Cleansing creams usually contain some emollient oil, some colouring and perfume and water. Some cleansers, however, do not contain water. The oilier the cream, the more effective it will be in removing heavy make-up. This is why theatrical cleansers are usually thick and oily. Those cleansers that contain a lot of water are referred to as 'milks and are an oil in water emulsion. Milks are particularly suitable for quick cleansing.

If you have a greasy skin, use a nongreasy make-up that contains mostly water, pigments and an emulsifying agent. A watery cleansing milk is best for removing such make-up. For normal skins, a cleansing milk should be used for a quick clean-up during the day. A cream cleanser can be used last thing at night for a more penetrating and efficient job.

Manufacturers claim that cleansers are more thorough cleaning agents than soap as well as less drying. Even if you do not wear make-up, diesel fumes, dirt and air pollution will do their worst by leaving a layer of oily dirt on the surface of your skin.

Why use cleansers? After all, soap cleanses the skin. Soap is not as effective, however, as a cream cleanser for removing make-up. This is because the oil in a cream cleanser dissolves the greasy components present in make-up. It also contains an emulsifying agent which makes the grease easier to remove.

Cleansers usually contain liquid paraffin-white oil or mineral oil-as a chief ingredient. This is specially refined for make-up and is not as thick as that used in medicines.

The emulsifier used in most make-up is glycerol mono-stearate. This is a 'surface active' soap-like substance similar to detergent. Extract of egg yolk is sometimes used as an emulsifier.

There are between eight and ten ingredients in an average cleansing cream. These are basically the same whatever the name on the jar might be. All cleansing creams contain preservatives because any cream can lie on a shelf for many months before being sold and can then be in use for several months. While in use, it is contaminated by air and fingers.