It’s easy to overlook the importance of a good cleanser when faced with the allure of cheaper drugstore options. However, a high-quality cleanser does much more than clean your face—it sets the stage for the rest of your skincare routine, ensuring your skin remains healthy, balanced, and receptive to other treatments. While saving money with a low-cost cleanser may be tempting, the hidden costs can be significant.

Drugstore cleansers often contain harsh chemicals that strip your skin of natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and long-term sensitivities. In contrast, Forest MD cleansers are formulated with gentle, nourishing ingredients that maintain your skin’s natural balance, protect the skin barrier, and enhance the effectiveness of your entire skincare routine. Over time, this means fewer skin issues and less need for corrective treatments, making our cleansers a wise investment for your skin’s health and wallet.

The Importance of Cleansing

Cleansing is your skincare regime’s first (and might be the most important) step. Forest MD offers a range of cleansers for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Cleansing removes dirt, makeup, and excess oil, keeping the skin looking and feeling clean and fresh. All Forest MD cleansers are multitasking—they deep cleanse and remove makeup, and the exfoliating cleansers also exfoliate. Moreover, Forest MD cleansers are more than 95% plant-based and free of harsh irritants to help maintain the skin’s natural oils.

We recommend cleansing twice daily to remove impurities (dirt and pollution), makeup, and excess sebum that can irritate the skin and reduce its ability to work as an effective protective barrier. Cleansing also supports skin regeneration, which is important for skin prone to blemishes and acne.

Many people make the common mistake of skimping on their cleanser because they think it’s just being rinsed off anyway. However, if the first product in your skincare routine isn’t effective, the rest of your products won’t work as well either. Opting for a low-quality cleanser often leads to dryness and irritation. Look for a cleanser free of common irritants like sulfates, synthetic colouring and fragrances. All of our cleansers meet these criteria.

Another common mistake is being too aggressive with cleansing tools (e.g. sonic cleansing brushes, rough cleansing cloths, exfoliants with beads) or using too much pressure. This can damage your skin barrier, causing redness, irritation, and even post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you use a cleansing brush or exfoliation product, distribute them evenly over your face with very light pressure and avoid the eye area — gentleness is critical to maintaining healthy skin. Cleansing should not sting or make your skin look red, the skin should feel comfortable and healthy.

How to Cleanse

When cleansing, use lukewarm water to avoid increasing skin sensitivity or drying out your skin. Hot water can strip your skin’s natural oils, while cold water can tighten pores and trap bacteria and dirt. Massage the cleanser thoroughly using small circular motions, covering all areas of your face to ensure a deep cleanse. Rinse off with either a cotton pad or water. For exfoliating cleansers, apply them gently circularly, avoiding the eye area. Be careful not to scrub too hard to prevent skin irritation.

How Often Should I Cleanse?

We recommend double cleansing at night. The first cleanse removes the day’s grime, bacteria, and pollution, while the second cleanse delves deeper into the pores to eliminate any remaining impurities and dead skin cells. In the morning, a single cleanse prepares your skin for the day.

Choosing the Right Cleanser for Your Skin

Knowing what ingredients work for your skin type is the first step to finding your holy grail cleanser, and we are here to help you! A good cleanser should leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed without causing irritation, tightness, or dryness. The most important thing is choosing a cleanser that suits your skin type and concerns.

Deep Pore Cleansing Foam

The Deep Pore Cleansing Foam effectively unclogs pores and removes impurities, leaving your skin clear and refreshed.

Its unique formulation targets excess oil and breakouts, making it ideal for oily and acne-prone skin. Experience a deep cleanse that enhances your skin’s clarity and radiance.

• Best Suited For: All skin types, especially beneficial for oily and acne-prone skin.
• Focus: Skin Clarity.
• Consistency: Foam.
• Key Ingredients: Silk Crystal® (moisturises sensitive skin), Hyaluronic acid (hydrates and refines pores), Licorice extract (soothes redness, calms irritation), Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) (lightens and repairs).

Exfoliating Mousse Cleanser

The Exfoliating Mousse Cleanser removes dirt, pollutants, and dead skin cells, leaving your skin refreshed and revitalised.

This gentle formulation suits all skin types and helps maintain a clear and radiant complexion even in hazy conditions.

• Best Suited For: Normal to dry skin, especially beneficial for ageing and acne concerns.
• Focus: Exfoliating & Anti-ageing.
• Consistency: Mousse.
• Key Ingredients: Oryza sativa Rice Bran Wax (soothes irritation, tightens pores), Sodium PCA (hydrates and smooths skin), Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate (softening, non-drying, non-irritating agent from coconut fatty acids).

Pure & Gentle Cleansing Foam

The Pure & Gentle Cleansing Foam soothes and hydrates sensitive, dry, and irritated skin.

Its mild formula repairs and revitalises, providing a calming effect for redness-prone and acne-prone skin.

With every use, achieve a soft, smooth, and balanced complexion.

• Best Suited For: All skin types, especially beneficial for sensitive, dry, flaky, irritated, redness-prone, and acne-prone skin.
• Focus: Soothing and Hydrating.
• Consistency: Foam.
• Key Ingredients: Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate (softening, non-drying, non-irritating agent from coconut fatty acids), Sodium PCA (hydrates and smooths skin).

Ultra Gentle Cleansing Milk

The Ultra Gentle Cleansing Milk is perfect for highly sensitive skin, offering soothing hydration and calming effects. Its creamy texture gently cleanses while maintaining your skin’s natural moisture balance, ensuring a soft, nourished, and irritation-free complexion.

• Best Suited For: All skin types, especially highly sensitised skin.
• Focus: Soothing, Hydrating, and Calming.
• Consistency: Milk.
• Key Ingredients: Glycerin (moisturises and protects), Hemi-squalane (sugarcane-derived) (moisturises, protects, repairs), Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate (softening, non-drying, non-irritating agent from coconut fatty acids).

Additional Skincare Tips

On top of your daily cleansing, we also recommend doing a gentle chemical exfoliation at least once a week to remove stubborn gunk and increase skin cell turnover. Regular exfoliating improves the appearance of pores and pigments and helps prevent acne. Check out our Liquid Exfoliant for more details!

Did You Know?

In addition to looking for ingredients that serve your skin type, it is equally important to look out for ingredients to avoid. All Forest MD Cleansers are formulated without parabens, propylene glycol, synthetic fragrances, or colouring agents. Trust us, you do not want these in your skincare.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee

We are confident you’ll love our cleansers. If you’re not completely satisfied, please get in touch at info@iyacmedspa.com within 14 days of receiving your order. We appreciate your trust in Forest MD.

Have questions? Our skincare experts are here to help. Call us at 6738 9929 or visit our website to chat with a friendly skincare consultant.