Say No to Dry Skin!

By Cheryl Lohman

THE COLD WEATHER WE’VE BEEN HAVING DRIES OUT OUR SKIN MORE THAN NORMAL. IN THIS ISSUE, I’LL SHARE ONE WAY PEOPLE MAY BE CAUSING THEIR SKIN TO BE EVEN DRIER WITHOUT KNOWING WHY.

Many people use soap to clean their face. It can be a skin care mistake that you may regret for a long time. Today’s skin scientists have designed skin care products all according to your skin type. The proper cleanser will cleanse, tone and moisturize – rarely do bar soaps or liquid soaps provide any of these necessary steps.

Why is soap NOT a good idea to use on our face you ask? Here are a few reasons why:

Soap is Alkaline-Based and Our Skin is Acidic

When the pH scale shows 7, it is neutral. Anything below that is acidic and above it is alkaline. Our skin’s natural barrier is an acid mantle with a pH balance generally between 4 and 6.5, even when the skin is very oily. Soap, on the other hand, is extremely alkaline. So, if you use soap on your skin, it ruins the pH balance and the acid mantle, which makes your skin conditions worse. Thus it’s best to avoid using bar soap on your face since you need that balanced alkaline or pH level. Use a liquid or cream-based cleanser according to your skin type.

Soap Makes your Skin Dry

Even if you have oily skin, you shouldn’t use soap on your face because bar soap strips needed, natural oils from your face and makes it tight and dry. Good oils in your facial skin help it resist wrinkling and stops dryness. Washing with bar soap is like washing your face with dishwasher liquid or a detergent. If your skin is oily, you should use a face wash that is for oily skin that will wash off oils and dirt but will keep the natural oils and maintain the skin’s pH balance. When you use a bar soap, your skin will produce more oils to replace the ones you’ve washed away.

Soap Damages Skin

Washing your face with soap can leave it looking older than it is. There are many newer variations of face washes out there to suit any face type, but bar or liquid soap remains the same and the harsh chemicals in the soap are fine on the rest of your body but not on the delicate skin of your face. Use gentle cleansers that are specifically adapted to your skin.

After cleansing, use a hydrating moisturizer.

Creamy moisturizers will have more emollients for aging and dry skin. The liquid moisturizers are better suited for younger skin.

If you don’t know how to select the right skin care, contacting an Esthetician who is trained in skin care can help you determine your skin type and the proper ingredients your skin needs.