Jacine Greenwood

Article JACINE GREENWOOD

When you think of that one product that has the difference to totally transform your skin, it isn’t a cleanser that we think of and yet this one product can make or break your skin care progress. What is not commonly known is that your cleanser can remain in your skin long after you have rinsed it off.

Often the thought process is, ”Why invest money into a product that doesn’t remain on my skin for long.” Many consumers buy the cheapest cleanser possible, and instead choose to invest in a serum or cream, believing that they will achieve better results. Incorrect cleansing and the wrong cleanser can lead to dryness, dehydration and breakouts.

WHY CLEANSING YOUR SKIN IS SO IMPORTANT

Our skin is exposed to many aggressors on a daily basis including sweat, pollution and cosmetics. Daily cleansing with a gentle cleanser removes dirt, excess oil, pollution and unwanted skin cells from your face. Excess sebum, if it remains on the skin, can oxidise and mix with dead skin cells causing enlarged pores and can block the skin follicles. This leads to an increase in breakouts occurring.

The skin should be washed twice a day (in the morning and evening), due to the changes that occur overnight with skin repair and regeneration. Impurities that remain on the skin can prevent the skin from repairing properly and can generate free radicals which age the skin.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CLEANSER FOR YOUR SKIN

The temptation of having a squeaky-clean feeling is actually damaging to the skin. Harsh cleansers that leave the skin super clean can disturb the barrier function of the skin, disrupting the acid mantle, stripping away your skin’s good oils and triggering the skin to increase oil production. The skin doesn’t have the time to repair itself from these adverse irritating and unbalancing reactions between cleansing.

The most effective cleanser should be rich in Omega 3 oils which are strongly anti-inflammatory and skin soothing. They have the ability to restore the skin barrier and reduce the dryness that can be associated with menopause. Good sources of Omega 3 oils are kiwi seed oil and raspberry seed oil.

Foaming cleansers should not be used on older skins or those with inflamed skin conditions. The best cleansers for skins that are dry or sensitive are oil based and milk cleansers. Oil based cleansers are perfect for dryer skins as there is no pH due to no water being present.

BENEFITS OF THE CORRECT CLEANSER

The correct cleanser prevents dehydration and increases the elasticity of the skin. The correct ingredients should reduce redness and inflammation in the skin. Cleansers should assist to unclog pores and refine the appearance of them. Ideally, they should provide a balance of skin benefits including evening out skin tone. You should be able to see the difference in your skin when using a cleanser. If you can’t notice any difference in the appearance of the skin, then the chances are your cleanser is not effectively doing its job.

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