What to Avoid When Choosing a Facial Cleanser

Sheetal Rawal, Founder, Apsara Skin Care

Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care

By: Sheetal Rawal

Facial cleansers are used to cleanse the skin of dirt, grime, and impurities. The benefits of cleansing are obvious even immediately after use, as it will leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed. But beware, not all facial cleansers are created equal. In fact, some cleansers can actually be detrimental to the health of your skin in the long run. Many cleansers use harsh chemicals that, while effective in cleansing the skin, have many other undesirable effects that can damage the skin. You should look for a cleanser that effectively cleans the skin without using harmful chemicals to do so.

"I use this every day. I love how it exfoliates the skin and makes you look clean and fresh. I absolutely love this. I highly recommend this product."

Facial cleansers on the market today often contain two harmful chemicals in particular that you ought to stay away from. The first is Benzoyl Peroxide (BP), a chemical that is often used specifically in harsh acne cleansers. This chemical can be very harmful to the skin, as it can cause excessive dryness, irritation, and itching. Though it is an effective antibacterial, it can often sting when applied to the skin. Products using BP have recently been relegated to a prescription-only status in Europe as potential dangers of this chemical continue to emerge. Products containing BP ought to be avoided when looking for a facial cleanser. Another commonly used group of chemicals used in regular (non-acne) cleansers is sulfates. Sulfates don’t get as bad a reputation as BP, but they can be almost as harmful. Sulfates dry out your skin, and over time this dehydration can be very damaging. Extended use of sulfates can be very damaging to the skin and may leave your skin in worse shape than it was before you used them.

Instead of these harmful chemicals, you can use natural, plant-based detergents that have proven to be equally effective. By choosing natural skin care products, you can achieve effective cleansing by using safer and more effective techniques.

If you need recommendations for which skin care products you should be using, fill out this form and you will receive a response from our expert Sheetal soon.

Go natural. It is good karma!

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