Face is the mirror of the inner soul. It also depicts the health of the body and skin. And taking care of the skin is an art. This art has evolved over the time. Since ages, we have been experimenting with the products to get the Mr. Right. Cleansing is not only taking off the dirt or dead cells from the skin. It's a skin-care ritual that everyone performs every day.
Skin cleansing is an integral part of the hygiene practice. The man has tried variant techniques to keep its face radiant and healthy. To get that desired glow we would go from the pillar to the post.
Ancient time
In ancient times, people used to cleanse their faces with whatever little they could have. They even used to wash their faces with ash and water. In Egypt, women would use clay mixed with olive oil to keep their face clean and supple. They would use dead sea salt to exfoliate their skin. After some time, they discovered a mixture of fresh berries and milk for the cleansing.
They would apply herbs with honey to maintain that shine and glow on their faces.
Unearthed the solution
Till the early 19th century, the man used old-age methods to keep the face clean. They used soap to clean their faces. Soap is a mixture of fat (vegetable or animal) and caustic chemical called lye. Soap is harsh on the skin of the face. Residue of the soap clogs the pores of the skin leading to other skin-related problems. So, using soap as a face cleanser was not a good idea and this concept didn’t last for long.
It was 1911 when Dr. Franz Hoefliger eventually invented a soap-free face cleanser. It was made up of vegetable oil which was not harsh to the skin.
Now in the modern era the vanity shelves are full of various kinds of facewashes. Depending on the skin type one can choose a facewash accordingly.
Composition of Facewash
Surfactant is the key ingredient of the facewash. It helps remove the dirt from the surface. It can be combined with different components to make various types of facewash. Keeping the sensitivity of the skin in mind, different surfactants can be mixed together to check the irritating potential of the products.
Other key ingredients:
⧪ Retinol
⧪ Salicylic Acid
⧪ Ceramides
⧪ Vitamin C
⧪ Glycerin
⧪ Chemical
⧪ Exfoliants
What is Surfactant?
Surfactant is an active agent which reduces the tension between two surfaces. It helps break down the surface tension between dirt or oil and the surface like skin, fabric, etc. It contains hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails. This water-loving and water-hatting composition creates a structure which helps trap dirt or oil.
Retinol
Apart from unclogging the skin, Retinol also exfoliates the skin. It increases the production of the skin cells and deactivates the free cells present in the middle layer of the skin. It helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It clears up the pores and plumps up the skin.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin gently and reduces the inflammation in the skin. It works best on the acne-prone skin as it treats acne and speeds up the healing also.
Ceramide
Ceramides are fatty acids produced in the sebaceous glands. It works as a natural moisturizer and keeps the skin hydrated. It forms a layer on the skin which protects it from pollution.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C used in most of the facewashes to helps whitening the skin. It helps reduce the pigmentation and hyperpigmentation. It contains an enzyme called tyrosinase which helps in discolouration. People with dry skin and acne-prone skin should be cautious while using facewash with Vitamin C because it could further aggravate the problem.
Glycerine
Glycerine is a natural ingredient which brightens up the skin. It also hydrates the skin and gives a freshness to it.
Chemicals
Many facewash companies use different kinds of chemicals to increase its shelf life, to exfoliate or add fragrance to the products. Chemicals like parabens, sodium laureth sulfate are some of the chemicals which can be found commonly in most of the brands.
But there is a chemical which most dermatologists approve is Glycolic Acid. It works as an anti-ageing agent and improves the skin tone as well. It’s gentle on the skin and doesn't harm the skin.
As people are aware of side effects of the harsh chemicals present in the cleansers, they have come up with the solution to the facewash. We have cleansers comprising herbal ingredients. Markets are surged with herbal products.
Herbal contents
Neem oil
Multani Mitti
Tripahal
Bitter orange
Chandan
Straight from the kitchen
A home-made remedy which we all swear by is a simple mixture of gram flour and yogurt, a pinch of turmeric and a few drops of rose water. Gram flour is enriched with nutrients like protein, minerals and vitamins. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. Yogurt, full of probiotics, moisturizes the skin and makes it supple while rose water acts as toner and highly recommended for oily, acne-prone skin.
How to cleanse the face?
First and foremost, wet the face. Take a dollop of facewash and gently rub between the palms. Now apply it on the face and message very gently in circular motion throughout the face. Wash it off with normal water. Pat dry the face with a clean towel and apply moisturizer after that.
Know your skin type
Just examine your skin type and choose the product according to it. You can check your skin type at home with just a simple test. Wash your face with a mild facewash and pat it dry. Check your skin after 30 minutes. After the wait, if your skin is still plump and has an even tone, you are the lucky one. You have normal skin. The normal skin has small pores.
But, if your face is shining and feels greasy after the 30-minute of washing your face, that means your skin is oily. And if it has become dry and flaky it looks like you have dry skin. Dry skin has tight pores and you feel tightness in the skin.
Choose the right cleanser
Normal skin
Luckiest are the ones who have normal skin type. People with normal skin do not have to bother much because it is a low-maintained skin. But, considering it fuss-free one cannot overlook the daily skin-care regime. Choosing a good cleanser is an integral part of the process. Maintaining the pH value of the skin is the main challenge here.
What suits the best for a normal skin type?
A mild and hydrating facewash. Go for the cleansers that do not strip off the natural oil from the skin. Facewashes with aloe vera are glycerine are best for normal skin.
Oily skin
Oily skin is considered good because it secretes sebum which maintains the moisture of the skin. But excess secretion of sebum mixes with dead skin and clogs the pores which results in breakouts on the face. Excess oil also attracts more dirt.
What makes skin oily?
There are small glands under the pores, Sebaceous. These glands secrete oil called sebum. The sebum keeps the skin hydrated and radiant. But sometimes these glands secrete excess oil and form a layer over the skin. There are also other reasons for oily skin such as humidity, genetics and imbalanced hormones.
Quick fix for oily skin
For such skin type one should use salicylic acid-based facewash to prevent the regular breakouts on the skin. Retinol-based facewash also works great to unclog the pores. And Niacinamide helps control oil production.
Dry skin
What causes dryness in the skin?
When the Sebaceous gland of the skin is not active or underactive it produces very less oil. And it makes the skin dry.
What should be avoided?
If your skin is dry, say a big no to alcohol-based facewash. Alcohol-based facewash is harsh on dry skin because of its properties. Washing itself causes dryness in the skin.
Duck the cleansers that have salicylic acid, glycolic acid, sodium lauryl, parabens, alcohols, dyes and fragrance.
The remedy
A facewash with balanced pH which does not strip off the natural oil of the skin is the ideal take for such skin type. Moisturizer-based facewash which has ingredients like shea butter is a must for dry skin. There are oil-to-foam facewashes which are gentle to your skin.
Acne-prone skin
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the remedies for acne-prone skin. Anti-acne therapies result in dryness in the skin and make it more irritating. In these instances we should use gentle cleansers. The dermatologists often recommend non-ionic, fragrance-free facewash for such sensitive skin.
F&Qs
Q. How many times should I Wash my face?
A. You should wash your face twice a day. After workout or heavy sweating, one should splash its face with normal water and mild facewash.
Q. When should I change my facewash?
A. You can change your facewash occasionally.
Q. Is one facewash suitable for all skin type?
A. No, different skin types have different problems. So, first examine your skin type and choose the facewsh accordingly.
Q. Is soap better than facewash?
A. NO, the skin of our face is very delicate. Using soap may irritate the skin and make it dry. So, always use soap-free facewash.
Q. Using gram flour on skin is safe?
A. Gram flour gently exfoliates the skin. It has alkaline properties which gives you a radiant skin and treats other complications of the skin.
Face is the first appearance of our personality and to maintain its radiance is the utmost task for everyone. Thank God we have innumerable products in the market to overcome every challenge. Just evaluate the problem and remedy is there for you.