Skincare Products : Cleanser

Detergent

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

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

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

The main 'detergent' 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: via the hydrophobic component, surfactants trap dirt on the face, then rinse it away with water using the hydrophilic component.

Types of detergent

There are two types of detergent:

Clarifying or foaming cleanser: This is the most common type, where the active cleansing ingredient is a surfactant. Some examples include solid bar soaps, liquid cleansers, foam formulas, micellar water, cleansing wipes, and scrub cleansers. It is highly effective for oily, combination, and normal skin types, as well as for double cleansing routines.
Oil-based or lipid-soluble cleanser: Here, the active cleansing ingredient is a lipid, meaning an oil or blend of oils, which acts as a solvent to break down the fats in which dirt is trapped. Examples include balms, butters, oils, and cleansing milk. It is ideal for dry and sensitive skin.

Mistakes not to make

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

Using hand soap: it has a basic pH of 8, unlike our Skin which has a much lower pH, making it harsh.
Using makeup removing wipes: they’re soaked with very little product, sometimes contain alcohol, and cause irritation from mechanical friction.
Not removing your makeup if you’re wearing any: over time, your Skin could be affected and develop impurities.
Not using a moisturizer after cleansing: it’s essential to always provide your Skin with the right amount of hydration.
Using the wrong cleanser for your Skin: if, after cleansing, you feel your Skin is overly tight, you may be using a cleanser that’s too harsh.

Useful tip

Be sure to read the label carefully. Some detergents 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 works for you.

Discover the detergents