Beauty, Skincare

How To Choose A Cleanser

One of the most important steps of the skin care routine is cleansing. Skin is its own barrier for the internal body but there is not much barrier for the skin aside from hair. The pores, layers of derma and skin cells absorb a lot of what is touching your skin everyday so that is why it is so important to help it out and cleanse it everyday, usually twice!

What cleanser is suitable for my skin?

A nice cleanse is always the first step to any basic skin care routine. If you don’t regularly clean your skin or do not always remove your makeup you are doing your skin a disservice. A good cleanser gently removes excess sebum, dirt and makeup and leaves your skin feeling clean, fresh, and ready for the next steps in your skincare routine. A good cleanser will be gentle, fragrance, and irritant free. It is important that you choose a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. This blog will help you to find the best cleanser for your skin whether you have oily, dry, combination, or acne and redness-prone skin.

What makes our cleansers special?

All cleansers only require one pump to cleanse the whole face. Typically a bottle will last 4+ months. Your skin will not feel dry after washing, the cleanser protects your skin’s barrier and does not overstrip the lipids. RFA cleansers are different from a lot of cleansers on the market due to the fact that they contain NONE of the top 5 toxic ingredients found in cleansers.

How to Cleanse Your Skin

I always recommend double cleansing the skin at night or anytime you want to wash your face after wearing makeup. In the morning, if you wake up with a clean face a single cleanse is just fine.

PRECLEANSE

At night we want to do a “double cleanse.” I recommend using a Cleansing Balm first to pre-cleanse and remove makeup and debris from the skin followed by a second cleanse. Doing a precleanse at night to remove makeup or product from the day is crucial for optimal skin health. It ensures that no impurities are left behind. Apply cleanser to dry skin, slowly add water with finger tips to emulsify makeup and product using circular motions. Once emulsified, wet the Jane Iredale Magic Mitt (or use a makeup wipe or gentle washcloth) and gently wipe away the foamy cleanser. Do this until all cleanser has been removed.

SECOND CLEANSE = “Deeper Cleanse”

This second cleanse is used with treatment cleanser for night that foams up or lathers. This cleanser is tailored to your skin type for a deeper cleanse to remove the most impurities while leaving your skin soft and clean. This cleanse is used on pre cleansed skin to achieve max results! For most skin types, this cleanse can be used with finger tips and circular motions. Once emulsified, use a microfiber cloth or gentle washcloth and gently wipe away the cleanser. Do this until all cleanser has been removed.

TIP: 3x a week, use RFA Exfoliating Scrub or RFA Purifying Cleanser as your second cleanse.

GENTLE CLEANSERS

If you are using exfoliants in your skincare routine such as retinol or any of the pads, keeping your daily cleanser gentle is KEY! You can incorporate an purifying cleanser or scrub just 2-3x per week, but your daily go-to should be GENTLE to avoid drying your skin out.

Gentle Foaming Cleansers

These are great if you prefer a light-foaming product that will thoroughly cleanse your skin. A light foaming cleaner removes most types of makeup, cleanses the skin thoroughly and softens your skin. Cleansers don’t have to foam to work properly, but many prefer foamy textures for cleansing.

Skin type: suitable for all skin types, but more specifically for dry and sensitive skin.

RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser

RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser is not only a gentle, non-drying cleanser, suitable for all skin types, it also doubles as a mask! Leave the cleanser on 3-5mins before rinsing off for an added soothing benefit!

Non-Reactive
Fragrance-Free
Can be used following any treatment
Gentle enough for everyday use
*removes excess lipids without over drying the skin
*Soothing, anti-inflammation properties from Bisabolol and Ginger Root Extract
Alternate with RFA Exfoliating Scrub for gentle but effective exfoliation as needed or as directed by provider
1 bottle will last 4+ months!

RFA Cleansing Balm

This dual-purpose product helps to calm redness and gently cleanse the skin without stripping vital oils, which can promote irritation and dryness.
The non-reactive formulation includes spowerful hydrating properties of Sodium Hyaluronate and soothing benefits of Camellia Sinensis Green Tea, which will leave your skin feeling deeply conditioned.
Great for all skin types, even the most sensitive!
1 bottle will last 4-5 months!

EXFOLIATING CLEANSERS

Exfoliating cleansers are ideal for cleaning the top layer of your skin, primarily of dirt, debris, and skin oil. The act of exfoliating is used to clean away dead skin cells on the surface of your skin and get rid of some harder debris that digs into your pores.

RFA Exfoliating Scrub

RFA Exfoliating Scrub is an emollient polishing cleanser with 1% Lactic Acid. Not only is this an effective exfoliating scrub, it can also be used as a mask. Put the 1% Lactic Acid to work and get an even deeper cleanse by leaving the scrub on for 3-5mins before rinsing! emollient
*man made eco safe hydrated silica beads to micro exfoliate while cleansing the skin
*creamy and moisturizing formula contains sodium lactate, glycerin, sodium PCA (naturally occurring in human skin)
*great as a hydrating mask
*can be used alternate days with the other cleansers
Works great to mix in and alternate with your gentle foaming cleanser 2-3x per week for that extra deep clean
Can be used as the second cleanse in a double cleanse
1 bottle will last 4-5 months!

Purifying Cleanser

RFA Purifying Cleanser is a powerful, yet gentle cleanser for all skin types, even those who are sensitive. It is formulated to be gentle, soothing, and powerful. Through a unique formulation of natural ingredients, your skin will benefit from eliminating undesirable bacteria and helping manage rosacea symptoms. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help reduce sebum production and acne-related infections by blocking the effects of 5 alpha-reductase, decreasing skin inflammation. These ingredients also are very effective for rosacea symptoms. Finally, this is an excellent treatment for oily, acne prone, or teen skin that can be used on the face and the body.

If you want more 1:1 recommendations we do online consults here!

Racquel

Racquel Frisella

Board Certified Nurse Practitioner & Aesthetic Specialist based in Saint Louis, Missouri

I work as a cosmetic injector and skincare specialist with 12 years of experience in the Aesthetic Industry. I see patients both in-office at Racquel Aesthetics for treatments as well as online for customized, complimentary skincare plans. I focus heavily on preventative and corrective injections, treatments, and skincare. My career is my passion and I love to help people feel like the very best version of themselves. I am a wife and a mother of 3 beautiful children under the age of 3. I love all things beauty, fashion, and fitness. I am creating this site as a place to share my expertise on beauty, anti-aging, and skin while also giving a glimpse into my lifestyle as a mom, wife and lover of fitness!