I often hear from customers who are willing to spend money on serums, oils and moisturisers but will happily skimp on natural cleansers - their thinking being that this is the least important part of looking after our skin. But for me, cleansing really is key – it is the basis to great looking skin and here’s why.
Face wipes are often the cleanser of choice for many – after all they are quick to use and also cheap but not spending time on cleansing is a false economy. Cleansing prepares your skin for the specialist products and can be the difference between average looking skin and great looking skin.
Cleansing removes daily dirt, grime and make-up. It also helps prevent the build up of bacteria and oil and leaves your skin looking and feeling fresh and bright.
I’m not saying you need to spend a lot of money on a cleanser but do make sure you chose something that is right for your skin, that will remove daily dirt and grime and make-up. There are lots of different cleansers around – face washes, gels, balms, oils and creams – so make sure you use one that suits your skin and that you enjoy using.
Richer cleansing balms work brilliantly for dry, damaged and mature skins and they tend to last ages as a little goes a long way – the same goes for oil based cleansers. These kind of cleansers need massaging in and rinsing off with warm water and a cleansing cloth until all traces of the cleanser have been removed. This takes time but the effort is well worth the results.
If your skin is congested, oily or combination use a rinse off face wash or gel – ideally one that doesn’t foam so it won’t be too harsh and strip your skin. Avoid face washes that use harsh ingredients that will strip your skin of its natural oils. Look for mild and gentle face washes with natural fruit extracts without alcohol.
Exfoliation is also key and should be used once or twice a week on most skin types – caution should be used if your skin is sensitive, broken or you have rosacea.
A good natural exfoliator can slough off dead, dull skin and help to clear blocked pores. As we get older the rate at which our skin renews itself slows down. Exfoliating can give our skin a helping hand – sloughing off and polishing away dead, dull skin and natural fruit acids (AHAs) can speed up the renewal of healthy new skin. As a result skin can look brighter, clearer and radiant plus any serums, oils or treatment creams you use will be more effective.
So a little time spent on cleansing really is worth it – your skin will look brighter, clearer and radiant and you’ll get more value and better results from any serums, oils or treatment creams.
If you are unsure which cleanser would be best for you, please get in touch by emailing me at [email protected] or leave me a message on facebook or tweet me and I’ll happily help you.
