Cleansers are used to remove makeup, excess dirt or oil, and impurities from your skin. There are different cleansers to treat everything from acne prone or oily skin to taking off makeup. There are different components commonly found in cleansers including: surfactants, humectants, emollients, preservatives, antioxidants, actives, thickeners, chelators, and exfoliants.
Surfactants reduces surface tension between water and oil on your face.
Examples of surfactants include:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CB)
Coco-glucoside (CG)
Best for: Dry and Sensitive skin
Pro Tip: Check the ingredient label to ensure that you are using the right surfactant for your skin type
Watch For: Harsh ingredients including: SLS & SLES
Feels like: Generally can leave the skin feeling dry, or tight.
Humectants improve skin hydration by binding water molecules to the skin surface.
Examples of humectants include:
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Aloe Vera
Urea
Best for: All skin types
Especially needed for dry or dehydrated skin
Pro Tip: After you finish cleansing, apply a moisturizer with an occlusive or an emollient to effectively hydrate the skin.
Watch for: Humectants can lead to dry skin in low-humidity, so combining with an occlusive is best in that situation.
Feels like: Light, refreshing, and hydrating textures
Emollients help make the skin feel smooth, because they create a protective barrier to seal in your moisturizer.
Examples of emollients include:
Squalane
Jojoba Oil
Cetearyl alcohol- these alcohols are good because they dont dry out the skin and they are beneficial.
Shea Butter
Best For: Dry, flaky, or sensitive skin
Pro Tip: Emollients are good for dry skin, but they might not be as good for oily or acne-prone skin, so make sure to find a cleanser that is good for your skin type.
Watch for: Some emollients are known to clog pores which can lead to acne and skin irritation so double check your ingredients if prone to sensitive skin.
Feels like: Creamy, silky, or rich textures
Preservatives are ingredients that are added to skincare products to prevent growth of bacteria, or other micro-organisms that can irritate or infect the skin by keeping the product fresh
Examples of preservatives include:
Parabens
Benzyl Alcohol
Sodium Benzoate
Potassium Sorbate
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: Check the recommended PH range with your dermatologist to adjust your formula and maximize effectiveness.
Watch For: Potentially irritating ingredients including parabens.
Feels like: Don't necessarily feel like something, used in small concentrations that are added to products.
Antioxidants are ingredients that protect the skin from damage, such as UV damage and inflammation, by counteracting free radicals which are unstable molecules. Antioxidants also improve skin texture, brighten skin tone, and boost skin immunity.
Examples of antioxidants include:
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Zinc
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: Combine with antioxidant serum because cleansers only stay on the skin for a short time and they can not provide full benefits of antioxidants
Watch for: Irritating ingredients, like alcohol, can disrupt the skin and potentially lead to increased oil production.
Feels like: Smooth, dewy, and refreshing textures
Thickeners enhance texture and increase stability of a product, which prevents it from separating.
Examples of thickeners include:
Acrylic polymers
Plant-derived gums
Silica
Bentonite
Best for: Dry, and sensitive skin
Pro Tip: Emulsify in your hands with a little water before applying it to your face
Watch For: Issues with texture can lead to stickiness, clumping, and low-product effectiveness.
Feels like: Smooth and rich in textures
Chelators protect your skin from metal ions that can react with preservatives or active ingredients which can degrade the effectiveness of the product.
Examples of Chelators include:
Synthetic compounds
Deferoxamine
Phytic Acid
Sodium gluconate
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: They are not meant to be added to your routine, they are already in multiple products.
Watch For: Chelators can lead to a product going bad, look for thinning and reduced foam.
Feels like: Don't necessarily feel like something, used in small concentrations that are added to products.
Exfoliating ingredients in toners improve skin texture by using acids to remove dead skin cells.
Examples of exfoliants include:
Glycolic Acids (Is an AHA)
Lactic Acids (Is an AHA)
Salicylic Acids (Is a BHA)
Fruit Enzymes like bromelain from pineapple, or papain from papaya
Best for: All skin types
Pro Tip: Prioritize a gentle, non-foaming cleanser that cleanses while supporting your skin type.
Watch for: Avoid over-exfoliation because it disrupts the skins natural barrier which can lead to irritation, increased skin sensitivity, or breakouts.
Feels like: Mild stinging, tingling sensation, tightness, and cooling textures
Anti-aging ingredients - Such as retinoids, peptides, and strong AHA's
Harsh exfoliants - Physical scrubs with beads, grounds, or seed particles can cause skin irritation
Fragrances and essential oils - Can cause allergic reactions, or irritate sensitive skin
Look for ingredients like...
Ingredients with hydrating properties, like hyaluronic acid, and glycerin
If your skin is acne-prone, try a low concentration of ingredients like salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide.
Ingredients like ceramides that can protect your skin against irritants.
Aloe Vera - A gel like substance from aloe vera leaves that soothes irritation, can speed up healing of minor cuts or burns. In addition, aloe vera has many antioxidants that can be beneficial for your skin's health