Coming Clean about Cleansers What does “clean” mean to you? First identify what makes skin dirty. During the night, very little happens to the skin. Yet every morning you wash. What are you washing away? Skin oil and other secretions might need to be removed, plus any overnight moisturizers or treatments. Other than that, you're really pretty clean when you wake up in the morning. But in the evening, it's another story altogether. By the time you head for bed, just think of what’s accumulated on your skin. Perspiration and skin oil, of course, are normal secretions from inside the body. But from the outside you may have encountered any number of the following: Smoke Pollution Exhaust and smog Dust & grime Makeup and other cosmetics The Cleanser Dilemma "Feeling clean" means all these pollutants have been removed from your skin– you get back your skin's natural glow and lose the film left from the day’s activities. It is important to keep your skin clean and your pores clear in order to prevent blemishes and keep your skin healthy looking. If you have sensitive or overly dry skin, washing can also leave you feeling dry, taut, parched and even itchy and irritated. Sensitive skin needs to have all these irritants that collect during the day gently removed– but without stripping the skin of its natural oils and leaving it more vulnerable than ever. Choosing the correct cleanser Most cleansers fall into one of the following three categories: • Soaps • Cosmetic cleansers • Therapeutic cleansers Soaps, such as you see in the grocery store or specialty stores, for use in the bath or on the hands and face, are generally not recommended for sensitive or extra-dry skin. Soap is a harsh cleanser and can dry the skin severely. Furthermore, many popular brands contain additives that could irritate. The most common additives are: • deodorants or antibacterial agents • dyes • fragrances or "aromatherapy" ingredients • moisturizers such as "cleansing creams," olive oil or other additives • abrasives such as cleansing granules or beads, or pumice. Cosmetic cleansers are found more often in the drug store or department store. This is the world of cleansing beads, capsules, strips and towelettes... gels, foams, mousses and milks. Promising many special benefits, these cleansers often are highly scented, with added ingredients such as botanicals, astringents, mud, vitamins or abrasives that could dry or irritate sensitive skin. Therapeutic cleansers are usually unscented, non-soap cleansers, claiming to be gentle enough for use on sensitive or dry skin. But do they leave you feeling really clean? Far too often, the answer is no. Without lather, it's hard to feel fresh, and many of these cleansers feel more like lotions or creams than soap. Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser helps solve the cleansing dilemma. Gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, fragrance-free and soap-free, too, it also lathers into a luxurious foam that leaves skin feeling soft, fresh and deep-down clean. Click here for more details about safety tests and ingredients. Eucerin Clear Skin Formula Pore Purifying Foaming Wash, specifically designed for blemish prone skin, eliminates excess oils to keep pores clean. Unlike other harsh cleansers, it's soap-free and fragrance-free, so it will not irritate or strip skin of natural oils. Facial cleansing tips: Cleanse daily, morning and evening. 1. First, splash your face gently with warm– never hot– water. 2. Place a small amount of cleanser, the size of a dime, into the palm of your hand. Apply to your face and neck and massage gently. 3. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry, gently, with a soft towel. Facial skin should never be vigorously rubbed, pulled or stretched. 4. Follow up with a Eucerin facial moisturizer. Choose the right cleanser for the job. Both Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser and Eucerin Clear Skin Pore Purifying Foaming Wash are ideal for makeup removal as well as general cleansing. Soap-free and non-drying. To find these products in a store near you– or to buy online– click here.