Face it, we all want great skin! Getting facials on a regular basis is an important step in skin care.  However, 90% of positive skin results come from what you do at home. A great skin care regimen starts with a great cleanser; cleansing the skin is essential for all other products to work effectively. 

Even if you wear little or no makeup, skin collects oil, dirt, and dead skin cells all day long. Skin is also exposed to pollutants in the air. It's very important to cleanse the skin twice a day, but if you can only find time for once, cleanse nightly. To help start you on the journey to great skin, a licensed skincare professional can conduct a thorough skin analysis to help you find the ideal cleanser for your skin type, goals and preferences.

Cleansers come in all forms, from bar soaps to foaming gels to milky creams. Most bar cleaners tend to be too drying, which removes the skin’s protective barrier. In general, gels are normally formulated for oily skin types, and cleansing milks are designed for dry and dehydrated skin. While finding the correct cleanser for your skin type is important, personal preference is a big consideration as well. Most people will not regularly use a product if they do not enjoy the feel, texture and smell. 

While the basic function of a cleanser is "to cleanse,” it is not as simple as that. The core function of a cleanser is to remove oil and dirt from the skin. Cleansers are not necessarily formulated to remove makeup. A separate product may be needed to remove all traces of makeup unless the cleanser is formulated to do so. Some cleansers also contain exfoliating agents, which are safe for some skin types but others may find exfoliants too harsh to use on a daily basis. Over exfoliation can lead to irritated or reactive skin and should be avoided. This is another reason to have your skin analyzed by a licensed esthetician.

Many cleansers on the market now have added ingredients for firming, brightening, anti-aging and hydrating the skin. It is good to keep in mind that a cleanser is a product that will be washed off, so absorption of its active ingredients will be minimal. The next important step in skin care after cleansing is to incorporate a skin specific treatment protocol. More on that in our next article. 

Miranda Foster 

Master Esthetician and Massage Therapist 

Terrame Day Spa