What Is Cleanser and What Does Cleanser Do?

Darlings, cleansing your face is one of the most important steps to HEALTHY and GORGEOUS skin. Cleanser should be the first thing you apply in the morning and the second thing you apply in the evening after your makeup remover.

But what is cleanser and what does a cleanser do? This helpful guide tells you everything you need to know about facial cleanser, what it’s used for and how to use it for a spa-cleansed complexion that’s ready for the rest of your skincare routine!

Shop cleanser

What Is Facial Cleanser

Facial cleansers wash your face while providing extra skincare benefits for a cleansed complexion ready for the day ahead of your evening skincare ritual. Cleansers can remove everything from makeup, sweat and excess oil to pollutants, dirt and dead skin cells. They work by unclogging your pores and gently exfoliating the top skin cells, leaving your skin looking CLEANSED, FRESH and GLOWING.

Charlotte’s SUPERCHARGED face cleansers cleanse and purify your skin of any impurities to SMOOTH and BRIGHTEN the look of your complexion. Charlotte’s 3-in-1 Multi-Miracle Glow is a cleanser, mask and balm in one, leaving you with SOFT and SUPPLE-LOOKING skin from the moment you wake up, while Goddess Cleansing Ritual is Charlotte’s SPA-IN-A-JAR citrus oil and charcoal cleansing duo for a rejuvenating double cleanse that leaves skin appearing brighter and refreshed!

Cleanser vs Face Wash

Face washes are water-based products which have the sole purpose of removing dirt and oil from your skin. They can be useful if you have oily skin as they really target oil production, but they can sometimes be a little harsh on dry, sensitive, combination or normal skin.

Meanwhile, facial cleansers provide HYDRATION and NOURISHMENT while also cleansing your skin. Compared to face washes, they tend to be richer in texture and formulated with ingredients that help to boost moisture and balance your complexion without stripping away too many of the skin's natural oils.

Tilbury Tip: If you have oily skin, try using a face wash at night and a cleanser in the morning. This will help to keep your skin looking and feeling balanced.

What Is Cleanser Used For?

A cleanser removes dirt and impurities from your skin, and when used every day, it can help to prevent clogged pores for a SMOOTH-LOOKING, GLOWING complexion. Facial cleansers are especially important for creating a clean canvas before applying your toners, serums, moisturisers and makeup. It’s an essential first step to your morning and evening beauty routines to ensure you get the best, most beautiful results!

How To Cleanse Your Face

How you cleanse your face depends on what cleansing product you use! Discover Charlotte’s tips and tricks on how to cleanse your skin using Multi-Miracle Glow and Goddess Cleansing Ritual.

How to cleanse your skin using a cleansing balm

The beauty of Charlotte’s Multi-Miracle Glow is that it’s cleanser, mask and balm in one. For best effects, use Charlotte’s wonder workout massage when applying it to your dry face for a deep and nourishing complexion boost.

FOR A DREAMY DEEP CLEANSE: Apply Multi-Miracle Glow to your dry face, massaging the product in outward sweeping motions towards your hairline and neck. Then, rinse off after 10 minutes.

FOR AN OVERNIGHT MASK: If you’re using Multi-Miracle Glow as an overnight facial mask, apply a thin layer all over your face, massage in and leave on overnight for best results. In the morning, rinse off any excess and begin your usual morning skincare routine.

FOR A BEAUTY BALM: Apply Multi-Miracle Glow directly onto targeted areas, like dry patches and uneven texture, and massage in for a RADIANT red-carpet glow.

Shop Multi-Miracle Glow

How to Double Cleanse Your Skin

If you have a little extra time in your routine and want to treat your skin to a rejuvenating, at-home spa cleansing experience, DOUBLE CLEANSE using Goddess Cleansing Ritual!

Charlotte’s Goddess Cleansing Ritual is a Korean-inspired skincare innovation involving both an oil-based cleanser and a purifying charcoal cleanser for a deep skin cleanse. The refreshing, brightening-effect oil-based cleanser with citrus oil and Vitamin C breaks down and removes any traces of makeup left on your skin, while the second step, Charlotte’s charcoal cleanser, draws out impurities from your pores for a purified, cleansed complexion. The Goddess Cleansing Ritual set contains everything you need for a DREAMY double cleanse!

MAGIC STEP 1: Massage your oil-based cleanser onto a dry face and around your eye area. Then, take a muslin cloth soaked in warm water and apply it to your face for 20 seconds for a magic steam-clean.

MAGIC STEP 2: Apply your charcoal cleanser onto your wet face and massage it into your skin while avoiding the eye area. Wet the muslin cloth in warm water and wash off. Follow with toner, face serum, moisturiser and facial oil for MAGIC SKIN!

Learn more about the double cleanse

How Often Should You Use Cleanser?

During the day, your skin will be exposed to external aggressors, including dirt and pollution, and during the night, you should cleanse your skin to remove makeup and wash away the day, so for best results, facial cleansers should be used twice a day.

By Day: Simply apply first thing in the morning as part of your daily skincare routine to hydrate, nourish and brighten the look of your skin before the rest of your skincare and makeup routine.

By Night: Apply cleanser after your makeup remover (Charlotte recommends Take It All Off for your eyes, lashes and lips!) but before your toner as part of your evening skincare routine. Cleansing at night will help to remove any stubborn dirt and makeup so that your skin can rest overnight.

Shop face cleansers