Skin Cleansing

As mentioned earlier, the skin on the face is exposed to harsh elements on a daily basis. This is why you need to ensure that you treat your face with much more care. Be gentle with your face. Although you may use soap on your face when bathing, it is best to avoid it and better to use face washes. Just like body washes, these do not dry your skin out. Facewashes today are so well formulated that they cleanse effectivelybut keep intact your skin's natural oils

. There are lots of face washes available in the market. You need to choose one that is most suitable for your skin and your pocket.

Facial cleansers or face washes could belong to the following categories. 

1. Foaming cleansers: These generally lather as the name suggests.

2. Gel cleansers: These are usually oil-free and may not foam or lather.

3. Water-soluble cleansers: These are good, all-purpose cleansers and are generally non-irritating.

4. Lotion cleansers: These are recommended for dry or sensitive skin because they leave a light soothing film on the skin.

5. Cleansing milks: These are modified moisturizer formulations. It does not have the surfactants-the active cleaning ingredients of soapsand facewashes-that normal cleansers have which are effective for removing dust and grime. 

6. Toner and astringents: Tonersare solutions or lotions designed to remove surface skin cells, soap residue and oils from skin. They are often heavy on water and alcohol and some-times contain other ingredients like witch hazel, salicylic acid or propylene glycol.

Toners are sold under a variety of names: astringents, fresheners, clarifying lotions. When you put toner on your face, your skin tingles. In fact this is why many people buy it: they enjoy the sensation of coolness and find it refreshing. If you enjoy the tingle, go for it. But does your skin really need 'toning'? These products can be very drying to all but the oiliest skins. They are especiallyinappropriate for India where the sun and pollutants already dry your skin out. Hence, use toners with caution and only when called for-when your skin is very oily during the hot, humid summer months.

Choosing the right cleanser is determined by your skin type as well as your lifestyle and your personal preference. For instance, some people may feel clean after wiping their skin with cleanser and cQttonwool while some others may need to splash some water to feelthat they've really cleansed their face. Some people feelhappy with a foamy face wash. You also need to consider the time of the year,because your skin typically changes with the seasons. Usually, skin gets oilier in the summer and drier in the winter, so you'll probably want to change your cleanser from season to season. Generally, use a gentle cleanser to avoid drying out your skin.

Some Cleansing Tips

You need to use cleansing milk:

. If you are outdoors and exposed to pollution, dust, etc. for more than half an hour every day.

. If you use make-up. When using cleansing milk, clean your skin thoroughly but gently with a soft facial tissue and the cleansing milk until the tissue is clean. You may need to do it four or five times, especially if you have make-up. Finally wash with warm water and face wash.