We all want clean and glowing skin and to keep our face safe from impurities, clogged pores, acne, and breakouts. All these can be achieved with the help of a good face wash, which also helps in maintaining facial hygiene. Washing your face regularly with face wash can remove the sweat, germs, and dirt from your face that accumulates on the surface of the skin.
A face wash has so many beneficial properties, what are the must-have ingredients in a face wash that makes it effective? Do the ingredients in the face wash vary according to the skin type? Let’s answer these questions here.
Ingredients That Your Face Wash Must Have
There are particular ingredients in a face wash that are used for specific purposes. It depends on your preference and skin type. Whether you have oily skin and want to fight acne or you want to moisturize and brighten up your dry skin, each of the ingredients in the face wash help in accomplishing the desired result. Let’s take a look at the common skincare ingredients and their use so that you can choose the best product for you.
Retinol
According to dermatologists, retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and is used for anti-acne and anti-ageing. It helps in removing old dead skin and promoting new skin cells.
This in turn helps in:
- Unclogging pores
- Preventing acne and breakouts
- Improving the texture of the skin
- Increasing the production of collagen
- Reducing the appearance of fine lines
- Reducing blackheads and whiteheads
Skin Type: Although it is suitable for all skin types, people with oily or acne-prone skin benefit most. Using retinol in low concentrations, such as 0.025%–0.03%, would work if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Ceramides
Ceramides are lipids that create a barrier between the skin and the outer environment. Lipids are like fats that are naturally there in our skin. Ceramides also hydrate and soothe the skin. They lock the moisture and protect the skin from pollution, irritants, and dry air.
Skin Type: It is suited for sensitive or dry skin.
Salicylic Acid
If you want to reduce the production of oil and remove dead skin cells, then Salicyclic acid can do that. It can also remove oil-skin debris and bacteria as well as clean and unclog the pores. It also helps in preventing acne.
Skin Type – It is best suited for oily or acne-prone skin. You should try to use less salicylic acid if you have dry or sensitive skin. Because its overuse can create dryness or irritation. It should also be avoided if you are pregnant.
Chemical Exfoliants
Chemical exfoliants are a wide category of acids. These acids remove the outermost layer of the dead skin cells. Some of the popular chemical exfoliants are azelaic acid, salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, etc. These exfoliants can:
- Brighten skin
- Improve the texture of the skin
- Help in improving discolouration
- Help in skin cell turnover and acne
Skin Type: It suits any skin type. It depends on your choice of ingredients. You can use glycolic and lactic acid for dry skin. For sensitive skin, alzeic acid would be a good choice. Acids that are strong and have higher concentrations like salicylic acid, should be used on oily skin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps in decreasing free radical formation and its harmful effects on the skin. It is an antioxidant. You can get free radicals by being exposed to external elements such as pollution, sunlight, and so on. These free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause damage to healthy skin cells. Vitamin C helps in protecting the skin from this damage by combating the free radicals. Vitamin C also helps in:
- Preventing premature ageing
- Brightening the skin
- Skin hydration
- Preserving the texture of the skin
- Preventing dark spots and hyperpigmentation by preventing the overproduction of melanin.
Skin Type: It is suitable for every skin type. However, using it in lower concentrations in the beginning would be better. Doing this can prevent the potential irritation and dryness of the skin.
Physical Exfoliants
Skincare products that have particles like beads, seeds, and granules that scrub off the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin are usually known as physical exfoliants.
The chemical exfoliants automatically remove the dead skin cells without manually taking part in the process. When it comes to physical exfoliants, you need to manually scrub off the particles in the face wash to remove the dirt and dead skin cells from the skin.
This in turn also increases the skin cell turnover as well as softens and smoothens the skin.
Skin Type: It can be used on non-sensitive skin. It is recommended to scrub once or twice a week. If it is used daily or aggressively, then it can cause skin irritation and strip away the natural oil of the skin.
Glycerin
Glycerin has hydrating properties as it locks the water that is present in the superficial layers of the skin and attracts moisture from the deeper layers of the skin.
It also helps in preventing irritation and dryness of the skin and maintaining the skin barrier.
Skin Type: It is best suited for dry, sensitive skin.
The kind of face wash that suits you will depend on what type of skin you have and what is your skin demanding. Because there are so many products out there, you need to know what you want. Make sure that you try out the face wash before making it your permanent choice.
When you start using a face wash, try to use it on alternate days instead of using it daily. Or use it only on a small area where it is most needed. In this way, you can check whether you have an allergy to any of the ingredients in the face wash or any other issues.
Confused as to which face wash to use? Don’t worry, you can check out tira’s website. We offer a wide range of face wash and cleansers catering to different skin types. Read our blogs to make informed choices for healthy and radiant skin.