Cleansing: The Natural Way

The purpose of a cleanser is to remove makeup, dirt and bacteria, leaving your skin ready to receive whatever you apply afterwards. In cities and towns, cleansers also work to remove pollution and daily impurities, which can build up on the skin’s surface, often causing skin to look dull or lacklustre.

The Problem with high street cleansers

High street cleansers usually come in the form of foaming face washes, which contain Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (commonly known as SLS).

SLS is an inexpensive chemical made from petrolatum (yes that sounds like petrol for a reason), which is what creates the lather in conventional face washes.

For many years, SLS has been used in 90% of skincare products, despite being a known skin irritant. This is so well-known, in fact, that it’s commonly used in lab testing to intentionally harm skin: Following application, scientists can compare the effects of untested products against SLS or test the efficacy of products intended to heal skin.

Not only is SLS harmful to our skin, but it also pollutes our groundwater. It is toxic to fish and other aquatic animals and has the potential for bioaccumulation (meaning it accumulates in the bodies of the fish.) No product that uses SLS is cruelty-free.

Why you shouldn’t feel squeaky clean

Ingredients, like SLS, are commonly used in face washes and cleansers to give you that squeaky clean feeling. In fact, you might be so used to feeling squeaky clean, that you feel dirty if you don’t get that feeling after washing your face.

• Do you ever wash your face then find yourself immediately reaching for the moisturiser, to hydrate your parched skin?

• Does your skin ever feel dry and tight in places, but oily in others?

• At worst, does your skin ever feel uncomfortable or itchy?

If any of the above apply to you, you are probably experiencing dehydrated skin. This is when the skin’s own moisture barrier is stripped away, leaving the skin more susceptible to bacteria and impurities, as well as over-production of oil. This is why your skin can feel dry but look oily (as the skin is desperately trying to moisturise itself). Repairing your skin’s moisture levels is paramount in regulating oil production.

Unsurprisingly, 90% of cases of dehydrated skin are due to using a harsh cleanser. We’ll talk more on this topic in a later blog post, but the first step to rehydrating your skin is to ditch the chemical cleanser and try a natural one. 

MANDARIN AND CALENDULA CLEANSING BALM

To use simply melt a small spoonful’s worth in your hands to soften, then massage around your face, including eyes and lips. You can do this on dry or damp skin. To remove, dampen a cloth or flannel with warm water, then gently wipe away.

This is a great option for most skin types, including sensitive skin and those who are acne-prone. It thoroughly cleansers, whilst improving skin tone and texture within one week!

 

JOJOBA AND APRICOT CLEANSING OIL

A light cleansing oil, made from jojoba and apricot, which will leave your skin super soft and silky. A good choice for those with dry or mature skin. Thanks to lemon and geranium essential oils, this cleanser is also great for unclogging pores and brightening the complexion.

 To use, squirt one pump into the hands and warm between your fingers. Massage around dry or damp skin, and then use a warm, damp flannel to gently wipe away. 

GEL CLEANSERS With gentle organic castille soap

These gel cleansers are gently foaming daily washes, made with organic natural castille soap. To use, simply work one pump’s worth into a lather, then gently wash face. Rinse away with warm water to remove.

Gel cleansers are a great choice for people who want to use something to wash their face with in the morning or evening, but who don’t need to remove makeup. These gentle washes remove all impurities and daily pollution build up, without stripping the skin at all. Super fuss-free and easy to use!

NEXT WEEK

So there you have it, four natural cleansers to suit every skin type. Have you used any of Suneeta’s cleansers? Which is your favourite? Please let us know about your experiences in the comments! We love to hear your feedback.

Next week we’re going to be talking about NATURAL TONERS, so please stay tuned for that!

Jen 
xxx