Cleansers have been getting some serious press lately. Think of the skin routine as a series on Netflix. In the first few seasons, cleansers were an extra. This current season, though, they’ve moved their way up to the lead cast. We’d like to thank lockdown, social media, and of course, ourselves, for getting everyone more focused and aware of their skincare routines. So, how are you supposed to pick the right cleanser? There are so many brands and formulas, it can be *super* confusing to figure out which one is best for you.
Start with your skin type
Different skin types need different formulas. Normal skin feels balanced. It has small pores, even skin tone, rarely breaks out and the overall skin texture is smooth (lucky you). Dry skin feels tight after watching. It is prone to fine lines and wrinkles as well as dullness. Dry skin can easily redden, flake, and be itchy. This skin type has fewer breakouts and small pores. Oily skin is prone to break outs and blackheads. Enlarged pores may be visible to the naked eye as well as shininess.
Step one: oils and balms for everyone
To start, oils and balms work for all skin types and are an essential part of a double cleansing routine. It’s important that you double cleanse every night to get rid of all the makeup, skincare, sunblock, and other pollution (hello Dubai dust, we’re looking at you). If grime is still on your face after washing, your skincare isn’t going to work as well *and* you can get breakouts and blackheads. #nothanks
And, btw, oil and balm cleansers are actually great for oily skin. Oil attracts oil, so oil cleansers help lift extra sebum and build-up off your skin. We love to use The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (Dhs54, Sephora) and the Pai Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil (Dhs90, Cult Beauty) as the first step to our cleansing routine.
Step two: get specific
For normal skin, look for cleansers that come in milk or gel formulas. Milk cleansers are light, gentle, and preserves skin’s natural moisture. Gel cleansers give a bit more of a deeper cleanse to the skin. They penetrate deeper into the skin to clear out pores. Milk Makeup’s Vegan Milk Cleanser (Dhs140, Sephora) is a gentle formula to wash away impurities without stripping the skin. This cleanser gentle lathers into a milky formula and contains skin softening ingredients like oat milk.
Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser (Dhs60, Cult Beauty) clears pores with it’s antioxidant-rich gel formula. It’s gentle enough to use both morning and night.
For dry skin, milk and gel formulas are both great, as well as cream and alpha hydroxy acid cleansers. Cream cleansers wash and simultaneously moisturise skin. They leave skin feeling soft and supple. Alpha hydroxy acid cleansers exfoliate the top layer of skin. These help to brighten your complexion. Lactic acid, a type of AHA, also helps to moisturise skin by kickstarting ceramide production. Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser and Makeup Remover (Dhs177, Life Pharmacy) is a soothing cream cleanser rich in avocado oil and antioxidants. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
To brighten up a dry and dull complexion, try using Faace Dirty Faace Wash (Dhs120, Cult Beauty). This gel cleanser contains gentle exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids to clear away dead skin cells. It also contains coconut fatty acids to keep skin from drying out.
Lastly, for oily skin, your cleanser bff is any formula that is foaming, clay, contains beta hydroxy acids, or gel. Foaming and beta hydroxy acid cleansers are great at lifting debris stuck in pores. Be sure to use gentle formulas. Anything too harsh can risk stripping skin of its oils (because at the end of the day, *some* oil is actually good for your complexion). Sweet Chef Oatmilk Latte Cleanser (Dhs60, Cult Beauty) is a gel-to-foam cleanser that effectively cleanses pores and removes excess oil without compromising the skin barrier. This Oatmilk Latte Cleanser (which btw how cute is the name) is also vegan and cruelty free.
The Inkey List’s Salicylic Acid Cleanser (Dhs54, Sephora) reduces blackhead and breakouts by deeply cleansing the pores and all grimes and impurities. It also contains oil-controlling zinc. Worried it might be too harsh on your skin? The Salicylic Acid Cleanser also contains allantoin to soothe irritated skin.