How to Choose the Right Facial Cleanser

by Lioudmila Souglobova

WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR SKIN MATTERS

Cleansing the skin remains one of the most critical steps in an essential beauty routine. Proper cleansing removes environmental impurities and makeup, minimizes pores, prevents acne problems, slows down the aging process, and prepares the surface for additional treatments to heal, protect and rejuvenate the skin. So how do you choose the right facial cleanser when there are so many selections available?

You may be diligent about removing your makeup at night, but are you incorporating a cleanser with essential ingredients that prep your skin for optimal renewal? Here are some important considerations to help you choose the right facial cleanser.

WHAT ARE YOUR SKINCARE NEEDS?

Every cleanser on the market has a specific goal – to treat acne, increase hydration, minimize pores, brighten the skin, soothe the skin, etc. So first and foremost, you should narrow your choices of cleansers according to your skin's needs.

Why might you need more than one cleanser? That depends on your skin and daily activities. First, some cleansers are formulated for daily use, some for weekly and others for night or daytime.

Just as you wouldn’t wear the same shoes for hiking as you would for dancing (it is possible, but why?), advanced cleansers are formulated with specialized ingredients to address specific skin conditions and needs.

Our skincare needs can vary on a daily basis due to changes in our bodies, like hormone levels, sickness, stress, variables in food and water consumption, and changes in our environment like exposure to sun, wind, and heat. The right cleanser formulated to address these fluctuating needs can make all the difference.

 To understand which cleanser works well for your unique skin, there is no better way, but to take your cleanser for a test drive. Sampling products is crucial for discovering which formulas elicit the best response for your exact skin needs. At Florencia Beauty, we want you to discover the best essentials for your beauty regime so we offer SAMPLES. We encourage you to test a specialty formula that is right for you.

LOOK FOR THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

Your skin is like a giant sponge that absorbs the ingredients you put on it. That is why at Florencia Beauty, we believe what you put on your skin matters. You should always look for products that contain natural, powerful botanicals that offer skin-boosting benefits and do not contain harmful ingredients.

There are lots of cleansers on the market that contain helpful ingredients, but also include a lot of chemicals that your skin doesn’t need. Check the labels. If a product contains unwanted chemicals like parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, petrolatum, or petroleum synthesized colors or fragrances, you could be doing your skin more harm than good.

CHOOSING A GENTLE CLEANSER

The best choice would be a soap-free, non-foaming gentle cleanser. Because your skin readily absorbs what you put on it, one with all-natural, beneficial ingredients without the unnecessary chemicals is an excellent place to start. If you want to step up your face cleansing game, here are some all-star, powerful botanical ingredients to look for: Algae Extract (Rich in antioxidants, therapeutic, nourishing, and offer exceptional benefits for the skin. Blend of marine minerals, amino acids, sea proteins and polysaccharides deeply hydrates, protects and renew); Coconut Water (Contains Lauric Acid, a powerful anti-microbial fighter that helps protect against skin infections. Contains protein Cytokines that is promoting cell growth. It is an outstanding natural hydrating gentle Cleanser and Toner); Rose Hips Fruit Extract (Contains high levels of vitamin C, rich in proteins, which help keep skin soft and moisturized. It is the only vegetable oil that naturally contains retinol (vitamin A), which may help treat lines and wrinkles, discoloration and other visible signs of aging); Hibiscus Flower Extract (Called the ‘Botox plant’. Has a magical reputation for increasing skin elasticity, natural skin moisturizer, gentle on sensitive skin. Helps to evening skin tone. Helps to purify the skin by breaking down dead skin and increasing cell turnover, even helps to control acne breakouts).

All of these ingredients and other potent botanicals are found in Florencia Beauty’s new soothing, hydrating and purifying Florencia Botanical Marine Gentle Cleanser. It is gentle enough to use on any skin type. A perfect cleanser for post laser or peel treatments, or sunburn and is the optimal choice for sensitive, dry, and even oily skin skin. It is a helpful cleanser to use in the morning after a late-night party or a day at the swimming pool - when your skin has experienced some agitators. 

REVIVE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR SKIN WITH OXYGEN POWER

Are you putting in lots of extra time at work and not sleeping enough? Do you experience a change in your skin depending on the time of the month? Your stress and hormonal levels on a monthly or even weekly basis can wreak havoc on your skin. Consuming large amounts of caffeine, alcohol or salty foods can dry out even the most normally balanced skin and cause inflammation. Your hormones can fluctuate all month long depending on your menstrual cycle, age and even medications you are on. Switching to a cleanser that boosts oxygen content, increases cellular respiration capacity and includes healing, calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as these can help strengthen and revive your skin: Allantoin (It is a botanical extract from the comfrey plant and has anti-aging, moisturizing, and skin soothing benefits. Well known for its healing effect on acne, irritated, wounded, weather-beaten and sunburnt skin. It prevents skin inflammation, black- & whiteheads appearance, and blocked pores. Stimulates cell regeneration and promotes healthy skin); Aloe Leaf Juice (Full of vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory ingredients and other ingredients that detox cells. It is an anti-aging and healing agent with high antioxidant value); Green Tea Leaf Extract (Naturally rich in antioxidants, reduces redness, inflammation and irritation. Decreases wrinkles and increases elasticity. Helps to promote the health and quantity of collagen while maintaining firm and elastic skin). 

 

 

These calming, soothing, revitalizing and anti-inflammatory ingredients are found in Florencia  Botanical Peptide Oxygen Cleanser,  a revitalizing, oxygenating, rejuvenating, soothing, gentle, oil-free gel cleanser. An elegant cleanser enriched with peptides, pro-vitamin B5 and botanical extracts, is beneficial for all skin types, and especially for oily, problematic skin.

WHEN ITS TIME TO REFINE & SHED YOUR LAYERS

Every skin type needs healthy, gentle exfoliation and regeneration. We know that our cells' ability to renew decreases substantially as we age. However, other factors can affect our skin's radiance such as environmental elements like pollutants and weather conditions along with situational stress, dietary changes and lack of sleep or exercise. Buildup of dead cells gives the skin a feeling of roughness and unevenness. Scars, discoloration, and fine lines also always improve with exfoliation.

If you find that your skin sometimes goes through periods of dullness, lacks radiance, or has rough, dry patches switching up your cleanser to one with brightening, exfoliating and rejuvenating ingredients can get your skin back on track. Here are a number of refining plant-based ingredients that help fight dull, drab skin: Glycolic Acid (AHA - derived from sugar cane and works as an exfoliant. Its able to penetrate skin deeply and easily, making it the most effective for treating fine lines, acne, blackheads, dullness, oiliness etc. When washed off, it leaves behind smoother skin that is also more youthful looking); Lactic Acid (AHA - extracted from milk. It is gently sloughing off the first layer of the epidermis, leaving skin smoother, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles); Salicylic Acid (BHA - extracted from the bark of the willow tree. It is a natural exfoliating product that prevents pores from clogging up and allows room for new cell growth. Can improve skin thickness, barrier functions, and collagen production); Sodium PCA (It is a completely natural ingredient that is derived from plants, fruits and coconut. It is a natural humectant, highly water-absorbent, holding several time its weight in water, also functions as a skin-replenishing ingredient); Grapefruit Peel Oil (A wonderful source of anti-aging compounds and antioxidants that fight free radicals. It is exceptionally nourishing and protective, high in flavonoids, rich in vitamin C, promote collagen production, helps to maintain and improve skin elasticity, diminish hyper-pigmentation. Has capabilities as antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, soothing, and toning).

All of these super gentle, but effective exfoliating ingredients are found in the Florencia AHA /BHA Refining Cleanser. This brightening, exfoliating, pore-minimizing, clarifying, lightening, gentle formula can be used as a cleanser twice a day or as an effective exfoliate twice a week, depending on your skin sensitivity.

Michelle Lioudmila Souglobova, clinical esthetician and creator of Florencia Beauty recommends having several cleansers on hand and using them twice a day.

“For your morning facial cleansing, use your cleanser once. For your evening facial cleansing, use your cleanser twice. The first cleansing step will wash away make up and pollution that skin collected throughout the day. The second step of cleansing is a “deeper” cleansing. It will dissolve and remove impurities, clean pores, and will leave skin refreshed and radiant, ready for the next step of your routine, which is applying skin care products that penetrate, hydrate and feed your skin, " says the skincare expert.

Florencia Beauty cleansers can be used for any skin type, but are specially formulated to address specific skin concerns. If you have questions about which cleanser is a good fit for your skin’s needs, give us a call at 707-789-0168 or send us an email to info@florenciabeauty.com, and our skincare specialists will be happy to assist you.

 

 

---

---

Also in Florencia Beauty Blog - your wellspring for natural skin care trends, guides and tips.