$12.00 – $48.00
Calming Cleanser is the perfect every day cleanser! It is lotion-based and contains mild surfactants and lots of anti-inflammatory actives like chamomile, white tea, oatmeal, and allantoin. It is good for all skin types; however, folks with dry skin may find it is not moisturizing enough. Every time I say ‘you need to use a mild, gentle, anti-inflammatory cleanser for your primary face wash,’ I am talking about Calming Cleanser.
I get asked frequently what the difference is between Calming Cleanser and Skin Zen face wash. Calming Cleanser is great for every day and for normal skin behavior. Skin Zen face wash is better for sensitive/reactive skin, and/or skin that is actively inflamed. While the ingredients on the label look very similar, the concentrations and forms of the actives are different. So, Calming Cleanser for life, Skin Zen when shit goes sideways.
NOTE: This face wash contains chamomile butter, which has a scent to it. Therefore, the fragrance free version of Calming Cleanser will have a scent to it, but it is from the ingredients, not from added fragrance.
INGREDIENTS: Distilled water, decyl glucoside (and) sodium lauroyl lactylate, cetearyl alcohol (and) ceteareth-20, shea butter, chamomile butter, sunflower seed oil, camellia seed oil, cucumber extract, white tea extract, colloidal oatmeal, cornstarch, cetyl esters, tocopherol, gluconolactone (and) sodium benzoate, fragrance, allantoin, EDTA
INGREDIENTS EXPLAINED:
Decyl glucoside (and) sodium lauroyl lactylate:
Cetearyl alcohol (and) Ceteareth-20: This is the emulsifier in the formula. An emulsifier is a compound that is able to bind to both polar and nonpolar molecules in a solution. In skincare, an emulsifier is what holds the oil and water phases of the formula together. There are lots of different types of emulsifiers, with different properties. This particular emulsifier is what is known as an ‘oil in water’ emulsifier, because it emulsifies a small oil phase in a larger water phase.
Shea butter: One of my all-time favorite skincare ingredients! This butter is obtained from the karite tree, and it’s also a great source of antioxidants and skin-nourishing fatty acids (stearic and linoleic). It also penetrates skin readily. This is just such a wonderful ingredient for skincare.
Chamomile butter:
Sunflower oil: I love, love, LOVE sunflower seed oil! It’s really great for dry, dehydrated, or otherwise compromised skin because its linoleic acid content helps skin to make its own lipids, including ceramides, which are critical for proper barrier function. Sunflower seed oil also has a natural soothing effect on skin, making it great for reducing skin irritation.
Camellia seed oil: Camellia seed oil is a fast-absorbing oil with antioxidant activity. It is present in this formula as an emollient.
Cucumber Extract: Anti-inflammatory extract that hydrates, softens, and cools skin.
White Tea Extract: This is an extract from green tea buds and leaves that has potent antioxidant and skin soothing properties. It is present in this formula for those exact reasons.
Oatmeal (colloidal): Colloidal oatmeal is finely ground oatmeal (44 micrometer particle size) that acts as a skin soother and moisturizer.
Cornstarch: This ingredient acts as a thickener in this formula.
Cetyl esters: This ingredient provides ‘slip’ to the formula, allowing the product to slide more easily across skin. It also acts as a thickener.
Tocopherol: Tocopherol is Vitamin E, and acts as a preservative in this formula, preventing the oxidation of the oils in the product and increasing the shelf life.
Gluconolactone (and) Sodium benzoate: This is the main preservative in this formula. It prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, etc.
Fragrance: This is the scent that is added to the product. Fragrance oil manufacturers are not required by law to disclose what compounds are in their fragrance oils. However, some will tell you what is NOT in their fragrance oils, and I base my fragrance oil purchases on this information. I make sure my fragrance oils are free of phthalates and known carcinogens. Because fragrance may be a source of irritation in a product formula, I offer all my products fragrance free as well as scented.
Allantoin: Derived from comfrey, allantoin is a compound that is anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and skin protective.
EDTA: EDTA is a metal ion chelator. This means that it scours the solution for metal ions, and once it finds them, it binds them very tightly, which makes them no longer a danger. Metal ions are highly reactive molecules that can cause oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA in cells. They are known to cause allergic reactions in skin, and generate inflammation.
| Weight | 4 oz |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Sample Size, 2oz., 4oz., 8oz. |
| Fragrance | Scented, Unscented |
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Sarah Zamminer (verified owner) –
Okay, I LOVE this cleanser. The smell is not my favorite but honestly I don’t care. I’m pretty sure I may have ordered the unscented but regardless, this face wash is the shit. It’s thick and smooth and I love how it feels on my skin and I love how my skin feels after. Clean but not stripped and it leaves me glowy. Not sure how but it does. This is my forever face wash.
NICHOLE SULLIVAN (verified owner) –
I use this every day. It is a gentle cleanser, not too harsh, that leaves my skin feeling healthy. I love that you can get it scented or unscented.
Diane McCard (verified owner) –
This is the best cleanser I have ever used. My skin feels very clean without that stripped feeling that harsh cleansers leave. My esthetician even commented on how well it works.
Cherisse Chaney (verified owner) –
I usually have happy, easy skin, but since chronic masking (I work in a hospital), I’ve struggled a lot with perioral dermatitis around my mouth and nose. This cleanser has been an absolute lifesaver for daily use, and my skin is finally getting back to normal! I will never use anything else.