Proper cleansing is the absolute foundation of great skin. Here’s how to own this first step in your skincare regime and give your skin the best start possible…
Of course, moisturiser and sunscreen are vital for healthy, younger-looking skin, but if you start off your regime with poor cleansing, no amount of face cream will give you the gorgeous glow you deserve.
Cleansing (and we include exfoliation in that, of course) is literally the only way to remove dirt, pollution, oil, sweat and make-up from the surface of your skin. This makes it essential for stopping all these nasties from blocking your pores and causing unnecessary issues like breakouts, irritation, dehydration and excess oiliness.
It’s also vital for preparing your skin for the rest of your skincare regime, giving you the perfect foundation for the absorption of active ingredients in your serum, moisturiser and facial oil.
But you know all that.
However, did you realise that cleansing can have its downsides if you don’t do it with the utmost of care? No? Then here are the most important dos and don’ts for nailing your cleansing game.
DO Choose Gentle Formulations
If you over-cleanse your skin with harsh formulas that contain chemicals like sulphates (especially sodium lauryl sulphate), parabens and bad alcohols, you’ll strip away all your natural oils. These oils make up your skin’s barrier function which is crucial for locking moisture into your skin to keep it soft and hydrated.
Not only that, but your skin’s barrier also plays an essential role in keeping environmental aggressors out to avoid irritation and free radical damage.
The good news is Crystal Cleanser is free from stripping ingredients, but gently cleanses your skin using coconut, avocado and sunflower oils which do the complete opposite and actually help strengthen and nourish your barrier function. Win-win!
Remember, if your skin feels squeaky clean and tight after cleansing, your product is way too harsh.
DO Wash Your Hands First
Always wash your hands before cleansing your face. This may seem dramatic but it’s important not to transfer grime and bacteria from your mitts straight to your face and eyes. Gross.
DON’T Wash With Extremely Hot Water
Cleansing your face with hot water is terrible for your skin. It strips it of essential oils and damages the keratin cells in your epidermis, causing dryness, itching, redness and irritation. If that wasn’t enough of a deterrent, hot water can also worsen conditions like eczema and rosacea. Stick with lukewarm water. End of.
DO Take Your Time
A swift cleanse before bed is all well and good, but for the ultimate treatment spend two or three minutes massaging cleanser into your skin. This is the best way to ensure you get rid of make-up and pollution that’s built up through the day.
When you massage, use the pads of your fingers and be firm, but not too vigorous to boost circulation and help lymphatic drainage. And if you want an extra burst of radiance, cleanse and exfoliate at the same time using our gorgeous Natural Luminosity Scrub.
Again, take your time to massage it thoroughly all over your face and neck, then rinse well and gently pat dry with a clean towel. A communal hand towel that’s been knocking around in the bathroom for the past week? Unacceptable for the precious skin on your face.
DON’T Use Facial Cleansing Wipes
Cleansing wipes might be convenient and yes, they’re OK once in a while when you’re travelling, tired or a tad tipsy, but don’t think they’re an effective way to clean your skin. Au contraire...
Face wipes just move dirt around on your skin, plus they frequently contain alcohol, harsh fragrance and nasty preservatives that get left on your face along with everything else that’s not been removed properly. This can spell disaster for your complexion, blocking pores and causing irritation.
Furthermore, most wipes are even worse for the environment than they are on your skin. Often made of plastic and synthetic fibres like polyester or rayon, they’re totally non-biodegradable and sit in landfills for years. So avoid where possible
DO Be Extra Gentle Around Your Eyes
The skin around your eyes is thinner than anywhere else on your face – and in fact, your whole body – which means you need to be extra careful when cleansing the eye area.
If you regularly wear eye make-up, remove it with an oil-based remover first, then cleanse your skin as normal, working extra gently as you circle the eye area with the pads of your fingers. This will avoid you scrubbing at your mascara as you wash your face, simultaneously reducing damage to this delicate skin and reducing your chances of prematurely developing fine lines and wrinkles.
So there you have it. Everything you need to know to cleanse your skin like a pro! Because prepping your skin to soak up the rest of your regime really is the most important step of all.