Cleansing is the most important skincare step but it is easy to overlook the value of it. It is one of the most important parts of a daily skin routine that you can do.
It is no good slathering yourself with the latest cream designed to produce a glowing complexion if you skin is not clean. When we mention clean we mean that the pores aren’t clear and clean.
Some of our daily products such as sunscreen will cling on your skin unless your use a cleanser. Your daily cleansing routine should be more that just washing off the day’s grime. It should include a massage of you face with warm water to help stimulate the circulation and bring new oxygen to our face.
Cleansing your skin twice a day is great for it.
One of the two main types on oil on your skin is sebum –it comes from the oil glands inside your hair follicles. As it water proofs your skin it also traps bacteria, dust and pollution. The other type of oil on your skin is ceramides – by using an exfoliate you can dissolve this oil and this lets the dead cells fall off and new cells are allowed to come through.
There are 2 ways to wash away these fats and oils – one is with a detergent added (or surfactants) – the cleanser containing detergents feels like it washes away the oil. It is OK to have a little detergent but if your skin feels tight afterwards that is way too much for you.
If you find the cleanser you are using has these high on their list maybe it’s time you found a milder product.As you do in the supermarket for food you can also read the ingredient list on your cleanser.
Detergents (that can cause problems) commonly used include:
- Sodium laurel sulphate
- PEGS
- Coco amidopropyl betaine
The other alternative is to find a completely natural option. You can make good skin cleansers from natural products. For example, products that contain vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, and water, combine with sebum and allow it to be dissolved and rinsed away. At the same time, water dissolves dirt.Effective skin cleansers can contain a number of different vegetable oils, including coconut, sesame, or palm oils. These are safe and effective cleansers and have a relatively low pH.
A good cleanser should never leave your skin feeling stripped of oils, dry, flaky or tingling – if it does stop using it NOW.
Harsh products and over-washing only make oil problems worse.
There is no need to cleanse your skin more than twice a say. If your skin feels sweaty or dirty at other time simply wash over with warm water.
Cleansing your face
1. Moisten your face with warm (not hot) water and a cleanser for your skin type.
2. Use your fingertips and massage the lather into your face and throat.
3. Rinse thoroughly (making sure all the cleanser is gone) with a washcloth or with splashes of water.
4. Take three times as much time for rinsing as compared to what you took for lathering.
5. The important thing is that you remove all of the cleanser so any caustic it may contain won't burn your face.
6. Do a final rinse with cool (not cold) water to close pores.
7. Blot your face dry with a soft towel; vigorous rubbing with coarse material aggravates and tugs at your skin and it can spread bacteria.
8. Allow to air dry for a few minutes and then moisturize your face with a moisturizer for your skin type.
