5 Things You Didn't Know You Needed for a Squeaky-Clean Face
It's no secret that one of acne's many causes is congested skin. It's also no secret, though, that the best way to clear congestion is to give your face a good, nurturing clean. That doesn't mean you should reach for your face scrub every day until the breakouts go away—that will actually do more harm than good!—but it does mean you may need to rethink the way you wash. We're breaking it down with five stellar products that will give you a well-cleansed, healthy complexion. Click through to see how the magic happens!
Photo courtesy of barneys.com1/6Oil As a Face Wash
We know what you’re thinking: "I want to get rid of the oil, not add more!" But don’t worry—this product will do exactly that...and then some. "Oil cleansers are effective because ’like’ dissolves ’like’," says Victoria Tsai, founder of cult Japanese skincare brand Tatcha Beauty. "That means oils are actually best at dissolving excess oils on the skin as well as oil-based products, like sunscreen and makeup." Instead of using this as a replacement to your normal face wash, think of it as an utlra-nourishing way to gently and effectively shed a layer before you cleanse. That way, your regular cleanser can go to work de-clogging your pores and brightening your complexion! Overall, you’ll spend less time scrubbing your face to get it squeaky clean, which means a more gentle routine.
Tatcha Beauty One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, $48. barneys.com.
Photo: Sunday Riley/Mark Leibowitz2/6Like a sponge made from a Japanese potato plant. (Seriously!)
Photo courtesy of sephora.com3/6The French Cleansing Technique
The art of cleansing with a muslin cloth is distinctly French, and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to cop a little Parisian style? The renowned luxury brand Eve Lom makes a budget-friendly package ($22 for a set of three) that will last you up to six months. Here’s what you do: Spread your face wash over damp skin, then immerse the cloth in a bowl of hot water. Wring it out, then spread on top of the face, allowing the heat to open your pores. Then, massage the cloth into the skin to effectively remove your cleanser. It will gently eoliate, improve blood circulation, and leave your skin refreshingly clean.
Eve Lom 3 Muslin Cloths, $22. sephora.com.
Photo courtesy of julep.com4/6The Best Sponge Ever
Japan’s latest beauty innovation comes in rare form. "The Konjac Cleansing Sponge is actually made from the root of a Japanese potato plant," explains Julep founder Jane Park. "We enriched ours with charcoal—historically used in Japan for centuries—because of its purifying and skin-clarifying properties." The fibrous sponge works just like the muslin cloth in the previous slide: Get it wet, massage it in circular motions over you face, and you’re left with an immaculate visage. Unlike the cloth, though, this guy comes with an added bonus: "The charcoal in the sponge is especially beneficial for acne-prone skin and dry, problematic complexions," Park explains.
Julep Konjac Cleansing Sponge, $12. julep.com.
Photo courtesy of clarisonic.com5/6Sonic (Cleansing) Boom
OK, you already knew about this one: the Clarisonic. The now-popular gadget first took the beauty world by storm with clinical test results showing that it cleanses twice as effectively as manual cleansing, and is six times better at removing stubborn mineral makeup. If you’re looking for a deep clean—say, after sleeping in your makeup (the horror!)ha, love it—or are removing a facial mask, this tool is the way to go.
Clarisonic Aria in Pink, $199. clarisonic.com.
Photo courtesy of dermalogica.com6/6The Non-Eoliant
Just don’t call it a face scrub: Dermalogica’s Microfoliant utilizes rice bran and rice extract to create an enzyme powder that "microfoliates" the skin’s surface. It comes out as a powder, but once you add it to wet hands, it turns into a slightly grainy paste. Use it after you cleanse to brighten your complexion and leave you with the perfect canvas. Now, go on and moisturize!
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, $52. dermalogica.com.
