To cleanse or not to cleanse
Basic skincare

Do I really need a cleanser

To cleanse or not to cleanse?

At a first look on this it might feel like ahhhh, what to choose and why? There are tons of them and what! should you clean your face twice.

To try and start with the last question, YES you should, if you want to follow the Korean double cleanse method.

But I will try to clear things up for you. There are several different types of cleansers and it is just important to find a cleanser that is good for you skin type and that you simply fancy.

Other basic skincare posts

Do I really need to cleanse and what happens If I don’t?

Your dead skin cells will basically start building up creating a hard surface on your skin and it will feel rough and uneven. The skin won’t absorb any moisture, due to that everything is clogged up. This is also what happened to my skin (read my skin story), not that I didn’t wash, but that my skin was so dry and I didn’t know how much I really needed to exfoliate (just because of my dry skin). So everything I put on just stayed on top. Nothing would penetrate my dry surface.

There is a woman called Augusta Falletta that actually tested this out, what happens when you don’t wash your face, you can read about that here.

What can you do wrong, isn’t cleansing just cleansing?

Oh no, it is not. If you are one of the persons who doesn’t use any cleansers at all or use a normal bar soap, I would love to tell you to stop doing that and start doing it the right way. But I am not going to say that, I am just going to hint it. If your method works wonders for you then of course keep on doing it, if you are happy with it. I want to reach the once who have any type of problems with their skin. It can be dry, oily, itchy, dry patches, flaky, hard, large pores, acne scars or anything at all actually, and those who want to do something to change it. Or if you are simply just curious.

There are a few different types:


Eye makeup remover

This is a crucial one for me, I always use this first, before washing my face (if I have been using eye makeup that is). I really don’t like washing my face only with the normal cleanse. It would just feel like I rub all the makeup and dirt around my face. So you can actually say I cleanse three times (wow, I am bad). It is important that you choose the right one for the type of makeup you are wearing.

Do I really need a cleanser
The Saem Green Tea Lip & Eye Remover

Cleansing tissue

I think almost everyone knows what these are. Yes, that’s right it is a tissue with cleansing product on. A lot of people uses this and nothing but, and again it is fine if it works for you. I don’t feel that this type is enough on my skin, I would want to use many of them to make sure that my skin is actually clean. And the money in my bank account would find that affordable. These are perfect if you are traveling, easy to keep with you instead of a bottle. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package. There are some products that you don’t need to rinse off. If I was using one of these I would absolutely rinse it off afterwards to make sure there aren’t any residues left.

The Saem healing tea garden cleansing tissue
The Saem healing tea garden cleansing tissue

Oil cleanser, cleansing balm, cleansing cream

This is the group of cleansers I love and adore. They are complete magic for dry skin but they are also used for oily skin. The difference of oil cleanser, cleansing balm and a cleansing cream is mainly its consistency and formulation. An oil cleanser comes in a bottle and in liquid form, a cleansing balm comes in a jar and a cleansing cream most often in a tube or a jar. But they are all containing oils for melting the makeup off. If you are using oil based makeup, this is a must for getting the products off your face. Oil solves oil and not water. If you are using a lot of makeup the oils will simply bind to the product and both makeup and oil is easily rinsed off.

How to use oil cleansers?

Take some in your hands, a pump or a pea size and massage it into your skin. Be thorough and really massage your face, then rinse it off with lukewarm water until the water is clear.

Should you really be using oils on your face if you have an oily complexion?

Simply yes. Good oils are melting away bad oils; they will not clog your pores.

Kosé Softymo Speedy Oil Cleanser
Kosé Softymo Speedy Oil Cleanser

Foam cleanser

This is the second cleanser you are using if you are following the Korean double cleanse method. If you are not following the method, you can still use this as your one and only cleanser.

Do I really need a cleanser
Isntree sensitive balancing bubble foam

Cleansing water

It is water with tiny molecule of oil called micelles, which absorbs oil and dirt on your face. This is perfect to use in the morning if your skin is somewhat happy with that. I really would love to try the one from Son & Park but maybe in my next purchase. I heard so much about this and it really gotten me curious. maybe you shouldn’t use it as the only cleanser when you had a full face on, because I would figure you need a lot to get everything off. The product is perfect when you travel, since you have, cleanser, toner and essence all in one. I would not use it as an only cleanser even when I’m not wearing makeup, mainly because I am not sure it is enough after a whole day.

Etude House Monster Micellar Cleansing Water
Etude House Monster Micellar Cleansing Water

Cleansing stick

This is a really hyped product and mainly come from a luxury brand called Sum37. The first time I heard about this I really thought, yuk, gross how unhygienic. But then I started reading about it and it gets really high reviews, so it can’t be bad. Its I basically a stick with product in. either you apply it directly to your face (but that don’t feel very hygienic to me) or you can put some on your palms, and then lather up. I have not tried this product yet, but if I will there will definitely be a review on it.

 Cleansing milk, lotion or gel

This is not a very common type of cleanser in Korea. I would say that this is one of the most common when I was younger (in Europe), but now days I really don’t know, anyone who knows? This can have different bases depending on what type it is. But I feel that if you try an oil and a foam cleanser you want need these at all. These are mainly versions of the others and there naming depends on their consistency.

Nature republic soothing & moisture aloe vera cleansing gel cream
Nature republic soothing & moisture aloe vera cleansing gel cream

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