Whether you are looking for a fragrance free cleanser or just a cleanser formulated with gentler ingredients, we wanted to take a closer look at MyRoo. We started stocking this vegan friendly, allergen free company a while ago but wanted to take a closer look at MyRoo Gentle Cleanser, which comes with its own cloth. This is a soap free, oil based cleanser that has both a fragrance and a fragrance free formula. So what’s unique about MyRoo Gentle Cleanser?
MyRoo cleanser is suitable for most skin types but is especially focused on those of us who have allergies and sensitive skin. In fact, there are two products - one fragranced with orange blossom and one that is fragrance free. The main formula is the same in both products - the only real difference is the fragrance. So we’re going to look at the fragrance free option - what active ingredients are in there and what can they do to treat your skin?
First up, this ingredient is commonly known as safflower seed oil and is a great tool for locking in moisture and helping to restore the skin’s lipid barrier. When your skin is dry, or becomes irritated, this is often because the skin’s outer barrier - often called the lipid barrier - has become impaired. The lipid barrier is made up of dead skin cells held together by lipids (oil) from sebum, which is naturally produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands. This barrier has two purposes - to stop irritants and pollutants getting in and damaging the deeper layers of skin and to keep water and moisture locked in to the skin. When there is not enough lipids, the skin can become flaky and dry, with irritants getting into the skin and water and goodness seeping out.
So when it comes to a gentle, soap free cleanser, you need a product that can remove dirt but also help to restore the barrier function.
Safflower oil is a great active ingredient for dry skin because it is a lubricant. It creates a barrier on top of the skin, which helps to stop water loss and lock in moisture. It also has natural softening properties so can improve the texture and tone of your skin. Safflower oil is also really high in linoleic acid, which is an Omega 6 essential fatty acid - this is not only what gives the oil its barrier properties, but also helps to stimulate cell growth and renewal. This is great news for sensitive skin as it helps to repair the skin and encourage new cell growth.
Safflower oil is great for cleansing the skin - it combines with the sebum in your skin to work to unclog your pores, which is good news if you have dry skin and suffer from breakouts. Often harsher cleansers have salicylic acid to de-clog pores but this can further irritate dry skin. Thanks to safflower seed oil in MyRoo’s gentle cleanser, you can clean gently but effectively deep into the pores, whilst also stimulating cell repair and growth.
The second active ingredient we wanted to shine a spotlight on in this facial cleanser is Apricot Kernel Oil. This oil is a superstar when it comes to moisturising and protecting against free radical damage, because it is high in antioxidants. This is all good news when it comes to getting a gentle but effective cleanser for your skin.
Why do we need antioxidants in skincare? Well, everyday your skin is exposed to the sun and pollutants - which can lead to free radicals forming in your skin. They are unstable molecules that are looking to steal an extra electron from your healthy skin cells. This chemical reaction can cause cell damage and changes to the DNA of your cells. This often happens at the dermis level - where collagen and elastin levels are attacked. The result is that skin can start to look older, saggy and wrinkles can appear deeper and more pronounced. In short, your skin is prematurely ageing. Antioxidants are the most effective way to combat free radical damage. They are able to neutralise their effects and to stop further cell damage.
They are able to neutralise their effects and to stop further cell damage.
So it makes sense, because our skin is exposed to free radical damage daily, that our daily cleanser has antioxidant goodness. That’s where apricot kernel oil comes in. It is not just an antioxidant but also really mild and so is great for sensitive skin types. It’s also got anti-inflammatory properties which is good for treating inflammation due to an impaired skin barrier. It is rich in Vitamin E, which gives it its antioxidant properties, is great for removing makeup residue gently and even has Vitamin K, which helps to treat dark circles and hyperpigmentation in the skin.
Our third active ingredient is another oil - this time Borage Seed Oil. Once your skin has been deeply cleansed with the safflower seed oil, gently cleansing deeply into the pores; and the apricot kernel oil works as an antioxidant neutralising the effects of free radicals from the sun and pollutants; Borage seed oil then conditions the skin with its emollient properties. It is a great choice for a gentle cleanser as it works to reduce inflammation, irritation and redness on the skin. Functions as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent. It's also believed to have a cooling, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and saline effect on the skin. It’s really soothing and will work to repair the lipid barrier, as it is also packed full of Omega 6 fatty acids, so protects against water loss and locks in moisture.
The final oil we are going to look at, in MyRoo Gentle Cleanser, is this citrusy essential oil which is packed full of antimicrobial goodness. This means your skin is cleansed from the bad bacteria that can cause breakouts, when it gets stuck deep in your pores, but also keeps the good bacteria that your skin needs intact. Not only that but neroli oil is often referred to as a natural, gentler alternative for retinol (Vitamin A) for ageing skin. This is because neroli oil has similar skin tightening and firming properties to retinol but isn’t irritating to the skin.
As well as the three oils we have looked at, MyRoo Gentle Cleanser also has rosemary leaf extract, often known as ROE,, which works to extend the shelf life of the cleanser but without being a preservative. As this is an oil based cleanser, ROE works to slow the oxidation of the oils, so stopping the degrading of the active ingredients.
The rest of the active ingredients are all naturally occuring essential oils, namely Citral, Geraniol Farnesol, - d-limonene and linalool. One of the things we love about this cleanser is that there is absolute clarity about what you are putting onto your skin and the fact that each ingredient has been chosen because of its gentle and effective properties.
Another thing we love about MyRoo Gentle Cleanser is that it comes with a cleaning cloth. This is 100% organic, double sided cloth that has a gentle exfoliation side and then a super soft cleansing side, for more sensitive skin. You can pop them in the washing machine and can order spares too!
So you’ll have worked out by now, most of the ingredients in this soap-free cleanser are oils. Which may sound a bit strange. Oils to cleanse the skin? Well, yes, actually oil based cleansers can be really effective and also be really gentle on the skin. They work on the basis that oil actually attracts oil and dirt, like a magnet. It can draw out impurities and de-clog the pores, also dissolving surface dirt and makeup residue. Once water is added, the cleanser emulsifies which allows the dirt and grime to dissolve and lift off the skin without the need for scrubbing or harsh cleansing.
Absolutely. It may sound like a false economy to use oil based cleanser on oily skin but actually a gentle oil based cleanser like MyRoo can effectively cleanse away excess oil without irritating the skin or causing further oil production.
MyRoo was founded by skincare expert Rachael Dunseath, who herself has sensitive skin and was looking for products she could use on her own skin. The entire range is the UK’s first FreeFrom range. It’s natural, organic, vegan, free from gluten, dairy and nut products.
MyRoo Gentle Cleanser is a brilliant choice if you are looking for an effective cleanser for sensitive skin that is vegan friendly, free from allergens and made with eco friendly packaging. We love that it comes with a cleansing cloth and that you can choose both a fragranced and fragrance free option, but get the same great active ingredients formula.
