Difference Between Cleanser vs Exfoliator

Have you ever tried to get a full set of skin care products with no idea which one goes on your face first? That happens a lot, and we know which products are the common ones to cause confusion, especially to the ones who are just getting started in their skincare routine: cleansers and exfoliator. So, do you wash your face with a cleanser first, then the exfoliating product? Or do you do the other way around?

Another common mistake that people make is that they treat the two products as if they’re the same thing. Lastly, people are also in a continuous debate on whether the exfoliator goes before the cleanser or vice versa. If you’re on the same page, we’re here to give you light on this topic. In this article, we’re going to discuss what you’d want to know about the cleanser vs exfoliator deal. We’ll also talk about the difference between the two skincare products. The information below will definitely help you, especially if you’re new to the concept of applying skincare products. Read on!

 

What Happens When You Exfoliate?

To exfoliate is to remove dead skin cells from your face on a deeper level (1). Some people are skeptical in adding this stage to their skincare routine because of the tendency of “over-exfoliating”, which causes irritation and some cases of acne. However, we recommend that you take careful measures when using an exfoliating product as your skin definitely needs a good scrub every once in a while. Suffer from particularly sensitive skin? Click here for dermatologists recommended products. Here are some of the benefits of exfoliating in moderation:

Glowing Skin

Using a gentle exfoliating product provides your skin with deep cleansing, getting rid of dead skin cells and preparing your face with brand new ones. The process smoothes your face, leaving it looking and feeling refreshed, inside and out.

Tightened Pores

The pores are tiny openings on your face that have hair follicles. These holes tend to build up dirt and dead skin faster, mainly because it’s hard to reach and clean; when ignored, these can cause the pores to be bigger and more visible on your face. An exfoliator promises deep cleaning on those areas, thus closing and tightening your pores.

Smooth and Healthy Skin

Exfoliators have the ability of taking out dirt and other contaminants stuck in your pores, and this allows other products from your skin care routine to have better effectivity. For example, your moisturizer can go deep down the unclogged pores nurture your skin better.

 

What are Cleansers For?

You can really say that cleansers are the most common product that never gets missed out on skincare routines; if anything, these act as one of the primary products that lead the whole routine (2). Cleansing is the procedure of clearing your face from make-up, oil, and dirt that managed to build up on your skin for the day. Cleansing products are typically gentler than exfoliators, which is why these are more recommended to be used up to twice a day. These are just some of the benefits you can expect to have when you cleanse your skin everyday:

Improves Skin Hydration

Dehydrated skin leads to faster visibility of signs of aging, and displays roughness and dullness. Cleansing your face regularly lets your skin have the balanced levels of pH, which are important in keeping it hydrated, even through day to day activities.

Eliminates Dirt and Oil Build Up

You may not notice it, but your face experiences build-up from air pollutants, oil, and dirt throughout the day. These skin contaminants block your pores, causing you to have acne and other skin infections. Having cleansing as a part of your routine ensures you to have smoother and brighter skin.

Makes Way for Clear Skin

Pores in your skin serves as the gateway of oil or sebum (your skin’s natural oil) to protect your face from the pollutants that linger in your surroundings; because cleansers prevents pore blockage, you won’t have to worry about the acne and inflammation effects from the lack of oil on your skin’s surface.

 

So, what’s the Difference?

While both have the same skin-cleaning role in a skincare routine, the difference between cleanser and exfoliator is that the latter product tends to take its cleaning abilities on a deeper level. Exfoliators clear pollutants and dirt build-up down to your skin’s pores, whereas cleansers focus more on cleaning the build-up on your skin’s surface. Overall, a cleanser and exfoliator should work simultaneously in your skincare routine so that you can experience better results on your skin health.

 

Product Reviews

In this section, we’re going to recommend you cleansing and exfoliating products that you might want to add to your skincare routine!

Buy on Amazon

 

If you’re looking for a facial cleanser with a tropical twist, this product from Alba Botanica is surely your bet! This cleanser utilizes 100% vegetarian ingredients, ensuring that the product is safe and effective for all skin types. The brand also boasts that the Hawaiian facial cleanser doesn’t contain any trace of parabens and phthalates, which are chemicals that have hidden side effects on the skin.

The product has fruit enzymes from pineapple and papaya, making your skin more vibrant with less visible pores; these ingredients also help in getting rid of impurities like excess oil, make-up and dirt. Lastly, the cleanser has extracts of aloe, hibiscus, and passion flower to give you a soothing and balanced feel on your skin afterwards.

Pros:

• • Very Affordable
  • 100% Vegetarian Ingredients
  • No Artificial and Chemical Components
  • Great Tropical Scent

Cons:

• • Doesn’t Rinse Off Easily

Buy on Amazon

 

This exfoliator from DRMTGY is definitely skin-friendly, with it using all natural ingredients; it has extracts from green tea leaf, lemon, and apple. It even uses sugar cane to get the Glycolic Acid (the star ingredient of the product) to make way for the Microdermabrasion property of the scrub. It promises to deliver you great and visible skincare results by effectively removing black heads, pimple marks, and dead skin cells; this process also encourages your skin to regenerate new cells, letting you have that fresher and brighter look on your face. The DRMTLGY facial scrub is also gentler than other exfoliators, so you can use it for up to three days per week!

Pros:

• • All-Natural Ingredients
  • Effective Facial Scrub for Removing Facial Impurities
  • Gentle Exfoliator
  • Friendly for All Skin Types

Cons:

• • Slightly Expensive for the Size

 

Final Thoughts 

Cleansers and exfoliators are usually mistaken to be the same thing because of their cleaning purposes; however, they serve different roles in a skincare routine. You should be using both simultaneously to be able to achieve healthy and glowing skin.