As the winter season gets colder, my skin is going through many changes mainly dry patches on various areas on my face. I love a creamy cleanser because it not only cleanses the skin but helps to dissolve makeup. Most people adjust their skin care routine with the seasons, I really like to use a creamy cleanser year round. There are three types of cleansers: face washes, lotions and creams. A face wash is a detergent-type foaming cleanser with a neutral or slightly acidic PH. A face wash leaves your skin with a “squeaky clean” feeling, it also leaves the skin feeling very tight and dry. I recommend a face wash to clients who have acne prone skin. A cleansing lotion is a water-based emulsion for normal and combination skin. In the summer time when my skin gets a little oiler I prefer a lotion cleanser. A cleansing cream is also an oil based emulsion good for dry skin or people who wear makeup. Ponds cold cream is a product many of my clients seem to enjoy using, it is not designed for all skin types please keep this in mind. I do not recommend soap, it can leave a film on the skin and is alkaline which causes dryness.
Now that we know the different types of facial cleansers, how do you select which one is right for you? First and most important is to know your skin type do NOT follow the trend, I’ve noticed since many companies are creating products that are for sensitive skin many of my clients get confused and now say they have sensitive skin. Please do yourself a favor, make an appointment to see a Skin Therapist he or she can perform a skin analysis and tell you what skin type you have. Ingredients are very important when you are trying to select the right product. Stay away from products that contain a large amount of alcohol also know as ethanol. Alcohol is an antiseptic and when mixed with the right ingredients maybe helpful for some skin types, it should never be used alone to cleanse the skin. Understand what ingredients do for the skin to get the results you are looking for. When in doubt see a skin care professional!
