Back to Basics: How to Find The Perfect Cleanser

Foaming, gel, micellar, oil? A great cleanser is an essential first step to building a fabulous routine and can set you up for a future of beautiful skin, or a future skincare disaster. Yet while it may be simple, finding the best one within the seemingly never-ending skincare aisle can feel no short of overwhelming. But don’t stress, the Complexions team is here to help you find the perfect cleanser for skin care success!

The first step to determining your perfect match is to understand what cleansers actually do. It may seem like a bit of a “Duh” situation, but cleansers not only remove dirt and impurities from the skin that have accumulated over time, but also can remove oil and sebum that the skin has excreted and certain bacteria and skin cells on the skins surface. These are important factors to remember when choosing which cleanser is right for you because we need to make sure the cleanser or any products we pick, are suited to our skin’s type and integrity/overall health. We don’t want to be too harsh in removing things our skin needs as that can cause irritation. But we also don’t want to be over nourishing if our skin doesn’t need it, as that may cause breakouts. So how do we do that? Step one is to determine your skin type. ​

​Skin type is concerned with oil production and can be measured on a scale from oily to dry. It’s also genetic. Your oil levels can change throughout your life either from age, medications or hormonal changes which is something we need to factor into which products are best for you, but generally, if you have one skin type you will remain with that skin type for most of your life. Oily skin can be defined as having above average oil production, larger pores, thicker skin sometimes with a sallower appearance or orange peel texture and prone to breakouts and congestion. If you think you have oily skin, then you’ll notice that throughout the day your face tends to get shiny and makeup (if you wear it) may break up on the face or slide off. If your skin is oilier, then we need to use a cleanser that effectively cleanses the skin and minimises/helps to balance oil production. Keep in mind however that while we do want an effective cleanser, all cleansers should still be gentle, non-stripping, PH balanced and soap free! If you have oily skin stay away from cleansers that are cream based or very moisturising as it may be too rich for you, similarly to how you wouldn’t use a very thick moisturiser.

For all our examples we will be using Ultraceuticals products since we know here at Skin, that quality and effectiveness is key when choosing the right homecare to maximise your results. A great cleanser for oily skin would be Ultra Balancing Gel Cleanser which foams up in your hands once mixed with water to help remove impurities and balance oil production gently but effectively. If you have acne or congested skin then Ultra Clear Foaming Cleanser may be better suited which contains mild levels of AHA and BHA’s to help reduce congestion and clarify the skin, targeting blocked pores and breakouts.

Oilier, thicker skins may also benefit from introducing a scrub or chemical exfoliant such as Gentle Exfoliating Gel or Ultra Dual Microfoliant a couple of times a week into their routine. This can help reduce congestion, brighten, and increase cellular turnover resulting in healthier skin.

Dry skin on the other hand is defined by having an insufficient or lower oil production, very small almost non-existent pores, sometimes redness and flakiness and may also be prone to other conditions such as dermatitis or sensitivity and be very reactive. If your skin is dry, you’ll notice you may have a very tight “squeaky-clean” uncomfortable feeling straight after most cleansers with flaky dry spots that makeup seems to cling to. For dry skin we need to remove impurities very gently while simultaneously nourishing and replenishing the skin. Not over drying and removing precious oils the skin needs to keep it healthy since we don’t have much to start with. Ultra hydrating Milk Cleanser is a great option for dry skin since its nourishing milky formula helps to replenish while cleansing. This cleanser is a little different since its cream based and doesn’t foam or create bubbles like a typical cleanser. To use simple massage into your dry face and then remove with warm water or cotton pads. If you want to use a cloth to remove the cleanser, make sure it’s very gentle as we don’t want to over cleanse or exfoliate the skin which can make dryness and dehydration worse. If you really can’t get past the texture and no bubbles, which can take a bit to get used to, then Ultimate Brightening Foaming Cleanser is a great alternative. It’s a little more moisturising to the skin then our other foaming cleansers and also helps to combat dullness and increase luminosity. Ultimate brightening cleanser is our go-to for our beautiful ladies aging gracefully that need a little more moisture now than they once did.

Feel like you’re oily but also dry at the same time or that you don’t really have either dry or oily skin? Well, you’re not alone, most people are somewhere in the middle of the spectrum leaning only slightly towards more oily or dry. And many people also have a couple of skin conditions that they’re also trying to treat which may contribute to the skins texture or how it feels such as aging, pigmentation, acne, rosacea, dermatitis ect. Dehydration for example, can make oily skin fell like its oily and dry at the same time. It’s quite rare to have someone who is 100% oily or dry but even if you are somewhat in the middle then the same guidelines apply just cater towards which side you think you’re more of. I.e., slightly oily? balancing gel cleanser may be the one. Slightly dry? Then Ultimate brightening cleanser or hydrating cleanser depending on your level or dryness is great.

If you’re unsure about your skin type or think your skin might be suffering a little book in for a complementary consult, we’d love to help you and assess your skin to determine what products are perfect for you and make the process as stress free as possible.

​- Complexions x