Cleansers

I've been getting a lot of questions about facial cleansers, what's good, what's not. The truth of the matter is, there is no simple answer for Asian skin.

Based on experience, Western cleansers are too oily and / or too harsh because Asian skin tends to be thinner. There is a pro and con to this natural trait. Pro: Asian skin does not need a lot of exfoliation. A few times or even just once a week can work for a person. Con: Because skin is thinner it is more sensitive which can lead to redness, irritation, dryness, basically, a lot of issues you don't want to deal with.

Okay, back to cleansers.

I switch cleansers. I try to have at least 2 or 3 different ones for warm and for cold seasons. The reason for this is because our skin adapts. So what can be very effective one month may not work so well in the long run. Switching cleansers also gives skin the benefits of each product.

As for the seasons, warm and hot weather doesn't cause our skin to need too much moisture whereas cold weather sometimes requires a cleanser with a bit more oil.

I love foam cleansers because they get all frothy and you can lather it up and spread it all over your face. Don't scrub! Using my third and fourth fingers (they use less force than the index finger) I gently massage or just clean gently using a circular motion.

I use Asian cleansers like Missha and Kanebo. For hot/warm weather I look for the clear liquid or gel cleansers because they aren't as heavy. What's great about these is you only need about a dime sized amount, place it in your palm, add a bit of water, and using a vigorous circular motion (you don't need to put your back into it, just have enough friction that it causes it to froth).

For cool / cold weather I use cleansers from Softymo and others. They also foam up but the foam is creamier.

After thoroughly cleansing the face I rinse off with warm or lukewarm water until the product is completely off. Okay, I also add a few splashes of cold water because I really can't wake up in the morning!

For exfoliation, I love foaming scrubs. The foam gives a thin viscous layer that the scrubbing beads can use so they aren't as harsh on your skin and also makes it easier to move the beads around your skin, going over rough areas.

Clean n' Clear, Ponds, Missha, they all have foaming scrubs I believe but I love Utena. I'm trying to stock up and find the brand here in the US. The Western brands have beads that are just too smooth and Missha has too much foam. Utena has lots of these mini little scrubbers and my skin is really smooth after.

I'll try to get a list of products I use and post them up.

Hope you enjoyed reading. Keep it clear!