Cleanse without ageing
If your cleanser leaves your skin feeling tight, it may indicate that you are over-cleansing, stripping away your natural moisture barrier, and over-drying your skin. This can accelerate the aging process, despite your efforts to maintain a youthful, radiant complexion.
As skincare enthusiasts, we should be aware that the cleansers we choose play a crucial role in our skin's health and appearance. It's essential to adjust our products as our skin concerns evolve. While gel or foam-based cleansers might have been suitable for oily, acne-prone skin in our youth, mature skin benefits more from cream or oil-based cleansers. These alternatives clean gently and help retain the skin's natural moisture barrier, resulting in a supple and dewy appearance.
Types of Cleansers
Foam or Gel-Based Cleansers:
- Ideal For: Oily and acne-prone skin
- Benefits: Effectively remove excess oil and deep clean the skin, clearing impurities from the pores.
- Drawbacks: Can over-dry normal, dry, or mature skin, contributing to accelerated visible aging.
Cream-Based Cleansers:
- Ideal For: Normal, dry, and mature skin
- Benefits: Gently cleanse without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier, using a mix of waxes and oils to create a milky texture. They leave the skin feeling soft and dewy.
- Recommendations: Due to their gentle nature, complement with a face scrub twice weekly to cleanse at a deeper level.
Oil-Based Cleansers:
- Ideal For: Normal, dry, and mature skin
- Benefits: Highly hydrating, these cleansers maintain the skin's moisture barrier and enhance natural skin function without leaving an oily residue.
- Recommendations: Use alongside a face scrub twice weekly for deeper cleansing. Also best to switch between a cream and oil cleanser, e.g. AM Cream Cleanser and PM Oil Cleanser, a great moisture boost after using makeup remover!
Face Scrub:
- Purpose: To remove dead skin cells and clean deep into the pores.
- Benefits: Complements cream and oil-based cleansers by providing deeper cleansing without foam, thus avoiding drying out the skin.
- Usage: Recommended twice weekly.
To maintain a youthful, vibrant complexion, it's crucial to choose the right cleanser for your skin type. Foam and gel-based cleansers are great for oily and acne-prone skin but can over-dry other skin types. Cream and oil-based cleansers are gentler, helping retain moisture and leaving the skin dewy. Incorporating a face scrub twice a week can ensure a thorough cleanse, supporting overall skin health and radiance.
Cleansing Tips:
Over-Cleansing: Excessive cleansing can harm the skin’s natural barrier, causing it to lose moisture and become more vulnerable to irritants and pollutants. This can result in increased sensitivity and accelerated signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Double Cleansing: For those who wear makeup or sunscreen, double cleansing can be beneficial. Start with an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and impurities, followed by your normal cleanser.
Use Lukewarm Water: Hot water can strip the skin of natural oils, while cold water might not effectively remove impurities. Lukewarm water is ideal for maintaining the skin’s balance.
Be Gentle: Avoid scrubbing the skin harshly. Use gentle, circular motions to cleanse, and pat your skin dry with a soft towel.