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Remove every scrap of your makeup with these great facial cleansers from popular Korean skincare brands.
I know that removing your makeup at the end of a long day can sometimes feel like a chore, but it’s probably the most important step in any skincare routine. As someone who struggled with blemishes in my late teens and early-20s, I noticed a dramatic difference in my skin when I properly double cleansed my skin each night.
We all spend so much money on our skincare products, you want to make sure you’re applying them to a blank canvas and that your skin is absorbing it properly. If your face isn’t clean, you won’t be doing that.
Ever since I was introduced to the double cleansing routine, I’ve never looked back. No more waking up with eyes that resemble a panda because your cleanser didn’t remove your mascara, I always know that every last scrap of my makeup has gone.
When it comes to effective yet affordable cleaners, Korean beauty brands are where I look. Today I’m sharing some of my favourite cleansers, all of which you can pick up at YesStyle.
heimish All Clean Balm
First up is the heimish All Clean Balm, a classic Korean cleansing balm that’s been super popular for a long time. It’s your typical cleansing balm, with a thick oily texture. I take a small amount out of the tub with my finger, rub it in-between my hands and then onto dry skin. It’s super important that you apply any oil cleanser to dry skin as otherwise it will start to emulsify and won’t properly remove your makeup like you would want. The heimish balm removes all my makeup without leaving any residue behind. In general though, I would say I’m more of an oil person than a balm – purely because I’d rather pump an oil onto my hands than have to keep on dipping my fingers into a tub of balm.
BANILA CO Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm
A few years ago I wrote a piece comparing some of the top Korean cleansing balms and the original Banila Co product came out on top, so my standards were set very high when I tried the BANILA CO Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm. In theory this is a very similar product in the sense thag it’s a cleansing balm, but this particular option is more targeted toward people with oily, or acne prone, skin. It has tea tree, AHA & PHA as well as 4-Terpineol on the ingredients list which, together, calm and gently exfoliate the skin. I usually take active ingredients in cleansing balms with a pinch of salt as they aren’t on the face long enough to have any real benefit, but I guess it doesn’t hurt to have some more targeted ingredients in there.
Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil Speedy
If you pushed me to pick a favourite cleanser out of everything I’ve mentioned on the list, I think the Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil Speedy would be the one that I’d choose. At this point I think I’ve gone through enough bottles to be in the double digits, which is pretty impressive considering the amount of cleansers I have to choose from. What makes this special is how lightweight it feels. Unlike other oils, it doesn’t feel too thick or oily, and it completely disappears (along with your makeup) when you rinse it off with water. There are a few different versions, but Speedy is superior in my opinion. You can also get this product in a refill option if you want to do your bit at cutting back on plastic.
The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Facial Cleansing Oil
It may seem strange to say that I like oil cleansers that don’t feel too oily, but hopefully you know what I mean. Like the Kose oil, The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Facial Cleansing Oil also has that lightweight feel that I enjoy. That isn’t to say that it becomes any less effective, this cleanser quickly removes all my makeup and easily rinses off afterwards. It does have rice in it, which is a good ingredient for brightening the face but, considering the cleanser will only be on your face for a minute at most, don’t look into the key ingredients too much – if it removes makeup well and doesn’t leave an oily residue behind, I’m happy.
Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser
Finally, to finish off our double-cleanse, it’s important to use a water-based cleanser. It’s essential because oily products can sometimes clog pores and sit on the skin, so a water-based product ensures that your skin is squeaky clean and nothing is left behind. If you’re looking for a no-frills cleanser, I like the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser. Like the other products from this brand, the cleanser is simple and gentle. It may not be the most exciting cleanser packed full of active ingredients, but it does what it needs to do perfectly – that’s all I want in a cleanser after all.
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
The final cleanser I have to talk about is another water-based cleanser, the COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser. I know I said that I don’t usually pay much attention to the active ingredients in cleansers, but here’s where I make an exception. Salicylic acid is a great ingredient for people with acne-prone and oily skin as it exfoliates and brightens the skin. If your skin leans on the sensitive side, you may find that a salicylic acid serum is a bit too intense for your skin type, so using something like a salicylic acid cleanser like this, where you introduce the acid to your routine little and often, can be a good way to enjoy the benefits of chemical exfoliation, without irritating your skin too much.
This post was written in partnership with YesStyle. Shop their Anniversary Sale between July 1-8 for up to 50% off Korean skincare
