The market is flooded with cleansers promising all sorts of miracles. It can be difficult to know what will work for your skin. Often we overlook a few common “characteristics” of drugstore cleansers that aren’t always obvious. Here’s a quick list of things to watch out for next time you find yourself in the market for a new cleanser.
- Will it strip your skin? You want your skin to feel clean, but not stripped. Certain ingredients have the ability to remove your skin’s natural oil barrier. This barrier is there to protect your skin, and if left defenceless it becomes vulnerable to drying out, breaking out and even dehydration. The oil barriers is a key element in helping your skin retain moisture. Alcohol and PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) are major offenders to watch out for in this case.
- Will it set oil production into overdrive? As mentioned in #1, stripped skin is exposed and susceptible to damage and breakouts. The right cleanser WILL remove excess oil and debris. It WON’T leave you guardless. When your body senses that the skin has been stripped, it often reacts in an overcompensation as a defence mechanism. This is how you end up with “oily” skin, that is also dehydrated.
- Does it promise to moisturize and hydrate? We believe that a cleanser’s job should simply be to clean. You want its focus to be on removing problem bacteria and debris. Remember- skincare should be simple. Seek a cleanser that cleanses, a moisturizer that moisturizes and a hydrator that hydrates. When you’re looking for a “moisturizing” cleanser, it often overshadows the cleaning part of the routine, and your cleanser becomes less effective in the process.
- Are all multitasking cleansers a no-go? Of course not! There are some combinations that work in perfect symmetry. Cleansers combined with exfoliating properties are a great example of this. This is because they’re working to achieve the same goal- to give your skin an exceptional clean. Scrubs usually contain a cleanser in them a well. This helps provide a ‘slip’ so that you aren’t being overly abrasive with your skin. Another option is to look for a cleanser that contains fruit enzymes, especially if you suffer from congestion and blackheads. These enzymes (often found in citrus fruits) can get deeper inside the pore and eat away at pore-clogging bacteria and debris.
- Will it irritate your skin? People with super sensitive skin can attest to the plight of bothersome ingredients. Cleansers are notorious for containing irritating ingredients. Keep an eye out for ingredients like Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide. Same goes for Sulfates like SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate). These “foam inducers” may help create a lather, but they’re also the same harsh chemicals used in cleaning detergents for laundry, dishes, and even your car.
Not quite sure if your cleanser is up to snuff now? Let Grounded Sage help you find one we know will be! As part of our DIY Skin Care Routine Builder, we’ve designed a quiz to help you determine which of our cleansers is your perfect match. Hop on over to our Find Your Cleanser Quiz now!
Until next time- stay radiant!
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