Belle’s Guide To Facial Cleansers
Gone are the days when an old soap with a splash of water was enough to clean your face. A good cleanser really is your best friend when it comes to removing everyday grime and layers of make-up. But with so many on the market it can be confusing deciding what’s best for you. Beyond the actual skin type, specific ingredients, and texture are often a forgotten factor that could hold the key to you finding that perfect cleansing match. So here is Belle About Town’s guide to cleansers, to help enable you to pick the best one to suit your skin and lifestyle.
A Wash Cleanser is probably the first thing you think of when it comes to cleaning your face. It is great for oily or combination skin, but, if you have dry skin and think you should avoid a wash cleanser – then think again. Try Elemis’ Sensitive Cleansing Wash, £22.50, which is very gentle as it purifies, soothes, and calms the skin. It is full of great ingredients, such as thyme, German chamomile and lady’s mantle. Theses are all celebrated for their anti-bacterial properties so it’s a great one to use to combat spots. As an added bonus, you can also use it as a body wash and shaving product – such a brilliant multi-tasker! And it also smells divine – making it a treat to use. Buy it at www.elemis.com
Cleansing Foams or Mousse are great for anyone with combination or sensitive skin. If you fit into this category then try the Eau Termal Avene Cleansing Foam,£9.91, to wash your face and removes make-up. It’s a great one to keep in the shower as you should apply it with wet fingertips – making circular movements across the face and neck before rinsing it off. It contains glutamic acid which helps to mattify the skin by rebalancing sebum production. It leaves the skin feeling supple and pores reduced. Buy it from www.pharmeden.co.uk
Gentle Foam Cleansers are a milder version of a typical foam cleansers – making it a great option for oily skin. Try S5 clarity cleanser, £28. This gentle foaming wash helps to cleanse and detoxify. It removes light make-up and pollution whilst exfoliating and balancing oil levels. For maximum effect, apply this to dry skin, mix with a little water and then leave on the skin for 1 to 2 minutes before rinsing off. Buy from www.s5skincare.com
Oil Cleansers are good if you suffer from dry or sensitive skin as they nourish the face as they clean. Oil cleansers focus of moisturing the face, so if that is what you need then try Rossi Rice Bran & Borage Seed Cleansing Oil, £14.75. This is packed full of antioxidants and blended from jojoba, borage seed and avocado seed botanicals. This thick oil has a lovely consistency so you don’t need to use too much and it does not drip everywhere. Use this cleanser with a clean cloth or cotton pad to clean your face and revive dry and tired skin. Buy it from www.lovelula.com
Cream Cleansers are great for removing make-up, as well as the usual daily dirt and grime. Try Bee Good’s award-winning Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cream Cleanser, £11.50, which boasts a soothing formulation that does not dry or irritate the skin. It is jam packed with natural ingredients that will help pep-up tired, dull or lacklustre skin. This luxurious cream cleanser is just what you need after some serious sleep deprivation and over indulgence. It is also sold in a handy 30ml travel size – making it a good one to use on holiday. Use it with the included pure muslin cloth to gently exfoliate. Buy it from beegood.co.uk
Soap Cleansers are quick and easy way to wash your face in the shower or over the sink. So if you need a no-nonsense routine then try Coalface Soap from Lush, £5.25. It is made with antiseptic rosewood, sandalwood, and absorbent charcoal. Best of all it’s gentle enough for your face, but you can use it all over your body. The rosewood oil has antiseptic properties – making it great if you suffer from spots. It leaves the skin feeling squeaky clean, and the fact that it’s a pretty petal shaped soap means it is also a great way to introduce a teenager to good skin care. Buy it at www.uk.lush.com
Face Polish is a great way to cleanse and exfoliate your skin at the same time. It’s a must for ladies on the go. Try Laura Mercier’s Flawless Skin Face Polish, £26, which helps remove dead skin cells thanks to its purifying microbeads, while emollients soften skin. This creamy scrub is suitable for all skin types. Buy it from www.johnlewis.com
A Gel Cleanser is great for the morning as the cool texture helps wake you up. If this is what you want then look no further than the Elemental Herbology Vital Cleanse ,£29. Although it has a gel-like texture, it turns milky when you massage the product in – which also releases the most divine scent. It’s big appeal is that it contains manuka honey which is a powerful anti-inflammatory that helps minimise break-outs, brighten and promote radiance. I noticed that my skin looked brighter, soft and pores appeared visibly reduced. It’s also a great way of removing make-up at the end of the day. Buy it from www.elementalherbology.com
If you have lifeless and tired skin then opt for a Milk Cleanser. Try the Organic Rose Otto Cleansing Milk, £8.49, by Dr Organics. It contains pure softening oils and gentle skin-firming components which also provides a protective moisture barrier for the skin as its cleans the grime. The final result is soft and silky skin. It also smells lovely – making it a pleasure to use. Buy it from www.hollandandbarrett.com
Wipes are great at the end of a night when you just want to fall straight into bed. For times likes these keep the Manuka Doctor’s ApiClear 3-in-1 Face Wipes, £4.49, next to your bedside time to remove dirt and grime. These wipes help to cleanse, tone and moisturise in one go.It contains Manuka Oil which soothes and balances the skin. Buy it from www.manukadoctor.co.uk
Cleansing butters and balms are very similar. Both are thick in texture and a very indulgent way to clean the whole face and remove make-up. In my experience balms tend to be a bit sticker and butters are a tad more slippery. If you are on the hunt for a cleansing butter then try the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop. This cleanser, £13, gently and efficiently melts away make-up and impurities, leaving skin feeling clean, refreshed and pampered. Best of all it is suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. If you suffer from dry flaky skin, then use it with a wet face cloth morning and night. Then see how it removes all traces of make-up and dead skin without stripping the skin but instead leaving it feeling nourished and protected. Buy it from www.thebodyshop.co.uk. For a cleansing balm then look no further than De Mamiel. It’s restorative cleansing balm,£52, is an aromatic cleanser that melts away all the grime and make-up from your face. It is jam-packed with soothing oils – which makes cleansing the skin a truly soothing and nourishing ritual. It is great for all skin types and if you use it twice daily, you’ll notice an improvement in your skin quickly. Buy it from www.demamiel.com
Micellar Water is a skincare product that removes make-up and cleanses the skin, without the need for rinsing. It’s been widely available in French pharmacies for many years, and only recently gained popularity in the UK. Micellar water takes its name from micelles, tiny round balls of cleansing molecules that float in the water, that remove dirt on your face. Bioderma is a cult brand which is famed for its fantastic range of micellar water. Try its Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution, £10.20, to gently cleanses face and eyes. It even removes water-resistant make-up so it’s great if you don’t have time for a complicated skincare routine. Buy it from www.boots.com
