Skincare Products : Cleanser

Detergent

To build your beauty routine, we start from a solid foundation, which is cleansing.

An extremely important but underestimated step, and above all, risky as it is the one that can most damage our Skin, compromising the hydrolipidic film that protects it and causing dryness and irritation.

In the cosmetic field, the cleanser is used to remove impurities, excess sebum, and dead cells, to prepare the Skin for subsequent treatments and keep it healthy.

The main “cleansing” components are surfactants, which have a hydrophilic head that loves water and hates fats, and a hydrophobic tail that, on the contrary, hates water and loves fats: through the hydrophobic component, surfactants trap dirt on the face, then eliminate it by rinsing with water via the hydrophilic component.

Types of detergent

Cleansers come in two types:

Contrast or foaming cleanser: this is the most common type, where the substance responsible for the cleansing action is the surfactant. Some examples: solid soaps, liquid cleansers, mousse cleansers, micellar water, cleansing wipes, and scrub cleansers. It is very useful for oily, combination, and normal skin, and for double cleansing.
Affinity or oily cleanser: here the substance responsible for the cleansing action is a lipid, so an oil, or a mixture of oils, which perform a solvent action on the fats in which dirt is trapped. Examples include balms, butters, oils, and cleansing milk. It is very useful for dry and sensitive skin.

Mistakes to avoid

Here are 5 mistakes unfortunately very common when it comes to cleansing:

Using hand soap: it has a basic pH of 8, in contrast with our Skin which has a much lower pH, so it ends up being harsh.
Using makeup wipes: they are soaked in very little product, sometimes contain alcohol, and cause irritation from mechanical rubbing.
Not removing your makeup if you’re wearing it: over time, your Skin could suffer and develop impurities.
Not using a moisturizer after cleansing: it is essential to always provide your Skin with the right amount of hydration
Using the wrong cleanser for your Skin: if, after cleansing, your Skin feels very tight, it is possible that you are using an overly harsh cleanser.

Useful tip

Be sure to read the label carefully. Some cleansers are enriched with active ingredients such as salicylic acid for acne-prone skin, or hyaluronic acid or panthenol for dehydrated skin. Before purchasing it, make sure that ingredient is right for you.

Discover the detergents