Fashion

Are foaming cleansers really that bad for our skin? Here’s everything you need to know



If there’s one lesson we’ve picked up from beauty experts over the last decade it’s the one that tells us to stay away from foaming products at all costs. They’re drying, irritating and do nothing but cause long-term harm to our skin.

But it seems the tides are changing. Fast forward a few years to 2019 and it would appear everyone’s eating their words as a new wave of seriously great foaming skincare items hit the shelves. So what’s the deal? Why is it that after so many years of being fed the line that foaming cleanser is the devil are we now hailing them some of the best cleansers out there?

First of all, we need to understand exactly why we’ve been warned off foams for so long. Beauty Expert Jane Scrivner explains: “Foaming products require foaming agents, all of which can be higher in alkaline than the skin (4.5 to 5.5 on the pH). Most foams are approx. 6, making them harsh and very stripping/drying. Using these then results in having to find other products to rebalance the damage done as opposed to benefitting from the positive effects of a great cleansing balm/oil/cream product.” So that explains the nasty tight feeling that we’re so often left with after a deep foaming cleanse.

But listen, while we totally get that foam isn’t necessarily the best way to go when it comes to cleansers, especially compared to some of the amazing cream and oil formulas out there, we also preach that nothing beats the feeling of a super deep-cleaning foam. Consulting Dermatologist at Kiehl’s, Dr Alexis Granite admits: “I think many consumers, myself included, feel their skin feels cleaner and fresher after use of a foaming product versus cream and oil based washes.” So is fresh feeling but well nourished skin too much to ask for?

Thanks to new formulations, foam cleanser isn’t the evil product it once was, you just have to know what to look for. “There are developments in science which has improved the formulas, such as coconut derived or plant derived foaming agents which are more gentle and pH appropriate for the skin,” says Jane.

Deciphering the good foams from the bad isn’t actually as difficult as it sounds, either. A simple look over the ingredients list and you’ll be able to tell straight away which ones get the all clear. Facialist and Makeup Artist Frances Prescott reveals: “The key thing when buying a foaming facial wash is to ensure the formula contains no Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) which is the super drying, harmful ingredient that acts as the foaming agent. I would try to find formulas that contain plant-based oils too that can effectively breakdown the oils, makeup and dirt on the skin.”

So there you have it, finally some good news. It turns out that, after all this time, we don’t have to go without our much-loved foams after all. If you’ve missed that foamy feeling, take a look at our pick of the most nourishing cleansing foams out there…





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