Want a clean skin? Just follow a simple 4 rules

Want a clean skin? Just follow a simple 4 rules

Clean skin is critical for clear skin. It’s the very first step in your daily skin care regimen. Here are four rules about cleansing that will help you look fresh every day.

The truth about cleansing your skin

1.  Clean skin is not gender based

Yes gentlemen, that means you need to cleanse too.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from you guys, “But Jacquie, I don’t wear makeup and, when I look in the mirror, my skin looks perfectly clean”.  Sorry guys, just because you don’t wear makeup doesn’t mean your skin isn’t covered with bacteria and skin impurities.  Think about what we are exposed to on a daily basis – pollution, smog, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, aerosol sprays… and that’s just the beginning.  Just because you can’t see the dirt and grime at the end of the day, doesn’t mean it’s not there.  It needs to be washed off!

2. Night cleansing is imperative for healthy skin

Believe me, I am the first to admit that there are nights when I am just too tired at the thought of removing my makeup, and cleansing my skin seems like a monumental task.  But ladies, even if you have to crawl to your sink half-asleep to cleanse that makeup off – do it! Sleeping in your makeup can clog your pores and that can result in breakouts.  Unwashed skin can become a breeding ground for bacteria  and it will leave your skin looking dull.

3. Just because you cleansed your face the night before doesn’t mean you don’t need a morning wash too

It’s important to note that just because you go to bed with a freshly cleansed face that doesn’t mean you can skip the cleansing in the morning!  We need to remove any nighttime products we may have applied including night cream and eye cream.  Most importantly, our body, including the skin, works to repair itself when we’re sleeping.  During this time, the skin may secrete oils and other impurities that must be removed in the morning as they may prevent our daytime skin care products from working properly.

4. Find the right cleanser for your skin type

Most cleansers pretty much provide the same benefits to the skin: they remove dirt, oil, bacteria and makeup.  Cleansers can be formulated to target different skin concerns such as dry or oily skin and can come in an array of scents and textures.  If you have oily skin it is most common to use a ‘gel’ cleanser.  And, dry skin usually needs a ‘lotion’ style cleanser.

A good cleanser will target dryness by providing light moisture or will help remove excess oils by targeting sebum production.  (“Sebum” is just a fancy word that means oil.)

A good cleanser will never compromise your skin’s moisture barrier, or increase oil production.  So, no matter how tempting, don’t just grab a random cleanser off the shelf. Do some research, trial and error, and find what works best for your skin type.

Be good to your skin and your skin is more likely to be good to you!