Cleansing. It should be a simple thing, but somehow its gotten confusing.
Being in the skincare industry I have heard it all on this topic, from using baby wipes to petroleum jelly, to not cleansing at all, and everything in between. Why is it so complicated?
As women age, it seems to be an even more neglected step. We’re going to change that!
Let’s keep it simple and talk about why this step is foundational in healthy, vibrant skin and yes younger looking skin.
Every day our skin is exposed to pollution, toxins, our own natural oils, and a list of ingredients from additional products and makeup that is sitting on our skin. All day. Leaving all this on the skin without cleansing in the evening can result in,
- clogged pores, breakouts, cysts
- milia, whiteheads
- dull skin
- build up of dead skin cells
- compromised rejuvenation of the skin
- aging skin
“That old Esthetic saying “For every night you don’t cleanse, your skin will pay for it for 7 days.”
It’s true! So let’s get cleansing!
Morning. A gentle cleanse is fine. Our skin is an excretory organ, so there is metabolic waste that is happening during the night. Let’s make sure we’re doing a quick cleanse in the morning so our skin is fresh and clean.
Evening. I always recommend removing eye make-up first. A damp cotton round with organic jojoba oil works great. Gently swipe downward using both sides of the pad, will remove all makeup thoroughly and gently. There are other nice eye make-up removers at the stores. Check those out when you get a chance.
Clients will ask why they have all those little white bumps around the eye area. After talking to them further, it usually comes down to a couple of things. Not cleansing this area thoroughly enough or using something comedogenic (clogging). Baby oil is a big one. The mineral oil creates milia ( those little white bumps under the skin ), and those can be difficult to remove under the delicate eye area. Choosing something that is gentle but thorough with good ingredients for the eye area is the best route to go.
Next, choose an appropriate cleanser. This is important. I have seen many clients who have a little shine on their nose using an acne, or oily face cleanser, and resulting in a lot of skin issues because of a wrong cleanser. We will talk more in depth about this in future posts so check back.
I like to use a gentle facial sponge for cleansing. It gives a deeper but gentle cleanse, and you get a mild exfoliation at the same time. Some clients like a washcloth. That’s fine also. Clients always ask about cleansing with a facial brush like the Clarisonic. I don’t recommend they be used daily because it is too much exfoliation for the skin and can disrupt the acid mantle protective barrier of the skin. Even oilier skins need to be careful because it can overstimulate the skin. A couple of times a week is usually enough.
I always recommend cleansing twice. The first cleanse is for the initial make-up breakdown if you have make-up on, and the 2nd cleanse is the actual cleansing. Some women like the make-up remover cloths you can buy at stores like Target. They can be really good for a quick make-up removal. Just make sure your using ones that have good ingredients, and not chemical laden ones. If you can only cleanse once sometimes, that’s ok. Its all about getting into a routine.
Rinse and rinse again, and pat dry with a towel. You’re done, and it only took a couple of minutes!
A cleansed face feels great and now you are ready for some targeted skincare to bring health back to the skin and create some wonderful change!
Until next time,
~pat
