A Beginners Guide To Cleansers

Out of all the areas of skin care I still find that cleansers can be a little bit of a mine field. Finding one that suits you can be a difficult task and it took me a good few years to find which ones work for me and which don't. Gone are the days that I use a cheap face wipe and wash combination, nowadays I'm pretty particular about what I use to cleanse with. Giving your face a proper cleanse is a vital step in your routine so that the items, you follow up with can properly get to work so from one novice to another here is my beginners guide to cleansers. 

Water: I would never advise anybody to use just a micellar water to cleanse their skin, but they do make fantastic makeup removers. If I'm in a real pinch then I will remove my makeup with this and then go on to use this again to cleanse my skin but it's definitely not something to make a habit. The Garnier Micellar Water is my favourite, my days of scouring eBay for the cheapest price on Bioderma are long gone since I discovered this. It makes light work of removing a full face of makeup and doesn't leave my skin dry or irritated and is great on eye makeup too.

Gel: Last year I discovered that gel cleansers could work well on my combination skin without leaving it stripped and crying out for moisture. During the summer, I loved using the Claudia Louch Camomile Gel Wash* as it's super refreshing on the skin and is cleansing enough to remove any last scraps of makeup. This one from Claudia Louch can be used all over the face including the eyes which is a big bonus to get rid of any stubborn mascara.

Lotion: An option I like to go for when I've either not been wearing a lot of makeup or none at all. Lotions are super lightweight on the skin but are a little more nourishing than a gel consistency. They're great in a morning when you don't need something super intense to remove a lot of dirt and grime. Two that I love, are the Philosophy Purity Cleanser and The Body Shop Aloe Cleanser*. The Philosophy option is something I've always found great for when my skin is looking a little spotty and if my skin is a sore and red than The Body Shop one ideal. 

Cream: My first foray into real cleansers was with the classic cream consistency. I don't think you can go wrong with a good creamy cleanser, they work for the majority of skin types and can be found at a number of price ranges. Of course, I love the cult classic Liz Earle Cleanser & Polish but one that I think is just as good is the Organic Surge Hot Clothe Cleanser*. Both are great are gently cleansing the skin without adding to any irritation that you might be suffering with. I find that creamy options are ideal for when my skin needs to be a little bit more balanced. 

Balm: Over the past year or so balm cleansers have become huge and for a long time I just didn't think that they would be at all suitable for my skin type. Once I started to divulge into the world of the balm cleanser I realised what all the fuss was about and they really are incredible. Once you've started to massage them into the skin they melt into a beautiful oil which breaks down makeup with ease. Even though my skin is on the more oily side of combination I don't find that balms upset the balance of my skin, they leave it feeling so nourished and soft. Some of my favourites are The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter, Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm and the REN Cleansing Balm.

What are your favourite cleansers?

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