Skin Care Breakdown | Intro to Cleanser's

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Skin care Breakdown

Welcome to my skincare Breakdown Series. The aim of this series is simply put to breakdown the different components of an extended skincare routine. What comprises an extended skincare routine?

  • Cleansing
  • Chemical exfoliant
  • Toners
  • Serums
  • Ampoules
  • Creams
  • Sheet Masks
  • Assorted treatments

 

I subscribe to a skincare routine that is largely based off of a combination of Japanese and Korean beauty regiments.

First up on our list is Cleansing.

Cleansing also aids circulation and prepares the skin to receive the toners, serums and creams that follow.

Let’s go back to basics, what does cleansing your skin really mean and what does it entail. Is there a proper way to cleanse your skin, do you need special tools? 

Cleansing is arguably the most important part of your basic skincare routine. Proper cleansing gets rid of old surface skin cells, environmental pollution, and make-up and unclogs pores allowing your skin to breathe freely. 

According to Dr. Ellen Marmur, a dermatologist and author of the book Simple Skin Beauty, cleansers work by a process called "micellation," which breaks down big substances (such as oil or dirt) into smaller ones using a chemical reaction, so they can rinse off the skin easily. A fatty-acid ingredient attaches to the oils on the skin and dissolves them, while an alkaline element makes it possible to rinse it all off the skin. When cleansing you want to be careful that you don’t use a product that is too harsh as it will disturb the skin’s natural moisture barrier (simply put this barrier is responsible for keeping moisture in and bad bacteria out)

There are many types of cleansers that one can use, I personally prefer a cleanser with a low PH, as they don’t leave my skin feeling stripped and tight. It’s not recommended that you usebar soap to cleanse your face as this can be too harsh for your face and leave you with a compromised moisture barrier, if however you have been using a bar cleanser and feel that it has not harmed your skin then my all means continue to use it. 

To cleanse your skin properly you must first start with a cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. A person with oily skin has different needs than a person with dry skin. You want to use warm water and gently massage your cleanser into your skin, don’t tug and pull strongly on your skin, no special tools are needed but if you want you can use a soft cotton face cloth (make sure to change this cloth daily to avoid bacterial contamination)

Double cleansing, you may or may not have heard the term double cleansing before. It’s just as the name says you are cleansing your face twice or double. This technique is taken from Japanese skin care practises. If you practise this method you want to make sure that your facial cleanser isn’t too harsh for your face. Generally the first cleanse is done with an oil based cleanser or balm, this is gently spread all over the face paying special attention to the eye area if mascara and liner have been worn. After this is rinsed from the skin a second gentle cleansing foam is used to excess sebum, dirt from the skin and any makeup residue. Using two different types of cleansers minimizes the risk of drying out your skin. If you wear sunscreen doubling cleansing is also a great way to ensure that all of it is removed from your skin.

Now I personally wash my face in the evening and in the morning. For some people the morning wash may be too much, but I find that my skin is oily in the morning and rinsing with just water doesn’t cut it. I do use a gentle gel cleanser, as I’m just removing oils and any product from my evening routine I don’t need anything too strong.

For my own routine I have 4 different cleansers that I use depending on the situation.

First up is my cleansing Balm. I use this in the evening when I have a full face of makeup on, and I want to make sure that I get every little bit removed. Cleansing balms are also great for when you are wearing sunscreen, I then follow this with my foam cleanser, and this helps to remove anything that I might have missed the first go around.

If I’m wearing little to no makeup then I use my SUM:37 Miracle Rose Cleansing stick, this is gentle enough to be used both as a first cleanse and a second cleanse, it removes everything without leaving my skin feeling tight and uncomfortable. 

In the morning I use my Innisfree Jeju gel cleanser. This cleanser doesn’t foam up at all and is best used on dry skin, it’s what called a ‘Pool’ cleanser in Korean skincare. Again this is a gently no fuss cleanser that I use daily.

Please note that I have oily skin, so my cleansing routine maybe too much for your skin if it is dry or sensitive. You have to figure out what works the best for you. If you are having trouble figure out how to set up your own skincare routine please check out this post I did