Facial Cleansing: The Secret to Perfect Skin
If you're passionate about skincare, you probably know that cleansing (especially double cleansing, a trend from South Korea) has been a hot topic in recent years. It’s all about achieving a clean, purified, and flawless face. At first glance, this skincare step might seem trivial and get overlooked compared to moisturizers or serums. But that's a mistake: cleansing is actually the most fundamental step in our beauty routine, alongside applying SPF! Here’s what it’s all about: "Cleansing" refers to the process of removing impurities from your face, reducing the risk of bacterial infections (which can cause irritation and breakouts) and fungal infections. Cleaning your face daily is crucial to remove three types of impurities that can clog pores: water-soluble dirt (like makeup residue and sweat), oil-soluble dirt (such as sebum, residues from lipid-based cosmetics, and pollution), and insoluble dirt (like dead skin cells). To remove these impurities, use cleansers with surfactant ingredients (natural or synthetic) and sometimes secondary elements like co-adjuvants and strengtheners. The ultimate goal of a good formulation is to clean the face without disrupting the skin's flora, acidity level (ideal products have a pH between 5 and 6), or hydrolipidic film. In short, proper and consistent cleansing is the foundation for healthy, clean, resilient, and radiant skin. If you don't cleanse your face properly, all the other cosmetics you use won’t be as effective!
How to Choose the Right Facial Cleanser
The first step to building an effective skincare routine is choosing the right facial cleanser for you. Wondering how to do it and don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, we at 50 ml are here for you! Here are the key points to consider when searching for the right facial cleanser:
- Skin Type. To get the best results from your cleansing, identify your skin type precisely and choose the best cleansing skincare product for your skin’s conditions. Opt for a cleanser for oily skin if yours tends to be oily and prone to imperfections. Choose a cleanser for combination skin if you have dry cheeks but an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin). Go for cleansers for dry skin if yours feels tight and needs nourishment. Lastly, select those for sensitive skin if you experience frequent redness and irritation.
- Texture of the Product. Choose from Facial Cleansing Milk, Facial Cleansing Mousse, Facial Cleansing Gel, etc., based on the type of cleansing you want to perform on your face.
- Active Ingredients. Read your cleanser’s characteristics carefully to identify the most effective ingredients for your skin’s issues (does your skin need a hydrating, balancing, or particularly gentle cleanser?). For example, a Facial Cleanser with Salicylic Acid, known for its exfoliating properties, is great for skin prone to dead cell buildup, but avoid it if your skin is going through critical conditions (like acne flare-ups) or is particularly sensitive to exfoliating acids (in which case, opt for a Gentle Facial Cleanser!).
How to Properly Cleanse Your Face
Once you’ve chosen the right cleanser, knowing how to apply it correctly is key! Despite being one of the most obvious personal hygiene rituals, facial cleansing requires care and attention to be effective. Remember to consider the following aspects:
- Technique. Gently massage the entire face, paying attention to often-neglected areas like the T-zone, chin, nose perimeters, periocular area, hairline, and neck and ear intersections.
- Water Temperature. Be cautious not to use water that is too hot on your face, as it could cause irritation and redness. Always prefer lukewarm water.
- Frequency. Cleanse your face morning and evening, with a particular focus before bedtime to rid your skin of accumulated impurities throughout the day.
- Use Few Products. The ancients said “modus in rebus” (the right measure in things!): avoid overdoing it with processes and the number of cleansers used, as this could damage the skin’s natural barriers. Stick to a few cleansers in your routine so you can clearly identify what works for your skin and what doesn’t.
- Makeup Removal vs. Cleansing. If you wear makeup, makeup removal is just the first part of your cleansing routine: removing makeup doesn’t mean you’ve removed impurities from your face! Make sure to complete your cleansing by pairing a foaming cleanser with your favorite makeup remover.
Double Cleansing: The New Trend in Korean Skincare
Born in the East (specifically South Korea), Double Cleansing is one of the most beloved techniques for removing impurities in recent years. It involves two essential steps that thoroughly cleanse the pores: Oil Cleansing and Foam Cleansing. Let’s delve into what each step entails:
- Oil Cleanser. In this phase, massage an oily component onto your face to dissolve makeup, SPF, treatments, sebum, and environmental pollutants accumulated throughout the day (double cleansing is particularly recommended at night but is also excellent in the morning). Make sure to cover all areas of your face, including your neck.
- Foam Cleanser. This step of double cleansing is meant to completely remove residues of impurities and oils accumulated on your face from the first phase, without disrupting the skin’s natural barriers or altering its pH. Double cleansing deeply cleanses the skin, clearing pores of sebaceous buildup and impurities, while also restoring skin barriers and balance.
50 ml Recommends: The Best Facial Cleansers
Given the vast array of facial cleansers on the market, we at 50 ml have chosen to share our top 5 absolute favorite facial cleansers with you!
- Dermalogica PreCleanse. This is a miraculous cleansing oil! It dissolves all impurities and makeup from the skin. PreCleanse effectively removes excess sebum, sunscreen, waterproof makeup, and pollutants, preparing your skin for professional cleansing. How to use it? Pour a bit into dry hands, massage onto dry face and eyes to dissolve oil and dirt. Then wet hands, continue massaging to create a light, milky emulsion, and rinse with lukewarm water.
- St. Barth Frangipani Flowers Cleansing Milk. This cleansing milk is a treat for all skin types. Thanks to its blend of plant-based ingredients, it cleans deeply with extreme gentleness. Aloe vera, mango butter, and calendula oil soothe and soften the skin, while sweet almond oil cares for lashes and vitamin E stimulates cellular renewal. Apply it to your face, neck, and eye contour with a gentle massage, pat with a cotton pad or damp sponge, and finish with Melon Toner.
- Aesop Remove. This oil-based makeup remover is a true ally for all skin types. Thanks to grape seed oil, it removes even the most stubborn makeup, like waterproof mascara. Chamomile, with its soothing effect, is perfect for the delicate eye area. It’s ideal for those who love eye makeup. Feeling on the skin? Calming, refreshing, and super pleasant!
- Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel is a gem for your skin! Its light foam removes all impurities without leaving that annoying dry or tight feeling. Thanks to balsamic and anti-inflammatory extracts of mint and lavender, your skin will feel soothed and refreshed, while natural quillaja saponaria creates a foam that washes away toxins and impurities. This fragrance-free and soap-free cleansing gel is perfect for normal and combination skin types.
- Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser. Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser is a real treat for sensitive skin. This foaming gel cleanser combines natural grapefruit extract with moisturizing amino acid-based cleansers, purifying the skin gently and deeply.
Facial Cleansers: 50 ml Customer Reviews
Like to know what others think about a cosmetic you're considering buying? Absolutely fair—it’s a very useful practice to get a clear idea of what works best for you. Here are some customer reviews of the facial cleansers they’ve used:
- Esthederm Lait Dèmaquillant Dèsensibilisant. "Esthederm Cleansing Milk has been an incredible find for my sensitive skin. I use it every evening to remove makeup, and my skin feels so soft and clean after. It doesn’t irritate and doesn’t leave my skin red. It’s truly a gentle yet effective product. I can't do without it!" - Francesca, 41 years old.
- Esthederm Crème Douce Dèsincrustante. "Esthederm Cleansing Cream is fantastic! I use it as part of my evening cleansing ritual and notice a big difference. My skin feels cleaner and softer, and it seems like my pores are less visible. It’s perfect for deep cleansing without being harsh." - Elena, 31 years old.
- Innoxa Couprosil Crema Detergente Delicata. "This Innoxa cleansing cream is a dream for my sensitive skin. It’s so light and easy to rinse off, never leaving my skin greasy. After using it, my skin feels clean, fresh, and smooth. It has improved my complexion, making it brighter. I love it!" - Riccardo, 29 years old.
- Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel. "I started using Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel on a friend’s recommendation and couldn't be more satisfied! The foam is so light and gentle, never leaving my skin dry or tight. I’ve noticed the redness on my face has decreased thanks to the extracts of mint and lavender. Every time I use it, my skin feels fresher and cleaner. I highly recommend it to anyone with normal or combination skin!" - Maria, 25 years old.
- Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser. "I love Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser! My skin is super sensitive, and this foaming cleanser is a lifesaver. It has a light, natural grapefruit scent that I adore, and it never leaves residues. After using it, my skin is clean, fresh, and I don’t even need toner. It’s perfect for removing eye makeup without stinging!" - Giulia, 34 years old.
Discover the World of Skincare at 50 ml: exfoliating, anti age, for dry, oily, sensitive, normal or mature skin and plenty of Korean Skincare products! Don’t miss out on our Niche Perfumes: you’ll discover a world of unique and incredibly fascinating olfactory notes! Subscribe to our Newsletter to stay updated on the latest industry news. We are waiting for you!
