How you clean your skin is just as important as the skin care ingredients you put on. Cleansing your face of the day’s makeup, sweat, and pollution can be meditative, and it’s refreshing to give yourself a fresh slate on which to apply skincare ingredients.
But despite this importance, how much thought do you really put into your cleansing routine?
Your skin heals itself at night – they don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing – so help it do its job. Here’s how to get the most out of your cleansing routine.
Double Cleansing
Once isn’t always enough. On days where you sweat or wear sunscreen (which should be every day), double cleansing is a must. Double cleansing is just what it sounds like, double the cleansing. Once with an oil cleanser, followed by a more traditional, gentle face soap.
The first oil cleanse removes makeup and breaks up your skin’s natural oils without drying out your skin. Go slow and be gentle as you massage the cleanser around your face, removing foundation and mascara. Follow with a second cleanse to remove the cleansing oil and any leftover makeup. You’re left with perfectly clean skin without damaging your skin.
Exfoliating
The feeling of smooth skin after exfoliating it is irresistible. A little self-control is good here. Exfoliating your skin isn’t good for every day, but it’s wonderful for weekly use. Use scrubs that are gentle and won’t tear your skin. Avoid scrubs made with plastic beads (bad for the environment) or scrubs with particles that can cause micro tears in your skin (like apricot or other exfoliants with rough edges). One type of exfoliant, called a gommage peel, is a good non-abrasive option. It‘s fun to use, too. As you rub the cream over your face, the peel balls up with sloughed off dead skin cells. You can literally see it working!
Cleansing Brushes and Tools
Tools like the Clarisonic or exfoliating cloths add an extra level of exfoliation and skin cleansing to your routine. Use these on days where you feel you need a boost to refresh your skin or when you want skin care ingredients to penetrate easily. While some may feel that these tools make their skin feel extra clean, not everyone’s skin can tolerate brushes and other cleansing tools. If your skin reacts with breakouts or redness, don’t force it. It just means cleansing tools aren’t right for you!
After a good cleanse, your skin is ready to absorb your serums and moisturizers. Don’t forget to apply them down your neck and chest, too.