#second cleanser

[skincarejesus]

The Evita Rose Cleanser! It’s a shame that the pH on this soap is so high, but... it’s so pretty! 😍

[skincarejesus]

There are now so many different kinds of second cleansers Can you please explain them to me? Like what are cleansing milks???

I’ll differentiate them for you, but at the end of the day, they all do the same thing: wash your face. Also, you want a low pH in all of them.

Bar soap: You know what bar soap is lol. For the most part, I wouldn’t recommend you putting it anywhere near your face, but of course there are exceptions to the rule. (ex. Drunk Elephant Peeke and Juju bars).

Foaming cleansers: The most popular of the water-based cleansers, despite not being ideal for all skins. These cleansers often start in gel or cream form, and then lather when applied to the skin. These are best for oilier skin types.  You have to be careful, because the surfactants that cause the lathering can be stripping to the skin. If a foaming cleanser is free of harsher surfactants and has a low pH, it’s safe for use on all skins.

Pre-foamed cleansers: These come in a pump bottle and dispense already lathered bubbles. This takes away the need for surfactants, so these tend to be gentle. Good for all skin types.

Gel cleansers: These cleansers come in a gel form, and they stay in a gel form. There should be minimal to no lathering. These are great for all skin types.

Cleansing Milks: These are a lightweight creamy texture that should have minimal to no lathering. These are great for drier skin types.

Cleansing Creams: These come in a cream form (they should look like a moisturizer). They’re the closest to an oil cleanser that you can get while still being a mostly water-based cleanser. In fact, the line gets blurred a little bit, as many people use cleansing creams to remove makeup and then follow with a more traditional water-based cleanser. Great for drier skin types.

[skincarejesus]

Hello! I wanted to thank you so much for the advice you give on here. I always ask about products because I have no idea what to look for 😭 anyway.... I have oily skin and I found that the good morning cleanser from cosrx is too harsh on me, it always leaves my skin with that shiny look on it after I cleanse. I want to get a milk or gel cleanser, but I don’t even know where to start. (Especially because I’m cruelty free) I was going to try the vitamin c cleanser from Avalon Organics? I’m stuck

Cream/Gel/Milk “Cruelty Free”* 2nd Cleansers:

Yes To Carrots Fragrance Free Daily Cream Facial Cleanser

Yes To Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser

Yes To Cucumbers Gentle Milk Cleanser

Yes to Coconuts Ultra Hydrating Creme Cleanser

Yes to Coconuts Ultra Hydrating Melting Cleanser

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser

Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk

Aesop Fabulous Face Cleanser

Aesop Purifying Facial Cream Cleanser

Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser

This will at least get you started in your search. Good luck!

* I can’t guarantee that these brands meet your standard of cruelty free.

[skincarejesus]

hi! what do you think of kanebo suisai and enzyme cleansers in general? can they really dissolve sebum and blackheads? thank you!

They’re good; you just have to be aware of the ingredients in each one. Some contain SLS and other potentially irritating ingredients that you may wish to avoid.

Enzymes act to exfoliate by getting rid of dead skin cells; just the dead skin cells. This minimizes the risk of overexfoliation, making enzyme exfoliants good options for more sensitive skins. Just be aware that if you use an enzyme cleanser, you’re exfoliating already. Be cautious when exfoliating in addition to using an enzyme exfoliant.

[skincarejesus]

Do you have any recommendations for a super mild, gentle cleanser that isn't expensive as fuck? I have combo skin btw. (Oily in some parts, normal in other parts.)

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (there’s a 50ml size that’s only $15), and Hada Labo Gokujyun Foaming Cleanser

I also find that oil cleansers are not only deep cleansing, but super gentle. Like, if my skin is feeling sensitive I only use oil cleanser.

[skincarejesus]

can you recommend me some cleansers? I have oily combo skin (normal on the cheeks and oily acne prone on forehead+nose) and the reason im asking is because ive only known the lush cleansers and they leave me nice and soft afterwards and im ready to move on but don't know what to expect from other cleansers since before lush all I used was drugstore stuff like clean&clear and that orange neutrogena thing that smells and feels terrible ~lush made me soft and I fear other products breaking me out~

For you, I would suggest non-foaming cleansing gels. Cleansers don’t really break people out, not in a direct way. They can cause a reaction or strip the skin leaving it exposed to breakouts, but they don’t stay on the skin long enough to clog pores. I think you will enjoy any of the suggestions I make below. :)

Have you tried oil cleansing? This is the best, most gentle method of cleansing. 

For 2nd cleansers, just generally speaking for your skin type:

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser

NIOD Sanskrit Saponins

[skincarejesus]

when you say oil cleanser do you mean an oil to remove makeup or do you mean a second cleanse with oil in it because im still confused

Oil cleanser = 1st cleanser = emulsifying oil that can remove makeup (but also is a necessary cleanser for those who don’t wear makeup)

Water-based cleanser = 2nd cleanser = cleansing gel, foam, powder, milk, or cream

A primarily water based cleanser that happens to contain oil is still a second cleanser, not a cleansing oil.

[skincarejesus]

Second Cleanser

CLEANSING IS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SKIN CARE STEP. With the double cleansing method, you have an oil-based cleanser followed by a second, water-based cleanser. This post focuses on that second cleanser.

The most important thing with second cleansers is that they be acidic/low pH. Shoot for a range of about 3-5.5 on the pH scale. This most closely matches the natural pH of your skin. When your skin’s pH is happy, you’re happy.

Make sure you’re using a water-based cleanser in the morning and double-cleansing at night.

There are many different types of second cleansers. I’ll generally categorize them below, but keep in mind that you don’t need to strictly stay within your skin type’s recommendations. There’s no rule saying that oily skinned people can’t like a cleansing cream, or that dry skinned people don’t like a foaming cleanser, etc.

For oily skin, I would recommend a foaming, non-foaming gel, or powder type cleanser. These will help to provide a deeper clean and/or some gentle exfoliation.

Oily Recommendations: 

Budget-Friendly: Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser or Acure Organics Facial Cleansing Gel or CeraVe Foaming Cleanser

Mid-Range: Jordan Samuel The Matinee Gel Cleanser

High-End: Sulwhasoo Snowise Ex Cleansing Foam or Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser or Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser

For dry skin, go with a non-foaming gel, milk, or cream formulation. Your skin will be clean, but still maintain oil that will keep you from feeling stripped.

Dry Recommendations:

Budget-Friendly: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk

Mid-Range: REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk or Jordan Samuel The After Show Treatment Cleanser

High-End: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser or Kate Somerville Cold Cream Moisturizing Cleanser + Makeup Remover

Normal-Combination types can really play the field here. I recommend you try to find what direction, whether oily or dry, your skin leans in and pick products for that skin type. Overall, you should be safe with most low pH cleansers.

Normal/Combination Recommendations:

Budget-Friendly: Hada Labo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Foaming Wash

Mid-Range: Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick or Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser

High-End: Youth to the People Age Prevention Superfood Cleanser or Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

If you’re sensitive, make sure to stay away from chemically or physically exfoliating cleansers. Extra exfoliation that you don’t account for can cause your skin to flare up into an irritated mess. I would recommend something like the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser.

Aging skin should look for gentle cleansers with chemical exfoliating properties (if they can tolerate it). The AHAs and BHAs (exfoliating acids) will help to minimize the appearance of fine-lines and wrinkles. A perfect example would be the Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Gel Cleanser. If using an exfoliating cleanser every day is too harsh for your skin, try switching on and off with one of the dry skin cleansers recommended above.

Now go forth and have clean skin!