
2016 beauty: The best oils, balms, buffers and more
By Jill Dunn
Photo: © Getty Images
Wouldn’t it be great if your sink-side routine didn’t feel like a chore? Because of advancements in textures (from skin-smoothing powders to convenient wipes and nourishing balms), there are many ways to customize your cleanse – and no excuse to go to bed with a face full of makeup.
No matter what cleanser you choose, the ritual should be the same. Never speed-race through your cleanse. “Wet your face first and massage a nickel-sized drop of cleanser onto skin for at least 90 seconds to two minutes,” says Dr. Lisa Kellett, a Toronto-based dermatologist. “The water should be tepid, never too hot, as that can strip the skin of its natural moisture. Pat it dry with a towel; never rub.”
ONE-STEP
Eau Thermale Avène Micellar lotion, $28, drugstores and mass-market retailers; Decléor Micellar Oil, $35, at Hudson’s Bay, thebay.com; Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Water,
$28, at drugstores and mass-market retailers
CLAIM TO FAME
Micellar cleansers were first
made popular in France,
where Parisian women found
the hard water too harsh for
their skin and so adopted
one-step cleansing waters.
These no-fuss cleansers are a
secret of models, who rely on
them backstage during Fashion
Week to gently cleanse
between shows.
HOW THEY WORK
These cleansers use micelle
molecules that trap oil and dirt
on the skin, cleansing it gently
without rubbing. The appeal is
simple: douse a cotton pad
with one of these liquids and
watch makeup vanish – no
water, no suds, no rinsing
required.
TRY THEM IF
You like a one-step cleanse or if
your skin is super sensitive.
BUFF AND GO
Josie Maran Argan Exfoliating Cleansing Powder, $49, sephora.ca; Kellett Clear Polishing Gel Cleanser, $45, dlkonavenue.com Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge with bamboo charcoal, $19, sephora.ca.
CLAIM TO FAME
Exfoliating cleansers are championed by
those who like to micro-exfoliate daily –
rather than go for a weekly scrub – and
work to slough away dead skin cells that
can otherwise cause breakouts or dullness.
HOW THEY WORK
With soft, round beads or gentle exfoliating
ingredients such as rice powder, these
cleaners are gentle enough to use daily.
Remember to massage, not scrub. “Being
too aggressive on the skin can unnecessarily
add redness and irritation,” says
Charmaine Cooper, education manager
for Dermalogica Canada. “In fact, when
you use the appropriate formula, it’s not
how much pressure you give to the skin
that counts. It’s how effectively you’ve
distributed the formula on the skin.”
TRY THEM IF
Your skin is dull, you have clogged pores
or tend to have break-outs. These
cleansers can also be added to your
skin-care routine as seasons change to
normalize skin and even tone. Remember
to be gentle with the cleansing technique.
WIPE OUT
Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Makeup Removing Cleansing Cloths, $19,
Sephora,
sephora.ca; Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths, $17 for 30, Murale and select Shoppers Drug Marts
CLAIM TO FAME
It doesn’t get any easier than
premoistened cleansing wipes
– before the gym, for travel or
for those nights when you just
can’t muster a full lather-and-rinse routine.
HOW THEY WORK
Most towelettes contain
ingredients such as coconut
oil or tea tree oil to cleanse
skin. Look for quilted varieties
as those are extra gentle.
“Cleansing wipes are great in
a pinch to remove makeup,
but not necessarily for every
day,” says Dr. Kellett. “They
are convenient, but aren’t
always the most thorough.”
TRY THEM IF
You’re on the run or don’t
need a heavy-duty cleanse –
many people use them in
the morning when they just
want to freshen up after a
night’s rest.
OIL BOOM
Amore Pacific Treatment Cleansing Oil for Face & Eyes, $60,
sephora.ca; A-Derma Exomega Emollient Cleansing Oil, $19, drugstores and mass-market retailers; Dermalogica Precleanse, $53, at select spas, dermalogica.ca
CLAIM TO FAME
Cleansing oils erase dirt without
stripping the skin of its natural oils.
HOW THEY WORK
Massage oil onto skin and then
wet palms with water, continuing
to massage to create a milky
lather. “Nothing removes oil
and debris from the skin better
than an oil – like attracts like,”
says Charmaine. She’s also a
proponent of the double-cleanse
– cleanse first with an oil followed
by a cream or gel cleanser.
TRY THEM IF
You have really dry skin or you
wear a lot of makeup – oil-based
cleansers melt away even longwearing
or waterproof formulas.
BALM SQUAD
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, $36, at Clinique counters, clinique.ca; Biotherm Biosource Balm-in-Oil, $34, biotherm.ca
CLAIM TO FAME
A dry-skin saviour in
wintertime because of
their luxurious texture.
HOW THEY WORK
Balm cleansers are solid
at room temperature, but
once they’re scooped in to
your hand and massaged
onto damp skin, they melt
into a milky, creamy – and
super luxe – lather. It’s as
close as you’ll get to a spa
experience at home.
TRY THEM IF
You have a drier skin
type or skin that feels
itchy or tight, especially
in the wintertime.
CLEANUP CREW
THESE NEXT-GENERATION PRODUCTS UPGRADE YOUR ROUTINE
1. Sephora Collection
Black Magic, set of 2 Makeup Removal Cloths, $15,
sephora.ca; 2. Boscia Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder, $45,
sephora.ca; 3. Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanse and Massage One-Touch Facialist Kit, $99, cleanser included, Sephora, Hudson’s Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart
- It sounds too good to be true, but these black magic cloths require no cleanser. Simply dampen with warm water and watch makeup and dirt disappear. They are machinewashable so you can use them time and again.
- With 100 per cent natural konjac root fibre (an Asian plant lauded for its ability to purge pores) this sponge has a bouncy texture once wet. It’s more gentle than a washcloth so you can safely massage on to skin for a thorough clean.
- Cleansing power tools are nothing new, but some find the oscillating action of the bristles irritating. This version uses vibrating silicone bristles to nudge dirt and oil from pores so it feels more like a massage.