... and get a cream cleanser instead!
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So what’s the deal with SLS and why is it so demonized? Simply put, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is what makes cleansers get foamy. It creates the most luxurious foam and contributes to that 'clean' feeling after cleansing. It is also, however, what contributes to that stripped and tight post-cleanse feeling too.
So while we all love a good foamy cleanser, this little ingredient is irritating the shit out of your skin. SLS is so irritating, in fact, that it is used in dermatological studies as a “primary irritant” aka when they need to irritate the skin in a study they use SLS to do so.
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This ingredient is one of the main reasons I don’t like most drug store cleansers, it’s super cheap to use and is found in the vast majority of inexpensive cleansers. I even don’t like it for hand soaps because it’s so dang drying.
So what should you use instead? I always recommend either a gel cleanser (sans SLS), an oil cleanser, or a creamy/milky cleanser - all depending on what your skin type is. Often times I find it beneficial to use an oil or cream cleanser in the morning (yes, you should cleanse in the morning no matter what your skin type!) and an oil cleanser AND a gel cleanser in the evening. Double cleansing is key, and doing so without stripping your skin is easier than you might think.
Here's some cleansers I love:
- Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Facial Cleanser
- Image Skincare Ageless Total Facial Cleanser
- Biossance Squalane Cleansing Oil
- Biossance Elderberry Jelly Facial Cleanser
- Is Clinical Cleansing Complex
- Cosmedix Benefit Clean
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So steer clear of SLS and opt for less irritating cleansing agents such as sodium cocoyl sulfate (from coconuts 😁).
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Xoxo
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