Today I'll be sharing to you the
current cleansers I have in my vanity.
A good skincare routine cannot
function without cleansing. It is the "alpha", the beginning of
everything. If you don't cleanse your face first, there is no point in doing
the rest of steps.
I started taking my skincare seriously in 2017. It was the same year I decided to wear less makeup than usual and focus instead in giving my skin some tender loving care. And I have
no regrets. A good skin is definitely worth all the effort and money.
But first I will give you a gist
of what I learned since I started investing on cleansers.
- It is important to know your skin type.
Cleansers have been developed for
people with different skin types. It is important to select a cleanser that
matches the type of skin you have whether you are oily, dry, combination,
sensitive or acne-prone.
Why?
Because you may be using a face
cleanser with ingredients that does not suit your current skin type. For
example, salicylic acid is good for oily and acne-prone skin type but too much
will cause flakes for those with dry skin.
It is also important to note that
our skin types may change. Not because you are oily nowd does it mean you
remain oily for the rest of your life. Climate, the food you eat and hormonal
imbalance are factors that can change your skin type.
- Double cleansing is a real game changer
I’ve talked
about double cleansing for Pinays before and it is
truly life-changing in my opinion. At first it feels daunting to use two
different cleansers, an oil-based and a water-based, but in my experience it
just works.
Apparently, double cleansing is not just a “kaartehan”. It has a scientific basis.
You need to use an oil-based cleanser first to
make sure that oil-based debris such as sebum, makeup, SPF and other products
with oil in it be removed. If you used water-based product, which most second
cleansers are based from, they won’t be as effective. As we all know oil and
water never mix.
Make sense
right?
So in case
you haven’t tried double cleansing yet, I recommend for you to test it out.
- Always remove your makeup first
If
there’s something a beauty resolution we all need to follow this 2019 that
would be to always remove makeup before going to bed. This is where the whole
double cleansing comes in. As soon as the oil-based debris are removed, the
second cleansers further make sure you have a squeaky-clean face. Even if you don’t wear makeup,
double-cleansing is still effective because you want oils and impurities to be
thoroughly removed.
My Current Cleansers
Now here are the cleansers I currently own.
You will notice that most of the
products I have are Korean skincare. I became part of Althea Angels, Althea
Korea's Beauty Ambassadorship Program, and received
credits to purchase items on the store. I have always been a fan of Korean
skincare regimen so I took the liberty to purchase the tried and tested
products from the site.
Let's begin.
Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash
I have a good relationship with Himalaya Herbals products. I’ve used
and loved the Clear Complexion Whitening
which has a face wash, face scrub and day cream. I didn’t repurchase the line
since I want to try out other skincare products.
Then I discovered this Purifying Neem Face Wash which is what I bring
along with me when I am going on overnight stay at my sister’s condo since the
size is just right. Neem is actually an important in Indian skincare routine. It is a proven
ingredient that can help with clearing acne, lightening blemishes, treating dry
skin and delaying signs of ageing.
From all of the current cleansers
I own this is the most gentle. It is also the only natural face cleanser I own
so I like to reserve this just when I feel like my skin is getting bad because
of too much chemicals.
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleanser
For a long time, I wanted to buy
any of the Jeju Volcanic product from Innisfree. The packaging just looks nice
and the word Jeju and Volcanic it is definitely a “take-all-my-money” kind of
product for me.
Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore
Cleanser is a pore-cleansing foam
containing Jeju volcanic scoria that strongly absorbs sebum and purifies
clogged pores. Jeju volcanic scoria is a natural ingredient found in Jeju
Island free from impurities.
Something I notice when I use the
product are the tiny beads which gently scrub away dead skin cells, blackheads
and deeply embedded impurities. Overall, the product leaves my face refreshed
and thoroughly cleaned at the end of the day.
You might want to read: My Seoul Travel Diary
Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam
The main ingredient of this product is of course
baking powder. Now, I am not familiar with the effects of baking powder on the
skin and whether it is similar with baking soda. But, I have used baking soda
before and it really did help minimize my pores.
So yep, I am kind of confused if in Korea, baking
powder and baking soda is similar.
The main thing I enjoy about this
Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam is the consistency of the
product. It is reminiscent to a baking soda and water paste. It smells nice and
clean, lathers smoothly and does it main job - cleaning all the junk.
From my current cleansers this is
the least used just because I put the Innisfree at the sink and I always forget
to bring this product out from my vanity. I promise to use this more often in
the coming months just to see if it does help minimize my pores or not.
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
You don’t
know how excited I am when I got my hands on this COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily
Gentle Cleanser. This is my first every COSRX product and whether it worked or
not I am hands down buying more products from their line just to get on the
hype.
Thankfully,
it worked! And I’m obsessed with this cleanser too.
I’ve been using this since my Althea Unboxing Haul and it
is definitely the perfect day cleanser for me at the moment. I use a really
tiny pea-sized amount and it is enough to cover my whole face. I really am
digging this product so much but I want to give myself at least two months
before making a review.
Morning Cleanser vs. Night Cleanser
During the day, I tend to go with just a foam cleanser. Foam
cleansers are nice because they usually wake me up, they are fast to use and
prepares my skin well for the rest of the skincare routine.
For night, it depends on whether I used makeup or not.
If I didn’t use any makeup I sometimes skip the oil-based and just use a
water-based cleanser.
If
I do wear makeup whether it is just BB Cream or lip and cheek tint that’s when
I do double cleansing method. Currently, for oil-based cleanser I am using the Althea Pore Purifying Serum Cleanser
and it is a good makeup remover, very gentle and suitable for my needs. As for
the water-based, I go for a pore cleanser either the Innisfree
Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleanser or the Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam.
In case you
don’t know I do have an existing referral link on Althea. If you use my
unique link you can get 20% discount on your first
purchase.
Overall
I
think this year is really the year I become more serious with skincare and
making sure I follow the day AND night routine. It is a challenge at first but
seeing how my face suffered during November and December, with all the travels
and skipping routine I did, made me much more inspired to make sure skincare is
prioritized.
Thank
you for reading this long post.
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