which ingredients to avoid when choosing a face cleanser
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free skin care · Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:46 am

When choosing a face cleanser, which ingredients should I avoid? I am going to change the face cleanser and makeup remover, but don't know how to choose. I like to seperate makeup remover and face cleanser. I remember there was a post before in which one of forum members mentioned to avoid some ingredients when choosing a good face cleanser, but can't find it any more. If someone knows, please give me the link, or tell me again. Thanks a lot

free skin care · Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:21 pm

hello,

it really depends on what type of skin you have... are you oily? dry? combination? What kind of properties do you like in a cleanser--foamy? creamy? gel-like? these things count, since washing your face is such a personal ritual. Right now i am really into sanoflore's foaming rosewood cleanser, which contains no harsh surfectants (i.e. sodium laurel sulfate --you'd do best to avoid it or anything that sounds similar), and has a light foaming action, and smells great. But I also love creamy cleansers that I rub into my damp, but not wet, face--this removes all of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated. I have dry skin,however--so my recommendations, even on an ingredient level, would not necessarily be good for you.
BUT, as for a makeup remover, pure jojoba oil would do the trick, and then a light cleanser.

In general, I think it is wise to always read the labels and make sure that there aren't too many ingredients, chemical or natural. PSF (pure skin formulations), Osea, Dr. Hauschka, Desert Essence, Sanoflore, Burt's Bees, Epicuren, Skinceuticals, IS Clinical, Juice Beauty--all of these brands, in my opinion, have excellent formulations without too many additives or extraneous ingredients.

--avalange

free skin care · Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:45 pm

i don't know what post you are referring to, but in general, the word on the street is to avoid sodium laurel sulfate and its variants, ureas, anything including aluminum, and parabens. but the most important thing is ratios. For instance, I'd never put this on my face--neutrogena cleanser:
Ingredients:
Purified Water, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Disodium Cocamphodipropionate, Sodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lauramide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Triethanolamine, BHT, Trisodium HEDTA, Citric Acid, FD&C Blue #1, D&C Red #33, FD&C Yellow #5, Fragrance
Because it has so many surfectants and fragrance and additives. On the other hand, I wouldn't hesitate to put this on my face, and I have many times before:

Epicuren apricot cream cleanser:
Purified Water, Safflower Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Grain Alcohol, Rice Bran Oil, Avocado Oil, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum, Natural Apricot Essential Oil. Hypo-Allergenic.

I hope that helps!

--avalange

free skin care · Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:23 pm

Hi--i came across a MUA notepad listing the different types of surfactants and thought it might be useful here:

http://www.makeupalley.com/user/notepad/marmalade80/

scroll to the middle towards the end and it has a listing of what are considered gentle, mild, and harsher surfactants.

free skin care · Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:24 pm

I got Cerave cleanser today. It says it doesnt damage the skin barrier and has no SLS. It does have very mild detergent though. I love Cerave lotion already, which I have been using together with emu oil for a while now. The cleanser has HA, glycerin, ceramides etc. to retian moisture. I have yet to use it though Smile

free skin care · Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:53 pm

skincareaddicted - GREAT link!
I've bookmarked it for safe keeping.

I've been using rosehipseed cleanser for a bout a year now - t's a definate repurchase for me.
it fit all my requirements-

simple cleanser
no detergents
ph (5.5)

I get mine from dianayvonne.com
I think she gets it from professional solutions.
not sure if the formulation is exactly the same. it was my understanding that pf's contained soome detergents, but diana had them make some for her w/o the detergents added.

diana yvonnes Ingredients:
Purified Water, Olive Oil Castile, Vegetable Glycerine, Rose hip See Oil, Essential oils, Seaweed Extract.

usually recommended for dryer skin, but some oilier folks use it too. samples are available.

it's a tough task, finding a good cleanser.

as far as makeup remover - i agree with avalange's suggestion. a simple oil - jojoba or emu would work nicely to get heavier makeup off, then follow with a cleanser.

free skin care · Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:08 am

bubble,

that sounds like an excellent cleanser that I would totally use--I'll keep it in mind for the future, thanks for mentioning it!

--avalange

free skin care · Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:18 am

Thanks all for your reply. My skin is a bit dry and sometimes sentitive. So I try to avoid those harsh ingredients. All of your information is useful for me. Thanks. Very Happy

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