Cleansing lotions gently remove makeup, dirt and oils from the skin without causing dryness. They are useful for dry or sensitive skin conditions and for people who use harsh topical medications. Cleansing lotions are gentler on the skin than soap, says to Hywel C. Williams in his book, Evidence-Based Dermatology, because they are better pH balanced for the skin. Use a cleansing lotion to reduce irritation and inflammation or as a special moisturizing treat for your skin.
Step 1
Massage a thin layer of cleansing lotion into your face and neck, gently, for one minute.
Step 2
Wipe the cleansing lotion off your skin with a clean cotton ball, cotton pad or washcloth. Alternatively, rinse the lotion off your skin using cool or warm water.
Step 3
Saturate a cotton ball or cotton pad with astringent lotion. Sweep the saturated cotton over your skin to remove any remaining cleansing lotion. This step is optional if you rinsed your face with water, but essential if you only wiped the lotion off your skin, without using water. Not rinsing cleansing lotion off the skin with water, astringent, or both, is comparable to not rinsing bar soap off the skin, say Robert Baran and Howard I. Maibach in Textbook of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Step 4
Pat skin dry with a clean towel.
Tips and Warnings
- Look up cleansing lotion brands in the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to see if it contains ingredients known to cause skin irritation.
- Any skin product has the potential to cause skin reactions in some people. Discontinue use of the cleansing lotion if it causes skin irritation. To minimize the chances of skin reactions, choose a cleansing lotion marketed for sensitive skin that contains less than 10 ingredients.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton ball or cotton pad
- Washcloth
- Towel
References
- Evidence-Based Dermatology; Hywel C. Williams; 2008
- Textbook of cosmetic dermatology; Robert Baran, Howard I. Maibach; 2004
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