Are you choosing the right cleanser?

Is cleansing the cause of skin problems?

Dry skin, roughness, acne, pores, and blackheads.

Many people have these skin concerns. Perhaps you are one of them, worrying that "nothing you do will make it better"?

For example, the problem of dry skin .

Some people have tried various creams and moisturizers but find that they end up with dry skin.
However, what such people actually need may not be a moisturizing cream but a rethink of their cleansing method.

The role of cleansing is to remove oil.

Cleansing removes makeup.

Makeup products contain a lot of oily ingredients, so the role of cleansing is to remove oily stains.

Is it easier to understand if you imagine oil stains on a frying pan?

A frying pan that is greasy cannot be cleaned by simply rinsing it with water, because water and oil do not mix.

However, you can remove oil stains by using detergent. The main component of detergent, a surfactant, mixes the oil and water, so the oil washes away when you rinse with water.

The same goes for cleansing.
The better a product is at blending with oily makeup and removing oil, the better its cleansing effect.

However, if the effect is too strong, the surface coating will also peel off.
If excess moisture is removed from the surface of your skin, your skin will feel tight after washing your face.

This can lead to a situation where no matter how hard you try to moisturize, your skin still feels like it doesn't have enough moisture.

Should I remove it with oil or with a surfactant?

Balms, oils, gels, liquids and milks.

There are so many types of cleansers out there, it can be hard to know which one is right for your skin, with so many options.

But as mentioned above, cleansing has one purpose: to remove makeup and oily stains.

To remove oily stains, many cleansers use oil or surfactants (or both) as their main ingredients, which are easily absorbed by oil.

Oil (oil = blends well with oil)

Oils include vegetable oils, synthetic oils, and mineral oils .

Vegetable oils

As the name suggests, these oils are derived from plants. Many of them have names that make it easy to tell from which plant they come from, such as olive seed oil, jojoba seed oil , corn oil, soybean oil, macadamia seed oil, and sunflower seed oil.

Synthetic oil

It is made by processing natural oils, such as extracting only specific fatty acids contained in vegetable oils (palm oil, coconut oil, etc.), and has high stability and functionality.

Mineral oil

It is a petroleum-derived oil, just like Vaseline. It is said to be highly stable and has low skin irritation and allergy risk, so it is also the main ingredient in baby oil.

Surfactants (mix water and oil)

There are countless types of surfactants.
Some are derived from natural substances such as plants, while others are synthetically made from petroleum. Their origins and functions are diverse.

Types of Cleansing

Each type of cleanser has a different amount of water, oil, and surfactants, and the balance of the ingredients. Also, the amount and balance of the ingredients determine how easily it comes off and how moisturized (or dry) your skin feels after rinsing.

Now let's take a look at what each type is made up of.

Cleansing gel/liquid

The main ingredient in cleansing gels and cleansing liquids is water, so they seem to be gentle on the skin.

However, as mentioned in the frying pan example, water will not remove grease stains.

For this reason, gel and liquid cleansers contain a lot of surfactants, which help dissolve the oil in your makeup into the water.

The lower the amount of surfactant used, the lower the risk of skin irritation.
However, it will make your makeup less effective.

If you use too much, your makeup will come off.
However, some types of surfactants can irritate the skin.

Also, since it generally contains a large amount of surfactants, if any are not washed off properly, it may cause itching or redness.

• Uses surfactants that do not irritate your skin
• The cleaning power matches the intensity of your makeup

If these conditions are met, gel or liquid types may suit some skin types. You may have to try a few different types before you find the one that works for you...

Cleansing Milk

This also contains a lot of water.

What makes it different from gel and liquid types is that it contains water and surfactants already in an emulsified (mixed) state. It puts less strain on the skin, but if you wear heavy makeup, you may find that the cleansing power is weak.

Cleansing milk may be a good choice for people who wear light makeup and are sensitive to skin irritation.

However, this product also contains a fairly large amount of surfactants, so be careful not to leave any residue behind.
You may experience itching or redness. (It will be fine if you wash it off thoroughly.)

Cleansing Balm

In many cases, synthetic oil is the main ingredient. The most common ingredient is "ethylhexyl palmitate."

It is a synthetic oil that is refreshing and not oily. It has a high safety rating from the EWG . It blends well with makeup, so it has a high cleansing effect.

However, this may also remove the natural sebum from your skin.
This can leave your skin feeling tight after washing and can cause dry skin.

Even the EWG, which has rated it as safe, has pointed out the risk of skin irritation from ethylhexyl palmitate . People with sensitive or dry skin may want to use it with caution to see if they experience irritation or dryness.

On the other hand, it is recommended for people with normal skin who wear heavy makeup, people with oily skin, and adolescents who produce a lot of sebum.

Cleansing oil

The main ingredient in cleansing oil is oil, which works by blending with the oil in your makeup to remove it.

There is little or no water in it.
It also contains surfactants to wash away oils that have blended into the makeup from the skin.

Although the main ingredient is oil, there are three types of oil: vegetable oil, synthetic oil, and mineral oil.

The important thing to consider when choosing a cleansing oil is what oil is the main ingredient.

When choosing a cleanser, it is useful to remember the characteristics of each one.

1. Main ingredient is vegetable oil

Vegetable oils are not irritating to human skin and many types are easily absorbed by the skin. Many of them are also used as moisturizing ingredients.

Therefore, cleansing oils that are mainly made from vegetable oils are gentle on the skin. They also blend well with makeup, so they are effective at removing makeup.

One thing to note is that some vegetable oils tend to clog pores .
If you are concerned about your pores, you may want to avoid cleansing oils whose main ingredients are soybean oil, macadamia nut oil, or sesame oil.

Also, the cost of raw materials is high, which makes the price high.

2. Synthetic oil is the main ingredient

Although it is in the form of an oil, its functionality is very similar to that of a cleansing balm.

In addition to "ethylhexyl palmitate," which is often used in balms, synthetic oils also have long katakana names such as " caprylic/capric triglyceride" and " isopropyl myristate ."

While it can thoroughly remove makeup, depending on the type of oil, it may remove too much sebum, which could lead to dryness.

It may also be included in wipe-off cleansing products.

3. Mineral oil is the main ingredient

It is said to be so gentle on the skin that it is also used in baby oil.

However, the downside is that it adheres very strongly to the skin and is difficult to wash off. It has such strong removing power that it can even remove waterproof mascara, but to wash it off, a considerable amount of strong surfactants is required.

Therefore, cleansing oils that contain mineral oil as their main ingredient can cause dry skin.

For those who think, "Cleansing oil is drying!" I would like you to check, "What is the main oil ingredient?"

Can it be used with wet hands?

Some cleansing oils say they can be used with wet hands.

Oils are highly stable and do not easily mix with water, so even when they come into contact with water the properties of the oil remain almost unchanged and their cleansing effect remains intact.

That's why cleansing oils, which often contain mineral oil or synthetic oils, say they can be used with wet hands.

On the other hand, vegetable oils are not very stable.

Therefore, if you use it on wet hands or face, its properties will change when it comes into contact with water, weakening its cleansing effect.
Cleansing oils that contain a high content of vegetable oils should be used on dry hands and face.

Recommended cleansers for each skin type

The feel of the product will vary depending on the type and concentration of oils and surfactants used, so it's difficult to say which cleanser is best for which skin type.

However, I will write down the compatibility of general cleansers with different skin types.

- People who wear heavy makeup and have strong (non-dry) skin
Cleansing balms and cleansing oils that are primarily made from mineral or synthetic oils

- People who wear heavy makeup and have sensitive skin (dry skin, sensitive skin)
A cleansing oil made primarily from vegetable oils

- People who wear light makeup and have strong (non-dry) skin
Cleansing gel, cleansing liquid

- People who wear light makeup and have sensitive skin (dry skin, sensitive skin)
Cleansing oil and cleansing milk made primarily from vegetable oils

A vegetable cleansing oil recommended for all skin types

Regardless of your skin type or how much makeup you wear, we recommend a cleansing oil whose main ingredient is vegetable oil.

The reason is that it removes makeup well and puts less strain on the skin.

However, if you have sensitive skin, be sure to choose products that do not contain essential oils or fragrances to avoid the risk of allergies or skin irritation.

Also, if you are concerned about pores or blackheads, it is best to avoid products that contain a lot of oil, which has a high comedogenic index (tends to clog pores) .