Skin Cleansing Everything You Should Know

Well, this is no-brainer, if you want healthy and radiant skin you need to do a proper face wash. Regular skin cleansing can make difference in your appearance by preparing your skin for skincare regimen and allowing it do it‘s job.

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Why Is Skin Cleansing Important?

If this first step of all skincare routines is not done properly, dirt and pollution accumulate at the surface of your skin and could potentially contribute to breakouts, dehydration, and aging.

If you are reading this text then probably you have some kind of skin problems. To start solving those you have to reap the benefits of skin cleansing and those include:

Maintaining clear skin
To help protect itself from environmental damage, the skin produces sebum, which without being cleansed off can mix with any pollution and environmental toxins on your skin. This can lead to inflammation, acne, and aging.

Boosting hydration
If done properly skin cleansing is enabling sufficient water and product retention, for proper skin hydration.
I had all of these skin problems. For some time I used serums, moisturizers, toners, and oils but there were no results I wanted. Then I realized that my first step is not complete, that I did not wash my face properly.

So I decided to share my experience with skin cleansing because I noticed that many people repeat the same mistake.

If you are like me two years ago and looking for a solution for these skin conditions, you have to do a proper first step of your skincare routine. Skin cleansing is simple but it takes some time and dedication. It includes using cleansers and exfoliators.

How do you use cleanser while skin cleansing ? (double cleanse)

This is usually recommended if you are wearing a full face of makeup but I find it helpful even if that is not the case. There are two types of cleansers: oil and water-based.

Oil-based one should be your first step in a skincare routine and it is great for removing makeup and sunscreen. And the second round of skin cleansing (water-based) will reach deep into pores and remove everything that the first round may have left behind. But it is very important to keep in mind that even if it is beneficial it can create problems if we are overdoing it. So do not overwash.

Also, it is very important to choose the right type of cleanser for your skin. If your skin feels itchy and tight after cleansing that means that you are stripping away natural oils from your skin and that will create more problems.

Cleansers For All Skin Types While Skin Cleansing

When I started my skincare journey I did not know my skin type so I used cleansers for all skin types and I would recommend that to someone in the same situation.

I experimented a lot and listed below some of them that I found most helpful. They did not leave my skin dry and did what they claimed they would do.

MARA - Natural Chia + Moringa Algae Enzyme Cleansing Oil

Tacha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

TROIAREUKE PIT Cleansing Milk

SEOUL In & Out Cleanser

Youth To The People Kale + Green Tea Superfood Face Cleanser

FOREO Luna For Skin Cleansing

For a deeper cleansing and smooth skin I use FOREO Luna 3. My skin feels much cleaner but not ¨too clean“. I use it four times a week to avoid any stripping. After removing my makeup with Tacha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, I go to the next step of double cleanse, but instead of using my hands (to assure a deep clean without being too harsh ) I use this smart device with my second step cleanser ( SEOUL In & Out Cleanser ). For clean skin and a barrier in great condition, I recommend this combination. I know it is recommended to skip unnecessary tools because of bacteria build up, but fortunately, that is not the case with this device. Its bristles are non–porous, so they are resistant to bacterial accumulation. This device is a little bit pricey but it is definitely an investment. Here is the LINK for those of you who are skincare enthusiasts like me.

Regarding bacterial build up I recommend not using a towel. This is very important because towels offer the perfect environment for bacteria and other microorganisms to grow because they’re often damp, warm, and absorbent, and they hang in dark bathrooms.

Should You Exfoliate Before Skin Cleansing

You should not exfoliate before cleansing because exfoliating after using a cleanser on the skin will usually give better results.

But what is exfoliation exactly?

Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using a chemical, granular substance, or exfoliation tool.

Out of these three exfoliating options I recommend chemical exfoliating.

Chemical exfoliators are acids that get rid of dead skin and they come in various forms, but in my opinion best chemical exfoliants for gentle chemical exfoliation, unclogging the pores, brightening the skin, and helping with inflammatory conditions like acne and rosacea are Alpha-hydroxy acids or AHAs,

How To Exfoliate The Face Properly?

You should be careful with exfoliants. It is easy to overdo it because people get hooked on the feeling of smooth and soft skin they leave afterward.

For me, it is enough to use it once a week or sometimes once in two weeks, but if you have more oily skin you can use it twice a week. To be honest I did not experiment with exfoliators. Somehow I find ones that alleviated my hyperpigmentation and fine lines at first try. Those are:

Goldfaden MD Fresh A Peel

CANE + AUSTIN Miracle Pad

Face Steaming Comes After The Skin Cleansing

After using your cleanser for unclogging pores you should try face steaming. It is a great way to help your skin even more. When your skin is looking a little dull and could use a boost from your regular skin-care routine, pull out one of the best facial steamers for a quick pick-me-up. These innovative skin-care tools mist warm, soothing water vapor on your skin, leaving your skin (and even your mind) feeling refreshed. Facial steaming has numerous skin-care benefits aside from sensual gratification. According to Hadley King, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, facial steaming can help hydrate and soften the outer layer of skin, increasing the penetration of ingredients in your topical skin-care products. “It can also increase circulation and soften keratinaceous debris and sebum,” she explains. This loosening of dirt and excess oil allows pimples and cystic acne to rise to the skin’s surface level, encouraging a whitehead that will clear up faster. Before you start steaming, Dr. King advises that those with sensitive skin or rosacea should avoid it. “The heat dilates blood vessels, which adds to the redness,” she explains. According to Dr. King, steaming can also irritate or worsen dryness, so they should avoid home facial steaming treatments as well. Having said that, normal-to-oily skin types can still reap all of the complexion-enhancing benefits of a face steamer. It is very important to note that steaming should not last long or be too short. In both cases, it can have negative effects on your skin, not enough hydration or steam for too long causes skin injury. The ideal time is around 10 minutes. I also recommend not using it too often, once a week or once every two weeks is enough. My absolute favourites are:

NanoSteamer CClinicalwhich

NanoSteamer CClinicalwhich has pre-programmed six modes that mimic the exact skincare protocols used by aestheticians and Dermatologists in their offices and spas. It features a full range of motion and position options for versatile treatments.

NanoSteamer Large 3-in-1 (budget friendly)

NanoSteamer Large 3-in-1 A new nano-ionic facial steamer has an internal purify light that converts 100 percent pure water into nano-sized water molecules, allowing the purest and most effective water molecules to reach your skin. Assist you in cleaning the dirt and impurities from your skin.

Other Benefits Of Regular Skin Cleansing

• Regular washing is vital for maintaining healthy, beautiful skin.
• Cleaning increases the effectiveness of anti-aging products and therapies.
• Cleaning aids in the maintenance of optimum pore size.
• Cleansing promotes optimum skin hydration and avoids unnecessary oil production.
It is very important to note that you can see all of these benefits if you do your skin cleansing religiously.

To get all of the benefits of skin cleansing you should have a complete skincare routine. After washing your face apply toner/serum, moisturizer, and SPF in the morning.

You can find a lot of information about toners in my post about the best toners for black skin. If you need an idea for a great moisturizer check out my post about top moisturizers for the face.

What Happens If You Don't Practice Skin Cleansing?

If you decide to stop washing for some reason, your decision may cause some problems.

If you stopped cleaning your face entirely, your pores would become blocked, resulting in severe acne. Inadequate hydration may also cause extreme redness, dryness, and irritation on the skin. Finally, your skin would seem unclean, oily, greasy, and noticeably older.

You would very certainly acquire extreme itching, to the point that you would be obliged to scratch your face continually. This might result in skin cracks that act as entrance places for infection. The moral of the article is to cleanse your skin properly!
After reading this text you may feel that skin cleansing is intimidating, but it is not.

You just have to experiment with products on your own and listen for tips from people that have already used them. Having a good recommendation or review is very helpful, so here is my review of Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash.

Factors that influence Your Skin

This post is about skin cleansing and it would be incomplete without advice for skin cleansing internally

Although skin cleansing is very important, it is not magical. There are some other things that you can do to speed up the process of healing your skin.
It’s natural for our skin to change as we age, but why? Hopsecger provides several reasons.

• Oxidative stress: This is a process that occurs when free radicals damage your cells and plays a role in skin aging. Free radicals are naturally occurring byproducts of human metabolism, sun exposure, and lifestyle factors such as a high-processed diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
• Inflammation: Excessive inflammation in your body can be harmful to your skin. A processed-food diet may increase total body inflammation.
• Skin dryness occurs when your cells are not properly hydrated. Skin cells shrink as a result of this. Dryness can also be caused by dry weather, certain soaps, and excessive sun exposure.

Skin-friendly lifestyle changes

Hopsecger, a registered dietitian recommends seeing a dermatologist first to discuss any skin concerns you may have. However, she claims that there are other things you can do to improve your complexion.

“Wear sunscreen, drink less alcohol, quit smoking, and stay hydrated,” Hopsecger advises. Drinking less alcohol results in fewer free radicals and less cell damage.

If your skin is dehydrated, she recommends drinking eight glasses of water per day.
Hopsecger also claims that a diet high in fried foods, fast food, and sugar can harm your skin’s health.

“Eating too many processed or refined sugars, as well as foods with a high glycemic index (dairy, carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats),” she says, “can cause skin inflammation, irritation, and breakouts, as well as possibly promote aging.”

So, eat these foods in moderation and keep in mind that supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet.
You can help nourish your skin from the inside out by eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fatty fish, and legumes.