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iS Clinical Cleansing Complex – Should you Buy or Pass on this Cleanser?

This post will go over all of the pros and cons of using the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex including why it’s great for those with gentle skin, who should consider using it and the complete list of both inactive and active ingredients.

If you’ve been considering purchasing or using this cleansing complex then read this review before you buy!

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What is the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex?

The iS Clinical cleansing complex is simply a gentle cleanser, but it has some interesting qualities and ingredients that make it particularly useful for certain people.

A cleanser is a word used to describe a type of face wash that is commonly used in a multiple step skin regimen to help men and women get superior results for their skin.

The first step in any skin care regimen is to help “cleanse” the skin, but it does much more than that.

Most of the time our skin doesn’t actually get that dirty, unless we put something like make-up on it.

Instead cleansers are used to help “slough” off the the dead skin cells and help prevent the “gluing” of dead skin cells to the oil on your skin and onto your face.

This combination is really what is felt to be at the cause of most cases of acne (although this isn’t entirely true either!).

And while cleansers aren’t necessarily a cure-all treatment for acne they are still very useful because they can help reduce the chance that you will break out.

One of the big problems with cleansers is that they aren’t well tolerated by people, especially those with sensitive skin.

Face washes and cleansers often have very powerful alpha hydroxy acids and other ingredients that are meant to cleanse the skin and exfoliate dead skin.

The problem is that these added ingredients often cause reactions, irritation, red skin and can even lead to more acne!

So what’s the solution?

The solution is to create a skin care product that can help slough off dead skin cells but that does so without actually irritating the skin.

And that’s exactly what the iS clinical cleansing complex is supposed to do.

But Does it Actually Work?

This is a tougher question to answer because each person has such a unique need for skin care products.

Your skin is going to be different than my skin which is different from your neighbors and so on.

This is why finding the right type of face wash that fits your complexion and oil production is so important!

In my experience, and as someone who has struggled with adult acne and who has probably spent thousands of dollars on skin care products over the years, I can say that this is definitely one of the better cleansers out there right now.

It’s gentle but still leaves your face feeling clean and refreshed.

It’s also not nearly as harsh as some other more powerful products such as those found in Obagi or PCA skin care lines.

Who should use this Cleansing Complex?

People with sensitive skin
People who have reacted with redness, itchy or flaky skin with other skin care products
Adults struggling with adult acne
Teenagers looking for a new cleanser
Men who want a high quality cleanser to help keep their skin looking good
People who want to get a head-start on their skin care regimen
People looking for a relatively “clean” cleanser
People who want a high quality supplement with more natural ingredients (and who want to avoid synthetic alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid)
People looking for an anti-aging cleanser

Ingredient List

Active ingredients (these are the ingredients that actually make the product effective) include:

Sugar cane extract (a natural source of glycolic acid)
White willow bark extract (natural source of salicylic acid)
Chamomile flower extract (powerful anti-oxidant to help calm down the skin)
Cantella asiatica (anti-oxidant which helps reduce damage to the skin and reduces irritation)

Inactive ingredients (these ingredients help stabilize the active ingredients)

Water
Disodium laureht sulfosuccinate
Cocamidopropyl betaine
PEG-30
Clyceryl cocoate
Glycerin
Propylene glycol
Carboxymethylcellulose
Camellia oleifera leaf extract
Asiatic acid
Madecassic acid
Ascorbyl palmitate
Phospholipids
Tocopherol acetate
Retinyl palmitate
DMDM hydantion
Iodopropynl butylcarbamate

In general you want to have as few inactive ingredients as possible because these inactive ingredients often cause irritation and redness.

Believe it or not (despite this long list) this is actually a relatively small amount of inactive ingredients compared to many other products!

Reviews & Where to Buy

iS Clinical products are generally only available from certain retailers which can make it difficult to find for some people.

That generally means you need to head into a local medical spa or dermatologist office to find it.

Luckily there are legitimate retailers who are “approved” by iS Clinical to sell on Amazon (just make sure you are purchasing from the RIGHT buyer).

Overview of iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

Why I Like it:

Price – Price should be an important consideration when purchasing a cleanser and I like this one a lot because even though it’s high quality it doesn’t hit your purse too hard. It will also last FOREVER as long as you are careful not to use too much (by forever I mean at least 3-4 months). So when you calculate out how much you get for the price it ends up being a good deal.
Quality ingredients – I think both the active and inactive ingredients are very important for any cleanser or skin care product. I like this cleanser because it uses natural sources of alpha hydroxy acids which helps you get results without the added irritation that often comes with those types of chemicals.

Why it works:

Ingredients include: Willow bark extract(a natural and gentle exfoliator), sugar cane extract(natural and gentle form of glycolic acid to help reduce oil production).
This combination acts to provide your skin with natural forms of both salicylic acid and glycolic acid which help exfoliate the skin, reduce oil production and deep clean your pores without inflammation or irritation.
This product also acts as both a toner and a make up remover which means you can save on other products and not have to risk reacting to these products (remember that a complete skin care line must include a toner).

How to use it:

This cleanser can be used in both the AM and the PM – I usually recommend starting with once a day usage (at night) and increasing to both morning and night if you need more of a boost. If you have sensitive skin or you experience redness easily then you can pick just am or pm (preferably after you shower).
Can be combined with moisturizers but make sure you use the moisturizer AFTER the cleansing complex and only AFTER your skin is completely dry.
I also recommend you combine this with active serum which naturally provides retinol and can seriously ramp up your skin care line. You can read more here.

See other reviews

Back to you

This cleansing complex is a great starting complex especially for those people who have irritable skin and for those adults who still suffer from occasional acne.

It will be gentle on your skin but strong enough to fight off oil production and help exfoliate!

But now I want to hear from you:

Have you tried this product before?

Did it work for you?

Why or why not?

Leave your comments below!

How to Pick The Best Face Cleanser For Men (My Top 3 Picks)

Using facial cleansers is important for women, but especially for men.

Men can benefit from the exfoliative power of certain facial cleansers which can help reduce skin aging, promote youthful skin and halt the aging process.

Learn how to use the best face cleansers in men for various issues that men face in this post:

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Do Men need to use a Facial Cleanser?

I will answer that with a resounding yes!

Many people think that men do not need to use facial products because their skin is tougher or because they are already shaving.

What they don’t realize is that men need to treat their skin with care to prevent the aging process and help them look younger!

Using regular body soaps on the face can cause damage by stripping away the natural oils on the face.

Stripping away these oils may leave the skin dry and damaged and promote irritation, dryness and sometimes premature aging.

In addition, some men suffer from occasional pimples or acne which can also cause inflammation at the level of the skin and lead to skin damage long term if they aren’t dealt with.

Using high quality facial products can leave your skin feeling refreshed while encouraging healthy pH levels and both collagen and elastin production.

So what are men supposed to do?

The single best thing they can do to prevent skin damage is to find a facial cleanser that is targeted to their skin type!

This means focusing on 3 major areas which we will discuss below:

The Best Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

If you suffer from sensitive skin it is very important to find a gentle cleanser to help accommodate your complexion.

Harsh cleansers, even cleansers that contain all natural but powerful ingredients, may cause damage to your skin if you are sensitive which may lead to premature signs of aging.

Because of this it’s important to find a balance of high quality ingredients but at a dose that isn’t too powerful.

How do you know if you have sensitive skin?

Men with sensitive skin often experience irritation, redness or dry skin after using various facial products.

Men with this type of skin may have lighter colored hair, may have issues tanning, or may have some redness in their hair color.

The best cleanser to use with sensitive skin is the iS CLINICAL Cleansing Complex.

This cleansing complex combines effective and gentle components that leave your skin healthy and purified.

It has White willow bark extract (source of Salicylic acid) and Glycolic acid that gently exfoliates and removes dead skin cells and helps to unclog pores and prevent breakouts.

In addition, this complex comes in a gel form which is naturally hydrating and does not strip the skin of its natural oils.

The cleanser contains chamomile extract, with this soothing and calming extract it will not make skin red, itchy or tight.

Another great ingredient is the Centell Asiatica, this is a powerful antioxidant with healing properties that help diminish the appearance of premature aging.

It also is paraben-free, which is a plus and makes it great to use with shaving.

AT A GLANCE

Maintains hydration
Natural purifies and unclogs pores
Softens and smooths complexion
Calming ingredients for sensitive skin

Learn more about using iS clinical cleansing complex here.

For best results you will want to use this cleanser both morning and night. You also don’t need to use a toner with this product (another bonus!) because it contains pH balancing ingredients.

The Best Cleanser for Acneic skin

Men who have oily skin or acne-prone skin with larger than normal pore size tend to do best with a cleanser that reduces sebum production, treats active break outs and prevents future break outs.

Cleaners with higher concentrations of Salicylic acid tend to be the most beneficial for this condition.

Men naturally produce more sebum (or natural facial oils) than women due to higher concentrations of testosterone.

Some men tend to be more sensitive to the testosterone in their body and may therefore present with symptoms of oily skin.

Managing oil production is very important because chronic inflammation from recurrent pimples can damage the skin and cause premature aging.

Also, it may lead to very large pore size later in life.

So which cleanser should you use?

The best cleanser for acneic skin is the Obagi Clenziderm foaming cleanser.

This cleanser contains 2% Salicylic acid which is designed to be gentle yet effective at removing dead skin cells, dirty and oil.

The 2% Salicylic acid helps by dissolving the type of skin debris that clogs pores and help promote a cleaner and more balanced complexion.

Salicylic acid will help reduce the number of blackheads and whiteheads on your skin and may even treat cystic acne (which is a deeper acne).

This lightweight cleanser will also NOT dry your skin out!

This cleanser also comes equipped with menthol which will help soothe and cool irritated skin and existing acne blemishes.

Even better is that this cleanser will keep your pH balanced and you should see results (and notice fewer breakouts) within 1-2 weeks.

This product is also paraben-free.

AT A GLANCE

Contains 2% salicylic acid
Lightweight cleanser which won’t damage the skin
May help treat active breakouts and prevent future breakouts
Naturally unclogs pores and reduces pore size
Helps maintain natural facial oils and acid mantle

You can learn more about using Obagi CLENZIderm foaming cleanser here.

For best results you will want to use this cleanser up to twice per day (in the morning and night).

The Best Cleanser for Anti-Aging Benefits

Nowadays many men are interested in maintaining the youthful appearance of their skin!

What is more interesting is that you can prevent or slow down the aging process by putting the right ingredients on your skin and in your body.

As we age our natural cellular turnover slows down, the elastin and collagen begins to break down and this all causes fine lines and wrinkles in the skin.

This process also results in characteristic “age spots” as well.

To prevent this process it is essential to provide the skin with the proper professional grade skin care products to protect it from the process of aging.

One of the best cleansers for anti-aging is the Anthony Glycolic Facial cleanser.

It has 4.9% glycolic acid which exfoliates away dead skin cells, and increases cellular turnover to reveal healthy skin.

This cleanser also has Vitamin C and E, these are powerful antioxidants that help with skin repair.

Vitamin C helps produce collagen, slows the rate of free radical damage to collagen that can contribute to dry skin, fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin E helps protect and repair your skin and help prevent premature aging while Vitamin A works to prevent wrinkles.

It is also a great exfoliator which helps to remove dead skin cells that could clog pores.

It also speeds up cellular turnover while boosting collagen and elastins.

AT A GLANCE

One of the best anti aging cleansers
Contains 4.9% glycolic acid
Helps simultaneously cleanse and exfoliate the skin
Contains Vitamin A, E and C to nourish and protect the skin
Contains chamomile and aloe vera to sooth the skin
Paraben free

For best results you will want to use this cleanser at least every night (but every morning as well if possible).

The key to getting anti-aging results is consistency! So keep at it.

You can learn more about the Anthony Glycolic Cleanse here.

Beyond using a cleanser you will also want to use these tips to help keep your skin young, healthy and clean!

#1. Use your cleanser each and every day

The most important aspect of keeping your skin healthy is to remain consistent.

Some men tend to focus only on their skin whenever it is a problem (and this is a mistake).

Instead make sure you invest in your skin and make it a habit of using your cleanser each and every day.

#2. Put your cleanser in the shower (to help you remember)

One way to remember to use your cleanser is to put it in the shower.

Using your cleanser in the shower helps you not only remember but can make the cleansing process even easier.

Remember:

For best results you will need to have damp skin, so if you don’t use it in the shower make sure to get your face wet before application.

#3. Replace your pillowcase frequently (up to every 3 days if you suffer from acne)

For those who suffer from acne or acneic skin it’s important to replace your pillowcase frequently.

Your pillow can attract dust, dead skin cells and oil from the night before.

Each night as you sleep you may roll your face around in old oils which can adhere to your face and lead to further acne.

Halt this process with frequent pillow changing.

#4. Start young (especially if you are interested in anti-aging!)

If your main focus is on anti-aging then one of the most important things you can do is to start at an early age.

Prevention is ALWAYS easier than a cure (in fact there is no cure for wrinkles and aged skin but you can slow it down).

Slowing down the aging process is much easier than trying to reverse it – and much less expensive.

#5. Use high quality facial cleansers and facial products

The products listed in this review are all high quality and I have been using them on my male clients for a while.

If you are using a face wash make sure to spend a little bit extra to get the right high quality ingredients.

Low quality ingredients can actually damage the skin.

#6. Make sure you use the right ingredients

Likewise it’s also very important to use the right type of ingredients.

Do your best to target your facial products to your skin type and skin quality.

Use products designed to treat acne if you have acne, use products designed to reverse aging if you want anti-aging, etc.

Final Thoughts

All men should spend some time finding the best face cleanser for their body!

Using the right high quality product will help to slow down the aging process and keep the skin looking young and healthy.

Stick to high quality products with high quality ingredients whenever possible.

Now I want to hear from you:

Have you been using a facial product?

Has it worked well for you?

Why or why not?

Leave your comments below!

The topc glycolic acid face wash products

The Top Glycolic Acid Face Wash Products for Amazing Exfoliation

Glycolic acid can help naturally exfoliate your skin, leave your skin looking refreshed and trigger changes in the dermis to even make you look younger.

All of these benefits stem from the alpha hydroxy acid known as glycolic acid and you can get all of these benefits with certain washes.

Learn how to determine WHICH products are worth it and which aren’t in this glycolic acid face wash guide:

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Quick NavigationThe Best Glycolic Acid Face Wash Products #1. Overview of Jan Marini Skin Research Bioglycolic Face Cleanser Why it works:How to use it:#2. Overview of iS Clinical Cleansing Complex Why it works:How to use it:#3. Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser Why it works:How to use it:#4. Overview of Nu Derm Exfoderm & Exfoderm Forte Why it works:How to use it:#5. DDF Glycolic 5% Exfoliating Wash Why it works:How to use it:Other Tips to Consider when Buying a Glyolic Acid Face Wash #1. Watch for the concentration. #2. Does the product contain other ingredients? #3. Do you have sensitive skin? #4. Are you more interested in looking younger or anti-aging? #5. Do you suffer from acne or oil production? Back to you

Why you Want Glycolic Acid in your Face Wash

Chances are high that you have already used some form of glycolic acid in your face washes without even knowing it!

And don’t let the acid part of glycolic acid scare you, because in this sense it is extremely helpful for your skin.

Glycolic acid is part of a family of acids known as alpha hydroxy acids but which includes acids like lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid and others.

What’s important here is that these acids have extremely beneficial effects on your skin.

Studies have been done to determine the exact benefits of these acids and have shown that glycolic acid and lactic acid tend to provide the MOST benefit with the LEAST amount of harm.

What do I mean by harm?

Well, because of the special properties which these alpha hydroxy acids possess they can cause some irritation, redness or swelling in certain people.

It turns out that glycolic acid (along with lactic acid) is probably the BEST tolerated while still providing you with extreme benefits.

What kind of benefits are we talking about?

#1. For starters glycolic acid has been shown to help reduce acne scars:

Studies have shown that up to 45% of people who use glycolic acid notice an improvement in acne scars!

You can see from the graph that almost everyone (except around 7% of people) noticed some kind of benefit in their acne scars ranging from mild improvement to very good improvement.

This type of improvement is amazing when you consider that the medical community thinks a prescription drug is good if it can help even 10% of people.

What’s even more amazing is that glycolic acid can be purchased over the counter in a cleanser (but you have to make sure you get a high enough concentration) and used at home.

Another important benefit is that you can get even better results if you increase the concentration of glycolic acid and use it as a chemical peel once a week.

#2. Glycolic acid helps reduce hyperpigmentation and even skin tone.

In addition to reducing acne scars, glycolic acid has been shown to improve pigmentary lesions and reduce hyperpigmentation.

You can think of hyperpigmentation as changes to your skin color and tone that occur due to a variety of reasons including: acne, inflammation, rosacea, photodamage, etc.

Studies have shown that over 50% of people who use glycolic acid noticed “good improvement” in their skin tone!

Again, we aren’t talking about a small number here – this is a HUGE improvement.

But we aren’t done yet:

Glycolic acid also has other benefits, one of the most important is its ability to exfoliate the skin.

Start around age 30-35 we naturally lose the ability to exfoliate our skin cells.

This leads to a “dulling” of the skin unless you either mechanically or chemically remove these skin cells.

Removing the excess skin cells in the epidermis leaves your skin looking refreshed and new and is REQUIRED if you want healthy and beautiful skin.

The entire list of glycolic acid benefits include:

Naturally exfoliates the upper layers of the epidermis leaving your skin looking fresh and clean
Helps reduce oil and sebum production
Helps promote collagen production and reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Helps directly treat acne, black heads and pimples by reducing oil production
Helps treat and prevent hormonal acne (especially if caused by PCOS or testosterone/androgens)

But, in order to get these benefits you must be using the right concentration and dose of glycolic acid.

Purchasing a cheap and watered down glycolic acid will NOT lead to the desired results.

Below I will discuss the highest quality products that contain glycolic acid and other ingredients to naturally help improve your skin.

The Best Glycolic Acid Face Wash Products

You have two ways that you can use glycolic acid:

#1. Daily application with lower concentrations (in face wash, toners and other facial products)

#2. Once a week or once a month application in higher concentrations in chemical peels.

In my opinion the best way to use glycolic acid is in small concentrations more frequently (preferably every day or 3-4x per week).

Why?

Because higher concentrations like those found in chemical peels can potentially lead to peeling and irritation in certain people.

The beautiful part is that you can really do both.

You can start with a daily facial cleanser and then if you want further results you can purchase higher concentrations of glycolic acid and do a 5 minute chemical peel once a week.

But for the purposes of this article we are going to focus on the best daily facial products that exist: