Comforting Cleansers

I never used to make much of a fuss over cleansers until I read Dr Leslie Baumann's amazing 2006 bestseller, The Skin Type Solution. The book goes into great detail about the various skin types which exist, going way beyond dry, oily and combination, including what's good for your skin, and what's bad. One of many things I discovered was that the foaming cleansers I'd been using for years were doing more harm to my complexion than good. For my skin type based on an in-depth questionnaire, which was "dry, sensitive, pigmented and wrinkled", I should be using creamy cleansers instead; I made the switch and never looked back. Cleansers are also important in summer and when you travel for a variety of reasons, with one being that there can more to slough off your face at night, from excess sweat to sticky sunscreens. If you're like me you may also use fake tanner, tinted moisturiser and perhaps a bronzer too, so you need a product which is both thorough and gentle on the skin to leave it soft, smooth and ready for those essential anti-ageing life savers.

New to my lineup is Musq's Cream Cleanser, a brand with a focus on natural and ethical ingredients and products, and which has earned somewhat of a cult following since it launched in 2007. This gorgeous product is infused with jojoba, rose and grapefruit, which means it smells lovely, and it comes in a handy 200ml pump bottle which is ideal for anyone on the road. The key thing about this cleanser is that it's gentle; it will remove makeup, impurities and clean the skin without drying it out. To use it, all you do is dampen your face, apply one pump of the cleanser massaging in a circular motion, then rinse with tepid water. The companion products include Musq Toner and Moisturiser. If you are wearing a lot of makeup or layers including sunscreen and bronzer you can double cleanse; I like to use a facecloth to make sure all traces of products are removed, and your skin is left squeaky clean. Musq Cream Cleanser costs $44 and is available from www.musq.com.au and outlets nationally.