WHAT IS A CLEANSER?

   In any skin care  routine a cleanser is mostly always mentioned. But I have found out that many people don’t know what a cleanser is and without knowing what it is you won’t know what the benefit of a cleanser. A cleanser is the foundation of skin care, without a cleanser you skincare routine is as good as useless. Just imagine going to the farm to plant without weeding. That’s how it feels when you skip cleansing.

               WHAT IS A CLEANSER?

   A cleanser is solution or product used in removing dirt, sunscreen residue, makeup and dead cells. Without stripping the skin of its natural oil. Cleanser may come in different forms such as Oil,Clay, Micella,Powder,Cream And Gel.

            THE FACT ABOUT BAR SOAP

    In most Nigerian homes we use a lot of bar soaps and bar soaps are not the best for our skin instead of these use a face wash.Most soaps contain dyes and fragrances which are not the best for your skin especially your face. 

      You can use your face wash as a cleanser for the main time till you are able to afford a cleanser these is not the best but it is better than using a bar soap. 

  TYPES OF CLEANSER BEST FOR SKIN TYPES

• FOAMING CLEANSER: These are lightweight as they come in gel or cream form, but when combined with water they change texture and become foamy. They are great for oily and normal skin.

• They reduce excess oil 

• They are great for those with clogged pores 

• They help in removing makeup and sunscreen residue 

Most traditional foaming cleanser do not contain oil, silicone and hydroxy acid. 

  I personally recommend those with Niacinamide (Vitamin B) as it helps the skin in

• Staying hydrated.

• It’s reduces wrinkles.

•  It helps in skin discoloration.

•  It improves skin elasticity

One I would recommend is the  Cerave foaming cleanser it's rich in Niacinamide, ceramide and hyaluronic acid.

• NON FOAMING CLEANSER: This is best for people with dry skin. They usually come in milk or cream base and do not fiam. This means it ha a thick consistency, it cleanse your skin while locking in moisture in the skin with out stripping the skin of it natural oil. One of the non foaming cleanser I have seen people using and highly recommended is the Cerave hydrating cleanser 

• SOOTHING CLEANSER OR GENTLE CLEANSER: These are best for sensitive skin or skin suffering from inflammation, redness and itchiness. They are non foaming cleanser and have antioxidants and prebiotics Some of these cleanser may have natural ingredients such as oats I recommend  cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

• HYDROXY ACID CLEANSER: This is a way to chemically exfoliate your skin. They contain AHAs and BHAs. They are not best for sensitive skin or inflamed skin.

• AHAs( Alpha hydroxy acid): This is best for people with dry skin as they consist of glycolic acid, lactic acid and malic acids. There are other acid in the AHAs but these are the most common for the skin. The acid mentioned helps to 

i. Lower the PH of the skin.

ii. Exfoliate the skin.

iii. It reduces dead cells build up in the skin pore.

iv. Improves hydration.

v. It also moisturize the skin.

 •  BHAs(Beta hydroxy acid): This is best for oily skin as it consists of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is very good for people with.

i.Acne prone skin.

ii. It reduces the appearance of blackheads.

iii. It reduces pores blockage by penetrating the sebaceous follicles and exfoliating the build up.

iv. It improves the appearance of wrinkles, roughness and tone.

 Both AHAs and BHAs allows the penetration of skin products, which allows you to see results faster. NOTE: THESE COULD ALSO BE BAD IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU USE A PRODUCT THAT IS HARSH FOR THE SKIN AND WON’T DO WELL WITH FURTHER PENETRATION INTO THE SKIN. 

HOW TO USE CLEANSER TO GET MAXIMUM SATISFACTION.

•  Cleanser should be used at least twice a day though double cleansing might not be the best If  you have sensitive skin. Double cleansing, is done when you use an oil based cleanser  then a water based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen residue. For  example 

•  A cleanser is meant to be washed off though a lot of companies have come up with formulas where you don't need to wash your cleanser off such as the Micellar cleanser. But I  personally won't recommend that you do raise your face after using it.

• It may take a little time and sample testing especially if you have combination skin so patience is key

• Don't go for cleanser that contains the following  

    ▪︎ Alcohol 

    ▪︎ Fragrance 

    ▪︎  Peppermint 

    ▪︎  Acetone 

    ▪︎  Menthol 

    ▪︎  Alum

As all this can dry out the skin and cause irritation  avoid this ingredient in your cleanser and other skin products.

• If you think a mild cleanser is not working for you. You can switch to a cleaner that is a little bit stronger, but remember if any cleaner cause skin irritation you should discontinue using the product.

• More cleansing does not mean cleaner skin it means drier and flaky skin.

• Buy a good cleanser you know you can afford on a budget and that is always in stock.

  With that I have come to the end of these blog post I hope it was helpful. Make sure to do your research and consulting a certified dermatologist to help you when deciding. This is just based of my research and findings.

    Much love😘