How to Choose the Right Cleanser for Your Skin

Nourish your skin with a cleanser that aligns with what your skin needs morning and night. The right cleanser not only removes dirt, debris, bacteria and sweat, but it will allow your skin to receive the rest of your products properly. Regular cleansing with the right formula will also help maintain proper pore size, prevent the over production of oils and keep your skin barrier balanced. So if you are ready to make sure your skin has everything it needs to glow, make sure you are cleansing for your skin type. 

If you’ve got five minutes and a mirror, understanding your skin type is easy. Start by analyzing your pores and then follow these four easy steps: 

1. Start by looking at the skin along your jaw. This is your baseline for measuring the size of your pores. This area is typically smooth and relatively free of visible pores making it a good place to compare to the rest of your skin.
2. Now look at the skin next to your nose (not the skin on your nose). Do your pores look bigger or the same as your jawline?
3. Take a look at other areas of your face and compare those pores. 
4. Now determine the proper skin type based on your pore analysis.  

• If you have smaller pores on most of your face, with larger pores near the sides of your nose, your skin is dry. Choose a cleanser that is moisturizing such as a milk cleanser. Other key ingredients would be vitamin E, green tea and mandarin—botanicals that hydrate the skin. 

• If you see larger pores on ⅓ to ½ of your face then you have combination or oily skin. Your goal should be to bring balance to your skin by giving it what it needs so you are neither dehydrating it or using too heavy of products. If you have combo skin, try a milk cleanser designed for your skin type. The right milk cleanser will dissolve pore impurities without disturbing skin pH. If you have oily skin, gel cleansers are typically more effective. Packed with natural astringents such as witch hazel and rosemary, a gel cleanser can help break through naturally occurring sebaceous oil for a more balanced and hydrated surface. 

• Other secondary skin types include acne, reactive or sensitive skin, and mature skin and should be also considered when cleansing the skin. A gel cleanser with natural astringents is a good option for oily skin that is acne-prone, while for acne-prone skin with small pores, a milk cleanser works well to target acne while hydrating, soothing, and calming the skin. Mature and sensitive skin respond well to a milk cleanser that will replenish the skin with fatty acids and emollients while restoring balance.