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Ah, the humble cleanser! The first (or second, if you’re double cleansing) step in your routine sets the tone for your skin, so getting this choice right is certainly important. With their own active ingredients, levels of hydration, and surfactants (the cleansing ingredients), you should expect more than just cleansing benefits from your Q+A cleanser! No bare minimum here at Q+A! So without further ado, let’s jump in.
Bathers…
Washing away the day is an essential part of every regime! So, before you hop in the tub, make sure to grab your cleanser. If you were to look at the checklist on either our Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleanser or Peppermint Daily Cleanser, you might notice all the skin types checked on both, and that’s just because they’re so well designed to avoid upsetting your skin, regardless of concerns or ailments! However, this doesn’t mean that they’re not more suited to certain skin types…
The Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleanser is, of course, hydrating, making it perfect for dry, stressed, sensitive and mature skin types, all of which could use a little more moisture! A lack of hydration can cause a lot of skin discomfort and tightness, so when it comes to a product that’s primary function is to take things away, making sure moisture isn’t on its list is super important. In fact, we should be looking to end up with more moisture than before for healthy skin. If you’ve ever experienced itchiness, redness, or other discomfort after/when? cleansing (or heaven forbid have avoided cleansing altogether because you find it too stripping), our HA Hydrating Cleanser has you covered!
On the other side of the tub, we have oily and combo skin types and for these, our Peppermint Daily Cleanser will have your skin feeling fresh in no time! Peppermint focuses on a deeper clean, especially when it comes to clogged, congested pores and angry blemishes. It’s imperative that oily and blemish-prone skin types cleanse away bacteria and skin irritants, before they make your skin woes worse! Thankfully this cleanser knows exactly how to differentiate between the good and bad (like skin protecting oils) we need for healthy skin.
If your skin type is normal or combination, perhaps you’ll need a little more help to choose a side!
… Bath bombs…
Whilst a cleanser shouldn’t be fizzing on your skin, think of the actives in your cleanser immediately getting to work the second they touch your skin, eager to make some improvements!
One notable ingredient in our Hydrating Cleanser is a Q+A favourite, Hyaluronic Acid. This incredible hydrator is capable of drawing moisture into your skin from the atmosphere, whilst softening and supporting your skin’s structure. Alongside Hyaluronic Acid is Aloe Vera, soothing sensitive skin and boosting your natural skin barrier for more resilient skin. Last but not least, is super hydrating Glycerin (a humectant just like Hyaluronic Acid!). Despite only being on your skin for the few minutes you’re lathering and massaging, this trio ensures the most replenishing experience for your complexion.
Now, on to Peppermint Daily Cleanser. Making waves is Peppermint Oil, which contains menthol, responsible for creating a cooling sensation on your skin - perfect for red and angry complexions. Some may think menthol is a little harsh, but at a low inclusion, this essential oil helps to clean out your pores and aid in blemish repair, without irritation. The refreshing scent of Peppermint will instantly leave you feeling bright and breezy, making it the perfect cleanser for your morning regime. To enhance our cleanser, Allantoin provides a soothing effect, guarding against skin discomfort. Glyceryl Oleate provides lots of good, oily skin-friendly fats and oils which hydrate and soften your skin, replacing lost moisture without causing a greasy film effect. It’s the deep clean you want without having to make any sacrifices!
… and Bubbles
The cleansing agents, surfactants, the lather, or however you want to refer to the bubbly action when cleansing, is an interesting consideration! It’s impossible to pit our cleansers against one another, as they both contain natural surfactants (although slightly different ingredients). So, what exactly is it that makes either one so great at gently yet effectively cleansing your skin?
For the Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleanser, we’re looking at Coco Betaine and Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside. Coco Betaine is a natural surfactant derived from coconut, which is known for its amazing foaming action. We love it because it doesn’t disrupt your natural oil balance, and works to make sure when it’s time to apply other products, they are easily absorbed, instead of just sitting on your skin. Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, derived from sugar, is a non-ionic surfactant. This type of surfactant doesn’t increase the foaming action of the product, but it does support the removal of excess oils and impurities from your skin.
Peppermint Daily Cleanser shares one of these surfactants, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, alongside Sodium Coco-Sulfate – another coconut derived ingredient! If it sounds a little familiar, you might be thinking of Sodium Lauryl-Sulfate (or SLS) which is a much less desirable surfactant thanks to its tendency to strip your skin of moisture. This can cause irritation, even to normal skin types. Sodium Coco-Sulfate provides great cleansing action but has a slightly different molecular makeup that ensures we’re not at risk of irritation. Sodium Coco-Sulfate is an anionic surfactant, so it is great for lifting away excess oils, and foaming up for those signature minty-scented bubbles!
Is it time to pull the plug on your old cleanser in favour of one designed just right for your skin type? Whether you pick replenishing and rejuvenating Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Cleanser, or deep cleansing Peppermint Daily Cleanser, I hope this sudsy guide has helped you make a well-informed choice!
Happy cleansing,
Amy @ Team Q+A
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Amy Robsonamy.robson@ellipsisbrands.com Aspiring author, craft addict, and Q+A's eCommerce Coordinator |