Cleansing: Why it’s your most important skincare step

A skincare cleanser, also known as a facial cleanser or face wash, is a product specifically formulated to cleanse and remove impurities from the skin as well as to prepare the skin for other skincare products.

Skincare cleansers come in various forms, such as gels, foams, creams, lotions, or balms. They can be tailored to different skin types, such as oily, dry, combination, or sensitive skin. It’s important to choose a cleanser that suits your specific skin needs and concerns.

Treatment tips that can help when cleansing your skin

• Most products need to be thoroughly rinsed off using lukewarm running water
• Choose a cleanser with a pH as close to 5.5 as possible
• Consider using micellar water in the morning to avoid over-cleansing
• Avoid harsh surfactants found in many soaps; sodium laurate, sodium cocoate, sodium tallowate and sodium lauryl sulphate (aka SLS)
• Never rub or pull the delicate eye area when removing eye makeup

Skincare ingredients that can help when cleansing your skin based on skin type

Dry & Sensitive Skin:

• Oat Extract
• Lactic acid, Panthenol
• Fatty Acids
• Aloe Vera
• Glycerin
• Allantoin

Oily Skin:

• Salicylic Acid
• Tea Tree Oil
• Gluconolactone
• Glycolic Acid
• Aloe Vera

Early Ageing Skin:

• A low percentage of Alpha-hydroxy Acid
• Poly-hydroxy acids
• Papaya Enzyme
• Urea

Mature Ageing Skin:

• High percentage of Alpha-hydroxy Acid
• PolyHydroxy acids
• Peptides
• Panthenol

Skincare products that can help when cleansing your skin

For sensitive and dry skin, it’s important to choose gentle cleansers that effectively cleanse the skin without causing further dryness or irritation. Dr Webster recommends:

• Bioderma Sensibio H20 Cleanser
• Beaut™ Posh Wash

When it comes to oily skin, it’s important to choose cleansers that effectively remove excess oil and impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Dr Webster recommends:

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel
• mesoestetic purifying mousse

When it comes to early ageing skin, it’s important to choose cleansers that address specific concerns like fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. Dr Webster recommends:

• Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Crème
• pHformula MD EXFO Cleanse

When it comes to mature ageing skin, it’s important to choose cleansers that address specific concerns such as deeper lines, wrinkles, dryness and loss of firmness. Dr Webster recommends:

• Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser
• NeoStrata® Skin Active Exfoliating Wash