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A cleanser’s only job is to gently sweep away make-up, grime, and sebum, leaving the skin feeling soft, supple, and perfectly prepared to receive your treatment serum and moisturizer. It’s so important to get this right because this is what can make or break the synergy to your complete home care regimen.

If you’re not sure whether or not your cleanser is foaming, you can tell if you see suds when you add water to wash your face. Your skin should never feel tight or stripped of essential moisture after cleansing. A great cleanser will leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and supple.

Watch out, too, for cleansers with added granular exfoliants. Used daily, they can toughen and thicken the skin’s outer layer, preventing the oil from getting out. This is where enlarged pores and congestion starts, and it’s downhill from there if the cleanser is not corrected. Detoxifying cleansers that promise to draw out impurities can also be too much stimulation for everyday use and can cause active breakouts. And although make-up wipes can be handy in a pinch, steer clear of regular use of face wipes as well. They just don’t cleanse your skin well enough!

Choosing the Right Cleanser

So how do you find a gentle cleanser that will effectively clean your skin without drying it? There are several different kinds of non-foaming cleansers: gels or gelee, milks or creams, oils or balms, and water-based cleansers. You won’t see suds when you rinse them off your face, and they won’t leave your skin feeling tight and squeaky clean. The key is being thorough and consistent.

If you have been using a foaming cleanser and are dealing with a dry, irritated surface but have oil and congestion underneath, then a week or two of using a gentle non-foaming cleanser should be enough to calm and rebalance your skin’s barrier and start seeing improvement. Here are other types of cleansers you can use:

Non-foaming gel or gelee cleanser:

These cleansers are especially good because they work with all ages of every skin type. Look for one with a smooth texture and a nice consistency. You need your cleanser to have some body to it, so it does not disappear quickly while massaging it into your skin. Massage it in circular motions getting under any fine facial hair for at least 30 seconds. A good cleanser cleans and absorbs impurities and dead cells, leaving your skin feeling clean and fresh.

Milk or cream cleanser:

If you have dry, sensitive, or mature skin, you could try a milk or cream cleanser. These are great because they’re gentle on the skin and leave a comfortable, clean surface. They do the complete opposite of stripping the skin – instead, they clean the skin leaving it hydrated. If you live somewhere with hot, humid summers and long, icy winters, they’re also fantastic during the colder months when your skin needs some extra TLC.

Oil or balm cleansers:

These cleansers can be a good choice for combination skin. They’re often used as the first cleanse to the double cleanse PM step for removing make-up. Lighter than milk cleansers, oil or balm cleansers give a similar level of hydration. This benefits winter skin that’s being stripped by extreme temperature as you move between dry, centrally heated indoors and the cold, harsh outdoors.

Water-based cleansers:

Gentle water-based cleansers are used for an incredibly light cleanse. This type of cleanser can be the second cleanse to your PM double cleanse regimen, or it can be used as your AM cleanser. Although refreshing, it’s not considered a thorough cleansing solution.

Whatever your skin type, sub-conditions, and lifestyle are, you can be sure there is a perfect cleanser for you. That’s why it’s worth putting a little time into finding that “right” cleanser that will streamline and support your skincare regimen for balanced, healthy skin.

Here are some of my favorite ingredients I look for in my cleansing products:

Aloe vera is healing, calming, and soothing, perfect for setting up your skin to receive the rest of your products.

Carrot juice is a strong antioxidant that’s high in vitamins A, C, E and K, and is excellent for sun-damaged skin of all ages.

Chamomile extract protects, calms, and balances even sensitive skin types.

Cucumber extract is cooling, refreshing, and hydrating.

Glycerin gently removes dead skin cells and moisturizes your skin without leaving oil behind.

Red algae is a rich source of nutrients that’s packed with vitamins and minerals to feed the skin and keep it healthy.

How to Cleanse Effectively!

Once you’ve found a cleanser that works for your skin, it’s time to focus on your cleansing technique. You should cleanse your face once in the morning and twice at night, especially if you’re wearing make-up or sunblock (and we should all be wearing sunblock daily).

There will often still be residue from the day left on your skin after the first cleanse, so double cleansing gives you a clean slate that allows your products to be absorbed properly.

Take your time and be thorough: patience and consistency are the key to fast results.

1 Start by washing your hands to make sure that they’re really clean and then dry them carefully. You’ll always get a better cleanse with a non-foaming cleanser if you apply it to dry skin and don’t mix it with water.

2 If you have eye makeup on, remove it first by applying cleanser to two cotton rounds and sweeping them over and around your eyes.

3 Then put a quarter-sized amount of cleanser on your fingertips and begin working it into your face with circular motions, massaging the cleanser in for 30–60 seconds. Make sure to cleanse your whole face: forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, upper-lip area, neck and behind the ears. Really work the cleanser into the skin in a circular motion to get under any fine facial hair you may have on the sides of your face.

4 Finally, rinse the cleanser off with a clean, warm wet washcloth and pat dry. Apply the same amount of cleanser if double cleansing and work it into your face in the same way for another 3060 seconds before rinsing it off again. Follow with your serum and moisturizer.

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