In the eyes of beauty lovers and self-proclaimed skin care experts, the ten-step skin care routine is a must-have evil that must be endured every night. After all-they might argue that spending half an hour painstakingly exfoliating, cleansing, removing makeup, treating acne and moisturizing is the only way to get glowing, dirt-free skin.
However, thanks to the cleansing balm, your bedtime does not have to be so long. Here, the dermatologist breaks down how the Swiss Army Knife can benefit your skin-and cut a few steps from your cosmetic procedures.
As the name suggests, the cleanser is a buttery facial cleanser that can remove sweat, makeup, sunscreen and dirt, says Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She explained that unlike traditional water-based liquid cleansers, cleansing creams are formulated with mixed oils (such as marula oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil or argan oil) to make them particularly moisturizing.
This oily formula also plays a key role in removing daily dirt from the skin. "It follows the principle of oil absorption," Dr. Gashik said. "You can apply the cleansing cream on your face, and when you massage it, it will help expel any excess oil. It helps to break down stubborn makeup and sunscreen residue that may be left on the skin is very good." And, with The difference with makeup wipes is that the makeup remover does not irritate the skin because you do not need to apply a lot of pressure to remove products such as foundations like tattoos. "It can make makeup disappear almost completely," Dr. Garshick said.
In fact, anyone can benefit from adding cleansing cream to their skin care routine, but there are some key differences in how to use it depending on your skin type and condition.
Dr. Garshick said that people with dry, sensitive skin or who experience tingling, burning, or tightness after using liquid cleansers can generally benefit from the ultra-moisturizing, non-stripping properties of the cleansing cream. The same is true for people with inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, adds Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist, and founder of Visha Skincare. "Cleaning balm may be more suitable for them because the skin barrier has been damaged... and the balm can help restore some lipids to the barrier," she explained. In these cases, you can usually skip the typical last step in the cleaning process: removing the product with water. "When you apply it to the skin, you can massage it, and finally [wipe it off] with a damp cloth, and that's it," Dr. Gashik said. "You don't have to do more for your cleaning procedure." (Of course, the recommendations vary from product to product, so if your lip balm's instruction label specifically says to rinse after use, please follow that recommendation.)
Dr. Garshick suggested that people with oily skin or a thick layer of makeup or sunscreen may want to use a liquid facial cleanser. The cleansing cream will help absorb some excess oil on the skin and effectively remove makeup, while the second cleansing will ensure that all dirt is completely removed from the pores. "Generally speaking, people who tend to be on the oily side [usually] can use water-based cleaners for the extra steps without feeling dry or irritating," she said.
The easiest way to tell if you can benefit from double cleansing: pay attention to how your skin feels. "The purpose of cleaning really shouldn't be to feel tight or stripped, so if you feel that way, it means that everything you are doing is not for you," Dr. Gashik said. If you feel your skin is tightened after using cleansing creams and liquid cleansers, please give up the second step. On the other hand, if you only use cleansing cream and your skin still feels covered in makeup and dirt, then try additional cleansing, she said. (Try these salicylic acid facial cleansers to remove clogged pores.)
Rather than splurge on the first cleansing cream you see, make sure to choose a product that suits your skin type and condition. Dr. Garshick said that people with oily or acne-prone skin usually need a cleansing cream that is labeled "non-comedogenic" and does not contain coconut oil and other known pore-clogging ingredients. On the other hand, people with sensitive skin should try to avoid perfumes and essential oils—even if they are NBD to others, Dr. Patel added. "These are very irritating to the damaged barrier," she said. "If your skin's barrier is incomplete, it means there are almost no cracks on its surface...you may have a [bad] reaction to certain ingredients that most people might not."
To start looking for the perfect product to remove oil and nourish your skin, choose the best cleansing creams below from Dr. Garshick and Dr. Patel.
Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser is called OG cleanser and uses mineral oil to remove makeup, grease and dirt, and beeswax to lock in moisture-only $5. "The good thing about it is that it is easy to find, and it is certainly affordable for those who want to start using cleansing cream in their daily work," said Dr. Garshick. Based on more than 4,000 five-star reviews, it is very good value for money. "I even saw my thickest makeup disappear in a few seconds!" wrote one shopper. "It instantly removes eye makeup and doesn't irritate my eyes... I don't think I need to wash my face with soap and water. It didn't leave me with the sensation of stripping that I was used to. It left mine. Your skin is moisturized all night and you wake up radiant!" (Related: Makeup remover will not make your skin greasy)
Dr. Garshick said that in addition to almond oil and papaya seed oil that help remove makeup and makeup, this best cleansing balm also contains papaya enzyme, making it a gentle exfoliant. Translation: I hope your skin feels very smooth, free of dirt, and completely wiped off the makeup. One reviewer wrote: "When using this, my foundation, concealer, eyebrows, heavy eyeliner and mascara were wiped off with two wipes." "I also used very few products! One! A little bit will definitely go a long way."
This best cleansing cream approved by Dr. Garshick uses a combination of sweet almond oil, elderberry oil, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, etc., to remove cosmetics from the skin and any impurities that have accumulated throughout the day. Shoppers with dry and sensitive skin say it “makes [their] skin soft and very clean without making it tight and dry”, while others say “it will melt your makeup without letting it You feel very greasy." But this product is more than just a cleanser. Thanks to its ultra-moisturizing ingredients, this cleansing cream can also be used as a once-a-week mask—just let it stay on the skin for about 10 minutes.
Dr. Garshick said that as the name suggests, this cleansing balm is designed to remove stubborn makeup, using a mixture of marula seeds, baobab seeds, Kalahari seeds, mongon fruit and Simena oil to remove them from the skin And provide moisture. A five-star reviewer wrote: "It absolutely removed all the makeup on my face. Every trace. The makeup.". "And my skin feels smooth and not dry. It really changed the rules of the game for me." In order to further smooth and soften, the product also contains lightly exfoliating bamboo and charcoal powder.
This best cleansing cream may stand out from the crowd with its tube rather than tub-like packaging, but it still has the iconic buttery texture. This lip balm contains oatmeal oil and colloidal oatmeal, designed to relieve redness and irritation-while removing impurities and nourishing the skin. According to shoppers, it is mild enough even for people with inflammatory skin diseases. "It changed my life!" wrote a critic. "I suffer from rosacea. This is one of the only cleansers and makeup removers that make my skin feel clean, comfortable and light."
Just like Glow Recipe's products, this best cleansing balm is equipped with papaya extract to gently exfoliate, but it uses sunflower and ginger root oil to remove makeup, sunscreen and remove excess oil without peeling the skin. It has done such an excellent job that critics say they are "ob-freaking-sessed." One shopper wrote: “It takes everything away, and I like how my skin feels afterwards.” “Remember, I layered sunscreen, moisturizer, sunscreen foundation, sunscreen powder and spray, and this still removes everything These."