It's common knowledge that clean skin helps to keep acne, whiteheads, blackheads, and large pores at bay. What's less commonly known is the best methods of cleansing, and how to optimise skin cleansing regimens to suit each individual skin type.

Sephora recently launched a Magic Cleansers campaign promoting their cleansers and cleansing tools, and I say it couldn't have come at a better time. The market is saturated with all kinds of skin cleansing solutions, so it's easy to become a little lost because of the sheer magnitude of options you have in front of you.

I received some options for combination skin from Sephora, and here's what I feel is the best way to cleanse your skin without stripping it of its essential moisture and balance.

1. I always, always recommend using a cleansing oil of some sort as a first step in cleansing each night. The Peter Thomas Roth 24k Gold Cleansing Butter is a great (albeit a little pricey) option, that really leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated. What's even better, this butter is mineral-oil free, so you're not going to clog your skin or cause breakouts if you're using this balm alone as your cleanser.

2. However, I will always recommend double-cleansing, and I love the estelle & thild Biocleanse for that because it's so gentle on the skin, and really cleans away any remaining dirt and makeup on the skin. This is great for acne-prone skin as it's cleans thoroughly but doesn't strip away any moisture from your skin. Some people might not like it because it doesn't lather, but lather does not equal clean, so bear that in mind when you're using this product and you'll love it.

3. I go one step further with my cleansing routine now because of the Foreo Luna 2, and I'm loving it because it really removes all impurities from the skin without being too harsh. Its silicone bristles also mean that it's very hygienic and it doesn't need replacement heads, which is a big plus, because that kind of money adds up!

In case you're not familiar with Foreo Luna, it is a cleansing brush that you use to enhance the cleansing abilities of your regular cleansers. It is waterproof and rechargeable, so you can bring it into the shower with you and simply plug it into a usb charger to recharge. It is hygienic, easy to use, and comes with an anti-ageing massage function which is great to use when you're applying serum as you can really massage it into the skin.

4. And finally, I also recommend a good micellar water cleanser for a big night out, because you've got all that extra makeup on and it helps to remove some of it (especially the eye makeup!) before starting your regular cleansing routine. The Sephora one is affordable, and what's great is that micellar helps remove everything very easily, so you're not yanking and pulling at your face when you use this. Simply place a cotton pad soaked in the cleansing water on the eyes and let it melt into the skin a little, then gently wipe as you remove the cotton pad. It's great for preserving falsies when you're removing them, too.

The Sephora Magic Cleansers campaign is still ongoing. Head into their stores or click here to find out the best cleansers and cleansing routine for you.

I always stress in my posts the importance of cleansing properly. A lot of people don't realise that cleansing helps the face so much - it loosens dead skin cells, gets rid of dirt that could clog your pores and harm your skin, and preps your skin so that it's ready to receive the goodness of the ingredients in your skincare.

In today's post, I want to share with you some of my favourite cleansers, and why I think they do a great job. Bear in mind that I always double-cleanse - which is to say I use an oil cleanser to cleanse and remove my makeup as a first step, everyday, before I move on to these cleansers.

So let's begin!

1. SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser

SK-II infused this cleanser with its award-winning Pitera, and this creamy cleanser lathers into a fine foam that helps to remove impurities from the skin, whilst keeping the skin hydrated. My skin always feels velvety and smooth after using this. This is a gentle cleanser and is suitable for most skin types, but if your skin is very sensitive and easily agitated, I suggest checking out the next cleanser in my list...

(Available at SK-II counters)

2. Simplicité Plant Gel Cleanser

This is a gorgeous-smelling, all-natural plant-based cream/gel hybrid cleanser, and one of the most gentle yet effective cleansers I've ever used. As with all Simplicité products, this is a multi-tasking, all rounder - it cleanses (of course!), promotes elasticity and revitalises the skin, reduces redness and irritation, and helps reduce sun damage. I always know I'm getting my money's worth with Simplicité because their products are jam-packed with the best ingredients for the skin. This particular cleanser is their #2 cleanser, which is best suited to oily/combination skins. If you suffer from dry skin, try their #1 cleanser instead. Click on the Simplicité label below this post to see just how much I love this brand, and my experience battling pimples with their products. Available at simplicite.com.au.

3. Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Facial Wash

Following the crazy success of their Calendula toner, Kiehl's have released a Deep Cleansing Foaming Facial Wash in their Calendula range. Though it sounds harsh, this facial wash is actually reasonably gentle on the skin. This gel based cleanser quickly lathers into a rich foam once you add a bit of water, and really cleanses your skin without the use of soap and parabens. I would highly recommend alternating this with a gentler cleanser, just so you preserve the moisture in your skin whilst still making use of the pore-cleansing properties of this facial wash. Available at Kiehl's counters.

Clean skin is vital to your skin's health. We've all read the magazines and watched the makeup shows and vlogs telling us never to go to bed without removing makeup. Well, what they don't tell you is that you not only need to remove your makeup, you need to remove your makeup well. That way, your skincare is able to absorb into your skin, and your pores aren't blocked out by leftover makeup.

One surefire way to clean your skin effectively is by double-cleansing. You do this by first removing your makeup with a cleansing oil, and then cleansing your face once again with a cleanser (preferably a cream based cleanser - like the Simplicité Plant Gel Cleanser, a hybrid gel/cream cleanser).

So...cleansing oils.

They've been around a while now, and most people already know what cleansing oils are thanks to the famous Shu Uemura cleansing oils. If you haven't heard of cleansing oils, they are oils (duh!) that you use to cleanse your skin and remove your makeup and sunscreen. They are extremely effective but gentle on the skin, and they remove even the most difficult of waterproof makeup. Cleansing oils can be used on all skin types.

How to Use Cleansing Oil

While a lot of people know about cleansing oils, not everyone knows how to use them correctly, so please read this because it might change the way you use cleansing oils, and more importantly, what cleansing oils can do for you!

1. Make sure your skin is dry. With most oils, you'll need to have completely dry skin in order for them to work properly.

2. Massage the oil into your skin. If you are removing makeup as well, you can massage the oil directly on top of your eyes and lashes, to remove any eye makeup and mascara.

3. Now here's the important part. Wet just your hands, then massage your skin. You will feel the oil on your face thin at first, and then thicken again. This means the oil is emulsifying - and this emulsification process is very important if you want to clean your skin properly! I know most people just rinse the oil off at this point - I've done it before myself - but you need to make sure that the oil emulsifies so your skin gets cleaned well.

4. Repeat step 3 at least twice.

5. Rinse everything off with water.

6. Follow with a cleanser. This step is more important than you think, because some cleansing oils contain mineral oil. Mineral oil can clog pores, so it's important to follow with a cleanser to completely remove all traces of your cleansing oil before moving on to your skincare.

Best Cleansing Oils

Here are some cleansing oils I personally loved! All pictured above:

1. Innisfree Olive Real Cleansing Oil - This is a Korean, olive oil based cleansing oil that is smooth, effective, and natural. It is also affordable, which is great, because there aren't a lot of cleansing oils out there that are both affordable and effective at the same time.

2. Senka Perfect Oil - Another affordable cleansing oil, hallelujah! Senka's cleansing oil is one of the most effective cleansing oils I've tried - it is not as thick as the other oils, but removes makeup like a dream.

3. DHC Cleansing Oil - I used this cleansing oil for a really, really long time and absolutely loved it! It's olive oil-based, like the Innisfree oil, and cleans the skin quite well too. I like that it's gentle on the skin, and even if I get some in my eye, it doesn't get irritated at all.

4. Shu Uemura Porefinist Skin Purifier Cleansing Oil - this one is my most recent discovery, and a new favourite. I like it because on top of being just a cleansing oil, this one also cleans pores well (hence its name). It is formulated in such a way that the oil is able to get into your pores and clean them better than other oils, and I am actually witnessing a significant improvement in my skin.

Now that you know the ins and outs of using a cleansing oil, get on it! It will do absolute wonders for your skin :)