Would you rather cleanse with Mud or Wine?

In a previous post, I addressed the issue of prevention in skincare. Another essential part of the process of achieving a flawless complexion is cleansing.

The number of cleansers on the market is staggering. In choosing one from the many, remember that Less is usually more when it comes to cleansers: less abrasive, less harsh, and used less often. Don’t confuse cleansing with stripping or scrubbing to excess.

You want to find a cleanser that will offer what your skin type needs. You want a cleanser that removes makeup and grime, but is gentle enough not to make your face squeak or crack afterwards.

I personally struggle with combination skin. An oily T-zone with dry cheek and eye areas, especially in the winter. What works best for me is a foaming cleanser that gives a little more cleansing power on the oily zones, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and soft. I do not like the squeaky clean feeling. That is too harsh! Many sources preach that over stripping of your skin’s natural oils actually leads to more skin sebum oil production. You actually produce more of what you are trying to get rid of!

Cleansers don’t have to be expensive or fancy, but they can be. If you are on a budget, one of the best cleansers for both oily and dry skin is Cetaphil Lotion (Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate (and) PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate), which is also available in generic store brand labels. But, if you have a little extra and an interest in other great cleansers, here are my recommendations:

Basic Cleansers I have tried and love:

• Philosophy, Purity Made Simple-lives up to it’s name, leaves skin feeling clean and removes makeup beautifully.

Some cleansers add glycolic or salicylic acid to provide mild exfoliation as well. I recommend:

• MD Forte Facial Cleanser I, II, and III- each level has a higher glycolic acid level, start with I and gradually you can build up to III.
• GlyMed Plus, Gentle Face Wash, for all skin types- my Aesthetician recommends this line and I used it for a while. Very gentle and a overall great cleanser.

And finally, there are the cleansers that offer something extra . Through the http://megsmakeup.com/forums, I have discovered some really extraordinary cleansers. They all boast gentle cleansing with some additional features that might appeal to you:

• Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Soap, – this black bar of soap is made from MUD from the Dead Sea. On their website you can follow their skin regimen, which they term “clocking” for your specific skincare needs. I find this fascinating! I am a “1 o’clock,” and they give specifics on how many times to rinse your face, what temperature water to use, etc…
• Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser- Formulated from patented grape-seed polyphenols and harvested from France. This Wine infused Cleanser smells heavenly and leaves my skin feeling like I’m a bit intoxicated!
• Suki Lemongrass Cleanser- Organic cleansing with a mild fruit acid and sugar-type exfoliation. This has a fabulous lemon smell, and is one of my all time favorite cleansers. Even my husband likes this one!
• NV Perricone MD Citrus Facial Wash (Vitamin C Ester): A gentle cleanser that gives your skin a dose of Vitamin C Ester.  Promotes clarity and soothes.

So, now you have a few more choices to make, and choose wisely. Your skin is counting on you!

Any cleansers you would recommend?