Washing with water alone will rinse some of the dirt and debris away, alone it’s not quite enough. Plain tap water will only remove about 65 percent of the oil and dirt on your skin, and will not effectively remove makeup. Skin cleansers, however, work as emulsifiers and help remove dirt, excess sebum (natural skin oils), bacteria, cosmetics and exfoliated surface skin cells. Cleansers are especially important for those who use cosmetics, have sensitive or irritated skin, or use topical skin treatments.
Isn’t soap best for washing?
Not necessarily. Many soaps are quite strong and can wash away essential oils, leaving your skin feeling tight and dry. For a gentler clean, try non-soap cleansers or hard-milled face soaps instead.
Should I use soap on my face?
Think twice about using soap to wash your face. Some soaps are simply too harsh for sensitive facial skin, as they remove essential oils and make the skin more vulnerable to bacterial growth, cellular damage or plugged hair follicles – leaving skin dry and flaky. To attain a healthy looking glow, choose a mild cleanser formulated for your specific skin type.
What is the best type of cleanser?
When you clean your skin, you are removing sweat, dirt, bacteria, pollution, smoke, excess oil and dead skin cells. The best cleansers do this without irritating, damaging or disrupting the skin’s natural protective moisture barrier.
What if I have oily skin?
Oily skin requires a specially formulated cleanser that rinses off well. You may want to try products created for acne-prone skin, as many of these are also suitable for those with oily skin.
What if I have sensitive skin?
Mild soaps are specially designed to be as gentle as possible. And because they don’t contain added colour or perfume, they are less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions.
Washing, moisturizing and applying sunscreen are quick and easy steps to great looking skin. It should take no more than 5 minutes each day, but over time, it could take years off the look of your face.
