While establishing the foundation of your skin care face regimen, face wash would have been the initial and compulsory commodity any person would be adding. It is a non-negotiable basis of the facial maintenance regimen. A face cleanser’s primary responsibility would be cleansing your face’s all kinds of impurities and paving the way for the subsequent and complex skin care products.
The effective utilization of other facial products would be compromised in case you fail to choose a good face wash. While selecting a mild facial wash product, ensure to keep in mind the ingredients, the skin type and the pH of the product.
In this blog one shall get to know how to find the best cleanser for combination skin so they find a solution for the T – Zone and help them achieve a balanced and healthy skin. Additionally keep the sebum production levels in control.
Let’s Understand The Combination Skin Type First
Combination skin is the type of skin that exhibits both types of characteristics of the dry and oily skin. It usually produces excess sebum in the T zone (forehead, nose and chin) and the skin appears to be dry, tight and flaky elsewhere. The reason could be due to stress, environment, overactive oil glands and genetics.
The skin tends to change its nature according to the season or the weather. Where wet and humid climate cause the skin to appear shiny in the T – zone and dry elsewhere. During the dry weather it appears normal with controlled sebum production and oil levels. In addition, the combination skin tends to have open pores.
How To Identify The Combination Skin Type?
In order to identify if you have a combination skin type, try the wash and wait method.
- Wash your face with a gentle face cleanser.
- Gentle pat dry.
- Do not apply any other products.
- Wait for the next 40 – 60 minutes.
- If your skin appears to be shiny at the T- zone and cheeks feel tight or flaky, you likely have a combination skin type.
How To Select A Good Cleanser For Your Face?
The Ingredients to look for while choosing a good face cleansers (general approach)
The ingredients that one should consider buying are; Glycerine, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, Panthenol, Aloe Vera, Niacinamide, Squalene. These ingredients are generally regarded as safe and best for use.
Ingredients one must strictly avoid:
Harsh surfactants such as SLS and SLES, strong to very strong fragrances, essential oils (specially if you have sensitive skin), harsh exfoliationg particles, products with alcohol.
Let Us Understand How To Choose A Face Cleanser For The Combination Skin Type
- To select a face cleanser specifically for combination skin type, look for the ingredients such as gentle exfoliants such as (AHAs and BHAs), niacinamide, tea tree oil, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract and ceramides etc.
- Strictly avoid formulations with harsh surfactants, heavy fragrances and unbalanced or extreme pH.
- Go for an oil free foaming or gel based cleanser.
- You may select benzoyl peroxide based formulations, if you have severe breakouts or acne.
- Choose a non-comedogenic claiming formula. It would not clog the pores at all.
Steps To Follow While Using Face Cleanser (Specifically For Combination Skin)
- Wash your hands first. Splash your face with lukewarm water. Ensure maintaining proper temperature. The temperature should not be too high.
- Take a dime sized amount of cleanser or foaming face wash and rub between your palms.
- Start applying on your face, starting with the T zone.
- Gently spread and rub it for 30 – 60 seconds. Do not exceed the time limit.
- Take extra time cleaning the T zone.
- Clean with lukewarm water.
- Take special attention to the parts such as the hairline, jawline temples and area around the nose.
- Gentle pat dry with a soft towel.
- Avoid rubbing.
- Apply a lightweight gel based moisturizer immediately after cleansing.
- Additionally, if you feel like the T zone is overly active, then you may consider using cleanser infused with actives such salicylic acid or niacinamide can be used specifically for the T zone.
The main aim of the face cleanser for oily skin or the foaming face wash must be, to remove the dirt and build up efficiently. Ensuring to remove the oil from the T zone efficiently without stripping off the natural oils from the cheeks and leaving them feeling dry and stretched.
Summary
While choosing a face cleanser for combination skin, ensure using products with oil free foaming or gel based formulation. Incorporate using the products with gentle exfoliants such as (AHAs and BHAs), niacinamide, tea tree oil, hyaluronic acid, green tea extract and ceramides etc. Be cautious with the products that contain heavy perfumes, harsh surfactants and harsh exfoliating agents. These may disrupt the skin barrier.
In addition the pH balance of the products also matters a lot. If the product does not have an ideal pH i.e., between 4.5 – 5.5, it could actually strip away the essential oils and leave the skin feeling squeaky clean.
Which people often confuse with good and proper cleaning. When taking the combination skin type in consideration, the pH matters a lot. It should lie in the prescribed range and must not exceed the limit. Doing so would actually leave the skin with a compromised skin barrier.
Choosing a gentle face cleanser is the base of any skin care regimen. Making a careful choice is non-negotiable. It is the ultimate step between all the everyday environmental dirt and pollution and maintaining a good and healthy skin. It is the base of any sort of skin care regimen.
Therefore, this step is to be followed carefully. It makes the canvas clear before starting with the further skin care steps. One’s skin care goal could be achieved quite early. Maintaining consistency is the ultimate key for skin care. Therefore carefully choosing targeted products and keeping them according to skin type is an ultimate requirement of a healthy and clear skin goal.
