Cleanser or Makeup Remover? When to Use Which
Let me count the ways people wash their faces: on one hand, there are those who only do it in the morning; and on the other, those who wash twice a day.
There are also others who perform a double cleanse (like me). And then there are those who wash their face in the shower and those who do it at the sink (a significant debate).
Whatever method you choose is fine, the important thing is to use the right products for it, which generally falls into the debate of makeup remover or cleanser.
The thing is that these products are often used indistinctly, when in fact makeup removers and facial cleansers are completely different products, despite the fact that they almost do the same job.
Certainly, there are cleansers that also remove makeup, but it is good to know how they differ so that you can find what your skin needs in different situations.
Let me clear your doubts.
Makeup Removers
Makeup removers, which you will see in all kinds, from wipes to liquids and balms, give the impression that they are cleaning your skin since they remove all the dirt and makeup. But in reality, that’s not what’s happening.
The big difference between makeup removers and facial cleansers is that the former do not clean your skin, they only help to remove the makeup layer from your complexion.
They are necessary, particularly if you use eye makeup. The most important factor for removing makeup is whether or not you use eye makeup, which is usually the hardest to remove.
In technical terms, however, makeup removers do not have that detergent component (surfactant) that cleansers have.
Most makeup removal products are made of oil, water, and a preservative. The vast majority do not contain surfactants (cleaning components), which is the big difference between them and cleansers.
In some products, you may find a group of surfactants called glucosides, which are very gentle.
Makeup removers are generally a mix of oil and water, with the oil being the part that melts or dissolves the makeup (hence there are various oil makeup removers), as they have a waxy part that would not be removed with water alone.
In this article, you have several homemade options for makeup removal.
Use them when you have applied makeup all over your face or waterproof eye makeup products, and then remove the residue with a cotton pad or by rinsing it with water.
I use it almost every night to get rid of pollution and impurities accumulated throughout the day, but not in the morning, as the skin is much less dirty. These are the ones I like the most, and this is how I do it.
I have also tried an oil format from this option at Mercadona. And if you like this brand, here you have all the available options.
Facial Cleansers
Current products go a step further and remove all types of residues that clog pores along with makeup.
The functional parts of any soap or cleanser is something called micelle, which looks like a flower with fat globules at one end and water at the other.
This is how it cleans: one end attaches to oil and dirt, while the other end sticks to the water that takes it all away when you rinse.
And these micellar components are classified as surfactants. In other words, cleansers live up to their name and actually leave the skin cleaner and fresher.
You can recognize a cleanser by its list of ingredients, which will show one of the three classes of surfactants or detergents: sulfates, coconut-derived cleansing agents, and glucosides.
Like makeup removers, cleansers also come in a wide variety of forms. There are many different types: milk-based, gel-based, balms, oil-based, exfoliants, masks…
All of this will help to remove makeup, dirt, sunscreen, and refresh the skin, preparing it for the incredible actives in the serums and moisturizers applied afterward.
Use the cleanser daily. However, if you opt for an oil-based product, it’s advisable to follow up with another water-based cleanser afterward, especially if you have combination or oily skin.
In this article, we have compiled the best cleanser options.
“`