“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.”
—Yiddish Proverb
Let’s be honest. When it comes to soap, most people think all products are the same. The goal, after all, is to remove dirt and oil while leaving your face squeaky clean, right? Um, wrong. That squeaky feeling that you originally interpreted as clean skin may, in fact, be a signal that you’re stripping away your skin’s natural moisture and leaving damage behind. Not exactly what you’re going for, is it? If this sounds familiar, then read on. We’re about to change the way you think about cleansing. It may just change your life as well.
All Cleansers Are Not Created Equal
At the most basic level, you intuitively know that there is no such thing as a do-it-all cleanser. Just look around your home. You probably have separate products to clean dishes, laundry, your body, and your face. While we hope you’re not washing your face with body wash, the differences between most brands of facial cleanser can be hard to spot. If you’ve noticed that your moisturizer isn’t working well enough or that your skin feels tight or irritated, your cleanser may be the culprit. Foaming cleansers are super fun, but if the pH level is too high (i.e. above 5.5), they’ll remove vital moisture and leave your skin unbalanced. One way to avoid this is to look for the words, “gentle” or “pH balanced” on the label. These cleansers are designed to whisk away unwanted direct and oil without harming your moisture barrier (the outermost layer of skin that holds hydration in while keeping irritants out).
Signs That You Need a New Cleanser
This next piece of advice may sting a bit, but trust us, it’s for your own good. If you’ve been using the same cleanser day in and day out for years, you may want to rethink your approach. Your skin changes as you age, and that cleanser that kept oil at bay in your teens and 20s may be causing aging issues in your 30s and beyond. Take a look in the mirror. If your skin looks flaky, rough, red, or is unevenly pigmented, it’s time to swap out your cleanser. Most drugstore cleansers will get the job done, but using a dedicated cleanser designed for your specific skin type and condition is worth the effort to find.
Match Your Cleanser to Your Skin’s Needs
Thankfully, reputable skin care companies specifically list the ingredients in their products and make recommendations regarding usage for each skin type. For example, if your skin reacts negatively to just about anything you put on it, you probably have sensitive skin. A sulfate-free product, like the Milky Lotion Cleanser from Epionce, is a good choice because it doesn’t cause irritation. For those individuals with oily skin as well as those with acne, a cleanser like IS Clinical Cleansing Complex, which contains salicylic or glycolic acid (mild exfoliants that help resurface the skin), will help deep clean the skin and break up any dead cells that can lead to clogs and breakouts.
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If we can convey only one thing, we want you to treat your face with kindness. Picking the appropriate cleanser may be challenging, so let us know if you’d like our help. We’d love to assist.
Wishing you good skin days,
Team Reflect
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