Gabrielle Richens
Updated: Feb 9, 2022
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If so, there's a good chance that your face wash is damaging your skin. Fun fact: many cleansers that fall into the foaming, gel, or face wash category are filled with harsh detergents and alcohols that strip your skin of its natural oils. Everyday use of these products will eventually weaken the skin barrier, leading to dehydration and damage.
So, what's the solution?
Non-toxic face wash! No matter what your skin type is. Here's my tips on how to avoid "bad" face washes and cleansers, plus as usual I've sifted through the ingredients list to bring you my top ten clean beauty picks.
What To Avoid In Face Wash + Why?
Bad Alcohols + Good Alcohols In Skin Care
Surfactants In Skin Care
10 Best Clean Beauty Cleansers
The two main ingredients to look for (and avoid) in a face wash are "bad" alcohols and harsh surfactants. Unfortunately, lots of facial wash and cleansing products have a really high content of both of them. Over time, daily use of these products have shown in studies to damage your skin barrier.
The skin barrier's main function is to keep moisture levels balanced within your skin to prevent dehydration. And to also keep environmental hazards like free radicals, UV rays, and bacteria out preventing skin reactions and premature aging.
A healthy, strong skin barrier —or lack thereof, is the difference between glowing skin or dull skin.
Alcohols are used in beauty products as either a preservative, to make formulas lighter, improve the texture, or to help other ingredients penetrate the skin. But, there are good alcohols and bad alcohols.
Bad alcohols like "SD" and "denatured" have traditionally been recommended for oily and acne-prone skin types —think astringent. This is because, initially alcohol strips the skin of it's natural oils. A temporary solution for oily skin.
As the skin continues to dry out the skin barrier becomes weakened, and the body goes into overdrive to produce more oil. This excess oil production can block pores leading to acne.
For dry, sensitive and especially mature skin types, these alcohols are just as damaging. By stripping the skin of its natural oils the skin barrier is left weakened. Vulnerable to dehydration and environmental pollutants that age the skin.
Bad alcohols to avoid;
benzyl alcohol
SD alcohol
denatured alcohol (alcohol denat.)
ethyl alcohol
isopropyl alcohol
Good alcohols, also known as fatty alcohols;
cetyl alcohol
stearyl alcohol
cetearyl alcohol
Surfactants are common ingredients used in shower gel, bubble bath, shampoo, and also facial skincare products like cleanser and face wash for their cleansing, foaming, thickening and antimicrobial effects. There are different types of surfactants, but the most common ones used in beauty products are anionic and amphoteric.
Over time, daily use of skincare products containing anionic detergents will leave skin feeling 'dry' and 'tight'. They are known to disrupt and damage the wall-like structure of the skin barrier, leaving your skin vulnerable to environmental damage and dehydration.
Harsh surfactants to avoid;
sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
ammonium laureth sulfate
disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate
Examples of amphoteric detergents considered milder and less irritating;
cocamide meacocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB)
sodium cocoamphoacetate
Cocoamidopropyl betaine is created by mixing raw coconut and dimethylaminopropylamine (try saying that after a few wines!). It can be found in many natural and organic personal care products. Brands will often use the words "coconut-based cleanser".
All Skin Types
Face wash or dry, sensitive skin
Face wash for normal skin
Face wash for dry, sensitive skin
Best face cleanser for oily skin and large pores
100% Pure Charcoal Cleanser
Dry skin face wash
Lixirskin Electrogel Cleanser
Best cleanser for combination skin
Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser
Face wash for dry, sensitive skin
Natural face wash for oily skin
Best cleanser for combination skin
I make sense of skincare. Together we create better routines and lifestyle habits to empower you to feel more confident and in charge. I want everyone to be able to have a Skin Coach in their life, which is why I’ve designed 3 Skin Coaching Plans to fit any budget.