. Cleansing can assist this process by clearing away debris, dirt, excess oil and makeup that blocks absorption.
Gentle cleanser and lukewarm water should be used when cleansing skin to ensure effective absorption and avoid irritation or damage to its protective barrier. Patting rather than rubbing is recommended to dry the skin after bathing to maximize efficiency and minimize potential damages to its protective function.
Exfoliation is essential for smooth skin tone and unclogged pores, whether chemical or physical exfoliation is used. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells which could block serums & moisturizers’ effectiveness and ensure better overall results from treatments like serums & moisturizers.
Layering products & following the proper application order can also enhance skincare absorption. To maximize absorption, try misting with toner or hydrating serum right after cleansing your face before applying facial cream; this allows each ingredient to penetrate without being mixed with others or dilute further by other components. Adding a face oil is another easy way to boost absorption.
