Guide to Cleansing Products
Practical advice to help you choose a cleanser that works for your skin.
Golden rule: Treat the skin you see today
Always choose your products according to how your skin is presenting right now, not what you hope it will look like in the future.
If your skin feels red or sensitive → choose a product for sensitive skin.
If it feels dry or tight → choose a product for dry skin.
If it looks oily or blemish-prone → choose a product for oily/problem skin.
This approach helps protect your skin barrier and ensures that the basics — cleansing, moisturising and sun protection — work with your skin, not against it.
1. Why Cleanse?
Cleansing helps remove surface oil, sweat, product build-up, pollutants, and other particles that collect on the skin throughout the day.
It also prepares the skin for any other products that follow.
For most people, cleansing once or twice daily is enough. Over-cleansing, or using harsh products, can damage the skin barrier and increase dryness or irritation.
2. What a good cleanser should do:
Gently lift and remove surface debris without leaving the skin tight or stripped
Leave the skin feeling clean but still comfortable
Be suitable for your skin type — dry, oily, sensitive. If your skin feels balanced and comfortable, keep doing what you are doing. Otherwise, choose a cleanser that matches how your skin is behaving today
Maintain or support the skin’s natural barrier
3. What a cleanser should not do:
Create a burning, stinging, or overly tight sensation
Contain high levels of alcohol or fragrance (which can be irritating)
Produce a ‘squeaky clean’ feel — this usually means the skin has been stripped of natural oils
Leave the skin red, itchy, or dry after regular use
4. What the label might not tell you:
Foam doesn’t mean clean: Foaming agents help create bubbles but don’t necessarily remove dirt more effectively. Ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are commonly used for foam but may strip natural oils and irritate the skin barrier — especially in sensitive or dry skin.
Fragrance-free doesn’t always mean no fragrance: Check the ingredients list for terms like “parfum” or “essential oils.”
Natural doesn’t always mean better: Some natural ingredients can still irritate the skin — especially citrus, mint, or essential oils.
pH matters: The healthiest cleansers for skin are usually balanced around the skin’s natural pH of 4.5–5.5. But companies rarely list pH on the label, so it’s not always easy to tell — this is where knowing your skin’s response and choosing gentle, non-foaming options can help.
5. Final thought:
Cleansers don’t need to be complicated. A well-chosen cleanser should remove what the skin doesn’t need — without harming what it does.
If your skin feels worse after cleansing, or becomes more reactive over time, it may be worth reviewing your current product.
The Skin Well®
A grassroots, evidence-aware initiative supporting public skin education.
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Disclaimer
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the information in this leaflet is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. This resource is informed by current evidence, clinical observation, and emerging research in skin health. Where early or exploratory studies are referenced, this reflects ongoing scientific interest - not established public health guidance. I include these insights to raise awareness, not to make health claims. If in doubt, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
If you spot an omission or believe any of the information is inaccurate, please get in touch. I’ll review it and make updates where appropriate
Version: [March / 2025]
© 2025 Jacqui de Jager | The Skin Well® & The Happy Skin Clinic®
All rights reserved. This leaflet is for personal use and education only. It may not be reproduced, distributed, or adapted without written permission.