The Golden Rules of Cleansing

Cleansing is an essential step in your skin care routine, and although it may seem like the simplest of them all, there’s room for error. We share some dos and don’ts to keep your skin looking its best.

DO CLEANSE BOTH MORNING AND EVENING
Overnight your skin gets to work repairing itself, and while it does so, it produces sebum that accumulates on your skin. Removing these oils, dead skin cells and debris in the morning will keep skin clean and prepare it for your serum and moisturising products. In the evening, it’s important to remove all of the makeup, dirt and oils that gather on your skin during the day; this will prevent breakouts and the formation of fine lines, loss of elasticity and age spots – trust us, it’s worth it.

DON’T WASH YOUR FACE WITH A BAR OR HAND SOAP
A bar of soap has a naturally high pH balance, making it too strong to use on the skin on your face. Soap that’s designed to clean your hands is likely to strip your face of it’s natural oils, drying it out and leaving you with a tight, unpleasant feeling. Don’t do it.

DO CHOOSE A CLEANSER THAT TARGETS YOUR SKIN CONCERNS
You should select your cleanser based on your skin type and concerns – there simply isn’t one cure-all product that suits everyone. A cleansing milk has a rich, creamy texture and does not foam, which is why it’s particularly good for dry or mature skin. Meanwhile a gel cleanser will purify and give skin a soft, matte finish – it’s ideal for normal or oilier skin.

DON’T USE A CLEANSER THAT LEAVES YOUR SKIN FEELING TIGHT OR DRY
If your skin feels overly dry or taut after washing, it’s probably because your cleanser is stripping it of it natural oils. People with oily skin tend to seek out this sensation, but pulling water out of the skin actually leads to more oil being produced and greasier skin in the long run.

DO ENHANCE YOUR CLEANSING ROUTINE WITH A CLEANSING DEVICE
A cleansing brush is an effective (and efficient) way to cleanse and exfoliate the skin. You simply apply some cleanser on to the brush head and then massage it into your skin for a minute. This delivers product deeper into the skin to remove dirt, makeup, dead skin cells and deep-seated impurities from your pores. It also has the added benefit of stimulating blood circulation for an extra-glow!

DON’T ASSUME THAT THE MOST EXPENSIVE CLEANSER IS THE HIGHEST PERFORMING-ONE
In beauty, price tags can vary - a lot! Some products require a lot of research, clinical testing and expensive ingredients that justify what you pay for them – others don’t. Start with your skin type and concerns and pick your product based on this.

DO FOLLOW WITH TONING
The second step in your cleansing routine should be a toner – a product that’s normally applied with a cotton pad. A toner is designed to remove any impurities that might have been missed whilst washing your face with your cleanser – it also minimises the appearance of pores, balances the skin’s pH levels and prepares it for the products that follow.

DON’T USE PIPING HOT WATER
Hot water might feel relaxing but it’s incredibly drying – always wash your face with lukewarm water to avoid flaky skin.



Words by: Photographs by: Kristine Wreyford, Fotolia