We are all told that we need to wash our face regularly to keep it healthy. But how do we know if we’re doing it right? Cleansing too frequently, with too harsh a cleanser and using the wrong methods, could be making skin issues worse.
We step you through the reasoning behind cleansing, which cleanser and exfoliant to choose for your skin, and how to use them to the best effect.
Why do I need to cleanse my face?
Over the course of the day, our face accumulates quite the layer of ‘stuff’. Most commonly this includes sweat, make-up, food, and bacteria from touching our face with our hands. Whilst our skin is designed to be a pretty good barrier, it’s very porous and easily affected by all this stuff. Cleansing is the best thing you can do for your skin at the end of the day, to keep it in check and issue-free.
Which cleanser should I use?
Over the years I’ve tried them all. When I was a teenager I stripped the heck out of my skin with anti-acne foaming cleansers. Then I tried soothing this damage with gel cleansers (which worked to a certain extent but never made my skin feel clean).
Then about 10 years ago I started using cream cleansers. At first it felt ‘wrong’ because I had oily skin which was prone to acne. Surely using a cream-based cleanser would only add to the oiliness and make my acne worse? How wrong I was.
After about a week of adjusting, my skin was less oily, I had less spots and it felt clean in a healthy kind of way. This is because cream cleansers are designed to attach to the excess oil, make up, sweat and grime, and remove it without upsetting the skin’s delicate oil balance. This means that your skin doesn’t have to produce extra oil to replace all the stuff you’ve just stripped off it, leading to less chance of acne and other flare-ups.
This is why when I was designing the Clémence Organics range I only made one cleanser – our Refining Cleanser. Based on camellia oil, which Japanese Geisha have been using for centuries to effortlessly remove their heavy make-up, this light cream cleanser works a treat on all skin types. Daily use helps balance skin sebum levels, reducing areas of dry and oily skin. It’s also perfect for anyone with sensitive skin, redness or common skin issues such as eczema, rosacea, dry skin and acne.
How do I use my cleanser?
The first myth I’d like to dispel is that you need to cleanse your skin twice daily. Instead, choose the time of day when your skin is at its dirtiest, most commonly the evening. When you’re not cleansing, you can simply splash your face with cool or warm water, or use a moistened face cloth.
When it does come time to wash your face properly, cream cleansers work best on dry skin. This is because the oils in the cream cleanser adhere better to the oils and grime on your skin without a layer of water in between (as you know, oil and water don’t mix).
So, if you’re after a thorough cleanse, keep the water away from your face until it’s time to remove it. If you only need a gentle cleanse, we recommend thinning it slightly with a little water on your hands.
To remove the cleanser (and all your grime), we recommend using a warm moistened cloth, preferably our Luxurious Organic Face Cloth. A face cloth helps to lift the make-up and grime, as well as any remaining oils from the cleanser. If the cleanser is not removed with a cloth, the cleanser will leave a thin film on your skin. This is okay if you have dry skin but best removed if not.
What about exfoliating?
Once your skin is cleansed of grime, now is the time to exfoliate and mask. This is because you want all of the goodness in your 2 in 1 Face Exfoliant + Mask to soak in, and the toxins in your skin to be easily drawn out, leaving a beautiful glow.
We recommend leaving it on your skin for 3-5 minutes, but the longer the better really. (I love to apply mine in the bath when I’m having a long soak, but most times it’s applied before shampoo and washed away after conditioner in the shower.)
How often should I exfoliate?
For best results, you want to use your 2 in 1 Face Exfoliant + Mask a minimum of 2 x weekly, but it can be used every second or third day to great effect.
Hope this helps to clarify any cleansing confusion you may have had. If you have any queries on your specific skin issues, please email us at sales@clemenceorganics.com and we’ll tailor a skincare regime just for you.
Sending you the best of health,
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