Whilst washing your face has probably been a daily routine throughout your entire life, the right facial cleanser for your skin type and life-stage, can really have a huge impact on the overall health of your skin. From teens and young adults through to gorgeous older women, your skin and more importantly, your face needs just the right balance of ingredients to cleanse and nourish. Let’s explore what a facial cleanser can do for you and how to find just the right one…

Why do you need a facial cleanser?

Let’s get straight to the point - a facial cleanser is vital to ensuring your skin looks it’s best. With the combined concoction of environmental pollutants, cosmetic products and sweat, is it any wonder your skin looks dull? Hello inflammation, acne and irritation! Plain water just won’t cut it - a facial cleanser is designed to remove the daily grime from your skin, leaving it fresh and well… clean.

And a good facial cleanser will do even more. It will also help break down the environmental pollutants that play a role in free radical damage - the trigger for premature skin aging.

What to look for in a facial cleanser

Actually, let’s begin with what not to look for, and that’s Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (or SLS). It acts as a cleansing agent in many skincare products but it’s actually an irritant that will also strip your skin of moisture - avoid SLS at all costs.

Skin craves nourishing active ingredients and at the top of your list should be Hyaluronic Acid. This hydrating superstar helps bind water to collagen, trapping moisture in the skin and helping smooth fine lines while achieving a dewier, younger-looking complexion.

Your facial cleanser should also feature antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, botanical extracts (phytoexracts) and Ferulic Acid. These are your combatants for those nasty free radicals brought on by environmental factors.

Gel vs Milk Cleansers

Gel cleansers are usually recommended for younger skin but the truth is, as long as it doesn’t have SLS, they should be suitable for all skin ages. Milk cleanser formulations are milder and use natural oils and emulsifiers to cleanse the skin so are perfect for sensitive or aging skin.

Ultimately though, the choice between a gel cleanser and a milk cleanser is more about personal preference than any other factor.