You probably already know this, but choosing the right facial cleanser is one of the most important things you can do to achieve beautiful skin. Many store-bought facial cleansers are too astringent and can cause damage—which can be repaired, however!
Why use a specific facial cleanser?
Maybe you're thinking: a cleanser for my face? Why can't I use the same product I use for the rest of my body? Well, if you're one of those people (no judgment!), know that facial skin is more sensitive, has finer skin texture, and contains more pores and sebaceous glands than the rest of the body. So, you have to take good care of it!
What is your skin type?
The first thing to consider when choosing a facial treatment is your skin type. Several people around me have told me they use a very popular pharmacy product (whose name I won't mention!) that is well known for "stripping" facial skin. The goal behind this choice is to remove as much oil as possible from the face and thus have beautiful skin. However, ERROR! Each skin type has a cleansing treatment that suits it, but under no circumstances , even for oily skin, is an aggressive treatment suitable. To find out your skin type, follow the steps of the test found here .
Too aggressive cleaners can have the following consequences:
- Drying, dehydration
- Skin irritations
- Outbreak of pimples and/or microcysts
- Overproduction of sebum
The secret to beautiful skin: hydration
No matter your skin type, maintaining a good level of hydration is the key to success towards beautiful skin. The body is well designed: it secretes sebum to create a lipid barrier that will protect your skin against external aggressions. People with oily skin produce more than others but can still have dehydrated skin. For tips on caring for this type of skin, read this article .
So, to choose your cleanser well, use a mild soap free from:
- Mineral oils (petroleum oils: parrafinum, petrolatum): they leave a water-repellent film on the skin and prevent it from breathing. These are widely used ingredients on the market because they are cheap.
- Sulfated detergents (anything with sulfate in the ingredients): They create a lot of suds and remove the good oil from the skin by removing the protection that retains water in the skin.
Even if it doesn't foam, know that a good facial cleanser will do the job! After cleansing, applying a moisturizer is always a good idea.
We offer a few cleansing products, for all skin types, which you can check out by clicking here !
Happy cleaning!
Catherine Bastien
Co-founder
Pravi natural cosmetics