Quite often, it’s easy for us to complicate things in our lives. Our skin care seems to be one of those things that we over-think and then overlook and eventually, it all ends up getting put on the back-burner. To make things easy, we’re getting back to the basics of skin care. The what’s, why’s and how’s of your basic routine, starting with cleansers! We’ve also created related articles on choosing a cleanser, explaining moisturisers and understanding your gut health.
Cleansers
What is a cleanser?
A cleanser is a skin care product that is used to remove daily make-up, dirt, oil, dead skin cells and other types of pollutants that have accumulated on the skin throughout the day. Remember that the skin is an excretory organ; it expels toxins from the body.
Usually cleansers come in the form of either gel, oil or cream-based. Ideally, a cleanser should be pH balanced. This means that it helps to maintain the natural pH of the epidermis. Our skin is naturally acidic in pH, which prevents the overgrowth of bacteria and protects the skin from harmful pathogens. Using a cleanser that is not pH balanced strips the skin, leaving it open to trans-epidermal water loss (dehydration) and potential overgrowth of harmful pathogens.
Why use a cleanser?
As stated above, a cleanser is used to remove surface debris and toxins that have accumulated throughout the day, however, it is also a crucial step for allowing other products to penetrate further into the skin so that they can do their job. The right cleanser for you will initiate cellular healing, assisting in the hydration of your skin.
How should you cleanse your skin?
Seems like a no-brainer really, but when you think about it, how long do you really spend cleansing you skin? 10-15 seconds max? Are you really getting the full benefit of all those ingredients in your cleanser? Here are the steps we recommend for cleansing your skin:
- Use 1 pump of your cleanser (no need to be heavy-handed)
- Mix with warm water in between your hands. Avoid long, hot showers as this will lead to moisture loss in the skin.
- If you have a gel cleanser, it should foam up
- Massage cleanser into your skin for 1-2 minutes; shorter for dryer skins
- Make sure you cleanse between the creases of your nose, your chin and down the sides of your face (next to your ears)
- If you’re removing makeup, double cleanse or use a milder cleanser, such as a Aspect Cleansing Micellar Water, for your first cleanse
Whether you cleanse once or twice a day is up to you, or rather your skin. If your skin is on the dry side or is sensitive, you may only need to do it once – at night. Your skin needs to breathe at night, to restore itself and allow the penetration of your serums and creams, so choose the evening for your once-a-day cleanse.
Cleanser Recommendations By Skin Type
Keep in mind that your skin changes according to seasons, how dehydrated your body is and how stressed you are. Sometimes it’s wise to have two cleansers – a gentler one and one for more oily skin. When you travel it is best to take a gentler one. All skins can tolerate makeup removal with the Aspect Cleansing Micellar Water.
For dry, mature skin:
For sensitive/reactive skin:
- Aspect Dr Mild Clean
- Osmosis MD Cleanse
- Osmosis MD Purify – if your skin feels greasy/oily or your have breakouts occasionally
For oily, congested, acne skin:
For normal/combination skin:
- Osmosis MD Purify
- Aspect Dr Deep Clean Facial Cleanser
- Organic Nation Citrus Foaming Milk Cleanser
- MDRejuvena Daily Cleanser
Lastly, if you feel you need a little more exfoliation and stimulation, adding a nourishing enzyme mask to your routine 1-2 times per week is definitely the way to go. These tend to work differently because your skin is already clean, they contain a % of active ingredients and you leave it on your skin for longer.
Honestly, where would we be without our weekly mask!
If you’d like personalised advice on what skincare products are best for you, book now for your consultation with a skin advisor consultant:
Book Your In-Clinic Consultation.
Still not sure?
Fill in the Online Skin Consultation and Gaye, our registered nurse will happily help you to choose the right treatments and products for your skin type or concern.
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