Cleanse twice. 2x a day.

Yep. You read that right. It’s my top tip for customers when we’re starting to establish a new skincare routine and I do get some confused looks. You wouldn’t get in the shower with your clothes on, right?

The first cleanse to lift the dirt and grime (ew, girl!), the second cleanse to get deep down and dirty in those pores. Makes sense now doesn’t it? You don’t shampoo once do you? (okay if you do, we have to have a serious chat).

And when I say cleanse I mean wash your face. This might seem a completely ridiculous clarification but people really struggle to grasp the concept of face wash and cleanser being completely different parts of your routine. It is not.

However you look at it, cleansing/washing your face is the first step in your skincare routine. I use two different types of cleanser when doing a double cleanse. The first cleanser I use is Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (from £15.50)- a true cult classic and a MUST HAVE in your skincare routine. Suitable for all skin types, the cream-like cleanser is like a spa experience in a bottle made from natural ingredients. With a spa-like scent of rosemary, chamomile and eucalyptus, this cleanser gives your skin a deep clean feeling leaving you with a super fresh face.

It comes with a muslin cloth which I leave running in hot water whilst I smooth the cleanser all over my skin. I then wring the cloth and place in on my face for a few moments and take a couple of deep breathes; ultimate self-care going on here. I then gently buff off the cleanser with the cloth. It is the perfect partner for getting off your make up and takes the day away perfectly. One thing I would say, I much prefer to use a face flannel over the muslin cloth just because I like to give my face a little extra rub for a gentle exfoliation.

Other cleansers which are similar to Liz Earle are:

My second cleanse is in the form of a foaming cleanser (gel and cream cleansers are also available for dry, sensitive and combination skin-types), something that I can really foam on up and feel super clean afterwards. To cleanse, I use a cleansing tool. Honestly, you don’t have to to get effective results, but I feel my skin needs that extra push in the pores.

The Luna Foreo 2 (£149) is my desert island product. I’ve said it so many times and is an investment I can assure you! This silicone tool helps penetrate the skin deeper with 8000 pulsations per minute to remove more dirt and grime than cleansing alone. After the first use, my skin looked instantly brighter, clearer and blemishes appear less often than before! The fact it is silicone too helps ensure that no nasty bacteria is lingering deep within the bristles. The Clarasonic, a popular cleansing tool, is bristle based and although it may be a great product, the bacteria which will be deep at the root of the bristles makes me feel uneasy!

Although this is pricy, there are many dupes available which will be as effective at a fraction of the cost (I haven’t tried any as I’m in a longterm relationship with my Luna).

Here is a breakdown of cleansers for different skin types!

Cream Cleansers – Dry/Sensitive Skin Types

Cream cleansers are a great option for sensitive skin and dry skin and are a gentle alternative to foaming cleansers. They will not leave your skin feeling tight or drying and will not strip your skin. Some great cream cleansers are:

Gel Cleansers – Acne Prone Skin Types

These cleansers are perfect for acne-prone skin as they tend to give a deeper clean, unclogging pores and removing excess oil. They also avoid stripping essential oils from your skin by gently but effectively cleansing your skin.

Unlike foaming and cream cleansers, gel cleansers are water-based so they don’t so much form a soapy consistency. However, this doesn’t mean they are any less effective because they don’t leave you feeling squeaky clean. Gel cleansers can help fight bacteria which causes acne.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Gel (£19) – This cleanser, with salicylic acid which helps combat breakouts, is a perfect cleanser if you’re suffering from acne. Acne is when you are suffering with 4+ blemishes and is not the odd breakout. (The Clinique Anti-Blemish Range is a brilliant range for tackling acne and if you’ve tried every product under the sun, this could be your calling.) The cleanser helps clear blackheads and breakouts leaving you with soft, calm skin. This product can also be used on the body which is great if you suffer from back-ne!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Cleansing Gel (£18.50) – A leader in the expert skincare, La Roche-Posay is a French brand who deliver amazing skincare products every time! This cleansing gel is perfect for people with blemishes and is also a great choice for those with sensitive skin. However, it is important to note for those with sensitive skin that this product, although suitable for sensitive skin, is not fragrance free! Rest assured, the cleanser contains the soothing ingredient of the iconic La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water which ensures your skin is free from irritation.

Pixi Clarity Cleanser (£18) – Pixi do some great skincare products (and the packaging is super cute!!) so it’s nice to see that they offer several cleansers for different skin types! The Clarity Cleansing gel contains super-skin ingredients salicylic acid, glycolic acid and ascorbic acid which are all amazing for helping breakouts whilst keeping the skin hydrated.

CeraVe Smoothing Cleanser (£12) – Told you CeraVe would appear again. MY FAVOURITE cleanser. I return to this cleanser time and time again. The price is one reason but it honestly keeps my skin clear. This fragrance free formula contains salicylic acid and 3 essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) and keeps your skin feeling clean without feeling dry! If you’re having breakouts, buy it NOW! Honest, it’s been a bit of a game changer for me. I often change cleansers to find alternatives for customers (and myself) but this beauty, I’ve bought 3 times now — if you buy it again, you know its good, but if you’re on your third bottle then hun, it’s doing something special.

Foaming Cleansers – Oily/Combination Skin Types

Ahhh, what I know best. When I say I’ve tried most cleansers, I mean it! It’s not because I haven’t found my match (I have!) but I’m a sucker for a new product. There is also something about a foaming cleansers that other cleansers don’t give you – that super clean feeling! Honestly having to condense down my recommendations has been tough, but here we have it, my top 3…

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash (£18) – This foams up like a dream and honestly, this is an amazing cleanser. My husband actually bought it me for Christmas and it’s now a product I wouldn’t be without. It has a subtle spearmint scent to it (an essential oil) which I think makes your skin feel really clean. The best thing about this cleanser is that it helps the oil whilst protecting dry spots. This is why it works so well for me because whilst i’m an oil machine in places, my cheeks are dry! Your skin feels soft and clean without the tight feeling. Get this in your basket!!

Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser (£20) – This cleanser gets down and dirty! With powerful AHA’s (glycolic and lactic acid), it helps lift the dead skin cells to reveal a brighter complex whilst unlogging and purifying pores aswell as reducing excess oil. The uplifting and awaking peppermint oil and eucalyptus globulus leaf scent makes it the perfect cleanser to snap you into action in the morning!

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser (£9.50) – oops, back again and i’m not sorry. This cleanser had me sold when I read it contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B which helps support the skins barrier. It makes pores appear smaller and balances oil and production. So this cleanser tackles everything us oily gals needs!