ART of cleansing. Yes, the ‘art’. If you’re reading this and thinking ‘ain’t no art to it, just slap on some soap, foam it up and wash off — simples’ this is where you’re wrong.
It’s possible to get the skin you dream of and the first step is to up the ante on your cleansing routine.
It can be a chore, that’s true, especially at 3am after a night out! But once you have your cleansing routine down and you start to see real results, cleansing will no longer be a chore and you’ll be rushing to the sink at the end of the day.
So, what’s the best way to cleanse your skin? What cleansers should you be using? All cleansers do the same job right? Wrong…
Beauty aisles are saturated with new breeds of ‘intelligent’ cleansers that cater for all skin types. Whether you want to halt the signs of ageing, or you’re
looking for a cure for that cluster of acne that seems to have taken up permanent residence on your chin, there’s a cleanser out there to help with any skin woe.
BALMS
Hard at room temperature, balms are applied to dry skin and massaged in. This helps the balms formula to melt make-up and
mascara away effortlessly.
Balms contain a cocktail of nourishing ingredients and are a spa-like treat for the skin at home. Great for all skin types, balms are a particularly good choice for mature skins.
Try: The cult balm: Eve Lom, 70, Therapie Clinic, Opera Lane; The Skin Clearing Balm: REN No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm, 42, for stockists call (01) 4610645; The Homemade Balm: Angela Langford Clean Sweep, £21.40. www.angelalanford.com

OILS
Oil helps to lubricate, heal,
protect and moisturise your skin so that it will function at its best. Oils are actually great for oily and spot-prone skin types. That’s right. Think back to your science class — treat like with like, oil
dissolves oil!
Try: The cult oil: Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, 25.50, Brown Thomas; My top oil: Nude Cleansing Oil, 27.44, www.lovelula.com; Natural oil: Atlantic Aromatics Jojoba Oil, around 5, from health stores; The gel to oil: The Body Shop Nutriganics Gel, 14.95.

CREAMS
Cream cleansers inject a dose of moisture into the skin, dissolving make-up and dirt in its path.
Probably the most popular choice for cleansing, cream cleansers are great for sensitive souls on the dry side.

Try: The cult cream: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, from 13.75, www.lizearle.com; My top cream cleanser: Alpha H 3 in 1 Balancing Cleanser, 27, www.beautybay.com; The super nourishing cream: Trilogy Cream Cleanser, 26.95, from health stores/Sam McCauleys; The home-grown cream cleanser: VOYA Cleanse and Mend Anti-Ageing Cream Cleanser, 26, www.voya.ie

IN A SPOT OF BOTHER?
For acne sufferers or those of you with the occasional break-out, Thermale Avène Cleanance
Soapless Gel Cleanser, 15.25,  is the business.
The ultra-mild gel helps to
regulate oil secretion and prevent blemishes, while working to purify the skin. The soap-free gel removes all traces of make-up and oil without irritation, and the pH adjusted formula respects skin’s natural balance. Available in  pharmacies.

I’M CLEANSING WITH…
MAC’s Cleanse Off Oil, 23. I didn’t expect to be overwhelmed by this cleanser but overwhelm me it did! It sweeps through every scrap of make-up and melts away mascara with virtually no effort.
It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and I’ve had no breakouts in sight since using it.
A huge plus for me is the fact that it’s free from mineral oil and is instead formulated with oils of olive fruit, evening primrose and jojoba seed.

Questions? Email Dawn at  [email protected]