Tonic, micellar water, milk... Which cleanser should you use and which one should you not?
If you look at the range of facial cleansers, there are numerous products: cleansing milk, tonic, lotion, foaming gel / soap, exfoliant, micellar water... Phew! Hard to see the trees through the forest! Which product do you use best and what exactly do all these products do with your skin?
What? water-based liquid. Often recommended as a 2nd step in the cleaning process
Texture: very liquid (liquid)
Effect: A tonic is a care product that you can use after cleansing. A tonic will remove the last remnants of dirt and make-up and contains ingredients that have a calming, refreshing and moisturizing effect on your skin. Some tonics also contain enzymes or acids, so they have an exfoliating effect . That way it is an ideal preparation for applying your night cream. A tonic is often confused with a toner. Both terms are used interchangeably. The name itself does not matter much, but what does matter are any irritating ingredients. For example, some toners/tonics contain alcohol, which is described as alcohol denat. or ethanol in the ingredient list . Due to the evaporation of alcohol on our skin, these products have a refreshing and degreasing effect, but they can also irritate the skin. Mint and eucalyptus also have a refreshing effect, but are also irritating to the skin.
Our advice: Select a toner or tonic that contains no irritating ingredients and is gentle on your skin. First use a mild cleanser, then apply the tonic to the skin using a cotton pad or with your hands and then apply your night cream. Easy peasy!
CLEANING MILK
What? A light milk that removes dirt and cleanses the skin in a mild way.
Texture: Light and milky texture that is soft to the touch
Effect: Apply your cleansing milk to a cotton pad or to your hands and massage it in using circular movements. You can rinse your face afterwards with lukewarm water. A milk is able to bind and remove make-up residues and dirt from the skin without depriving the skin of its own lipids. A cleansing milk does not disrupt the natural skin barrier. A cleansing milk is also ideal for cleansing sensitive skin, and even oily skin. It is a misconception that oily skin should always be cleaned with a foaming or fat-reducing product. This often wakes up sebum production more.
Our advice: It is best to use a cleansing milk as the first step in your cleansing routine to remove make-up and dirt. Then use a toner or micellar cleanser that removes the last traces of dirt from the skin. Another alternative is the cleansing oil, which, just like a cleansing milk, will remove dirt without disturbing the skin's natural lipids.
MICELLAR WATER OR LOTION
What? A water-like liquid that contains micelles and thus has a cleansing effect to remove make-up. May feel oily.
Texture: Liquide (liquid)
Effect: A micellar cleanser is a water-like liquid with small cleansing particles (micelles). Micelles have a complex structure. They have a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and hydrophobic (water-repellent) tail. The hydrophilic heads are on the outside and ensure that the micelle is soluble in water. The hydrophobic tails are on the inside and trap and remove oily (hydrophobic) particles such as sebum, make-up and dirt from the skin. Micellar water is certainly not the same as "ordinary" water.
Our advice: Apply the micellar water to a cotton pad and gently dab on the face. No need to rub hard. Take a new cotton pad and repeat until no more makeup or dirt comes off your skin. Also pay attention to the composition of the micellar water. This can differ greatly between the products. Choose a product that does not contain too many ingredients, ideally 6 to 8 ingredients. The simpler, the better! Some micellar waters contain harsh ingredients such as perfume and alcohol. You better avoid this one. In addition, some micellar waters are enriched with soothing, moisturizing and softening ingredients, such as glycerin, panthenol, allantoin, rose water. This can't hurt.
FOAMING CLEANER
What? A cleansing product that lathers strongly when applied to the skin and has a "stripping effect" (leaves a tight feeling)
Texture: Mousse, gel or soapy texture
Effect : Nothing 'nicer' than a skin that seems completely clean to the touch. A bit tense even. This is the effect you get after using a foaming cleanser. These products often have a "stripping" and degreasing effect. Shortly after applying a foaming cleanser, your skin will feel very clean, especially if you have oily skin. But don't miss out! Ingredients that provide this foaming effect, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), can have a very irritating and aggressive effect on the skin. As a result, they affect the natural protective layer of the skin. Moisture escapes and the skin feels dry and tight. This applies not only to facial cleansers, but also to soaps and shampoos.
Our advice: It is a misconception to think that highly foaming products clean better! Avoid ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS). It is better to choose a mild cleanser (such as a milk or oil), which will cleanse the skin just as well, but without damaging the natural protective layer.
The Nomige cleansing products consist of a 2-in-1 cleanser (a moisturizing cleansing milk that can be used with or without water) and an exfoliating tonic to gently remove dead skin cells.
