Let Your Skin Breathe: The Importance of Cleansing

If cleansing your skin means a quick scrub in the shower or perhaps just swiping your skin with a wipe this article is for you 😊 Read on to discover why cleansers are the cornerstone of every great skin care regime, no matter what your age, your skin or condition.

Let’s start at the beginning…why is cleansing so important?

Every day your skin is exposed to grime, bacteria, impurities, makeup, sweat and environmental aggressors. Along with that, your skin sheds millions of cells every day. Whilst most of these fall off, many of these collect on the skin. These dead skin cells can accumulate on the surface of the skin which clog pores and can lead to breakouts, skin irritation and dehydrated skin

Cleansing plays a vital role in your skin’s health.

Sebum, our skin’s natural oil plays a vital role to help protect the skin from environmental damage and bacteria. The problem is if it stays on the skin too long without being cleansed off, or if there is excessive oil on the surface it can mix with impurities and bacteria on your skin and this is the primary cause for skin infections.

Keeps skin nourished and hydrated.

Cleansing on a regular basis helps the skin maintain the correct level of moisturiser. Dehydrated skin feels dry, rough, and tight and looks dull and lacklustre. Cleansing helps manage the skin’s pH levels enabling sufficient water and product retention, for proper skin hydration.

Cleansing slows down the skin’s ageing process.

Your skin is subjected to environmental aggressors every day. Pollution and environmental toxins can accelerate the ageing process, and the very simple process of cleansing your skin is an excellent way to get rid of all unwanted particles and to stimulate the internal processes to fight the signs of ageing, including wrinkles, lack of tone, pigmentation and dullness.

Increase product’s effectiveness.

Remember we mentioned above, your skin sheds millions of skin cells daily? These cling and form a layer over the skin surface along with daily grim, impurities, excess oil and perspiration. Daily cleansing will gently remove old skin cells, decongest pores, and will prep the skin for your follow-on products so that they will be better absorbed and work more effectively.

How often should you cleanse?

We recommend cleansing mornings and evenings for best results.

In the evening

Your evening cleanse is the most important one. This is not just a way to remove daily grime and make-up, but by cleansing you are aiding the skin to repair itself from all the environmental aggressors it faced throughout the day.

Whilst you sleep, several physiological changes occur in the skin. Skin cell regeneration is a peak during the night and part of this process requires oxygen which is found on a clean skin. Going to sleep without cleansing would deprive the skin of this vital nutrient and generate free radicals (think skin ageing!)

During the night, your skin loses a significant amount of water. An evening cleanse allows skincare products to penetrate and work their magic whilst you sleep so when you awake your skin will look and feel fresh and revitalised.

In the morning

Cleansing your face of all the impurities in the morning is also beneficial due to the natural recovering and exfoliating process that occurs whilst your sleep. Balancing the skin and providing a fresh surface for the start of the day allows for better penetration of skincare products and provides the skin with the full benefits.

Cleansing your face also allows you to achieve a smoother skin that is essential for makeup application.

How to cleanse your face

Oil Cleanser: (Banish & Repair & Balancing Oil Cleanser)

Dispense a small amount of our oil cleanser onto your fingertips. (Remember our products are pure and undiluted so less is very much more).

Massage onto dry skin. Gently swipe your fingertips over your eye lids to effortlessly lift of eye make-up.

Wet your facecloth with as warm water as you can wring out. Open the cloth and hold it over your skin. (This gets a little steaming action going). Wipe off thoroughly with the cloth. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry and follow with your favourite Hey Gorgeous Toner.

Cream Cleansers: (Activated Charcoal & Aloe Chamomile & Pineapple & Papaya Enzyme & Shea & Jojoba)

Wet skin with warm water. Dispense a small amount of cleanser into the palm of your hand. Rub palms together and then, using palms and fingers gently massage your skin.

Gel Cleansers: (Revitalising & Grapefruit and Satsuma & Strawberry & Lime)

Wet skin with warm water. Dispense a small amount of cleanser in to the palm of one hand. Rub palms together and then, using palms and fingers gently massage the skin. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Pat dry and follow with your favourite Hey Gorgeous Toner.

Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t:

The temperature of the water matters too. Hot water doesn’t open pores and cold water won’t close them either. In fact, hot water can strip your skin of essential oils so it’s best to rinse with water that is lukewarm or even cold to respect your skin and the integrity of the active ingredients of the skincare products used. Added benefit: colder water has a soothing and firming effect!

Do:

Double cleanse

A quick “wash and go” might seem like the only option at the end of a long day, but if you wear a full face of heavy make-up or are exposed to city air daily, double cleansing is the best way to ensure your skin is free from foundation and pollution particles.

The first cleanse will remove makeup and debris that act as a barrier. Your second round of cleansing will work down deep to really reach into pores to remove any surface grime that the first round may have left behind. By cleansing twice, you’re ensuring that both the first layer of sebum, makeup, skincare, sunscreen and deeper layers of pore bacteria, which can all aggravate acne, are removed.

Our Atlantic Sea Kelp & Brown Rice Cleanser is ideal to use first. Mixed with water to the desired consistency, the powder (rich in nutrients and minerals) gently polishes away grime and impurities, excess oil and old skin cells.

Follow with a cream-based cleanser, like our Aloe & Chamomile, to sweep away any last vestiges grime and nourish the skin.

Double cleansing really depends on your lifestyle. You don’t necessarily double cleanse every day – you may only want to double cleanse 3 – 4 times per week in the evenings only.

Don’t

overwash…

Although it may be tempting to get that squeaky-clean feel when harsh soaps are used. These can disturb the barrier function of the skin, disrupting the acid mantle, stripping away your skin’s good oils and triggering the skin to increase oil production.

Don’t forget your eyes:

The skin around the eyes is particularly thin. Most facial cleansers are not designed to properly break down and remove waterproof eye makeup, and the skin around the eye area is especially thin and delicate. So be sure to use a separate makeup remover that has been tested ophthalmologically and is extra gentle yet strong enough to remove all traces of eye makeup

Choosing the right cleanser for your skin:

We have a range of cleansers to suit all skin types. Our cleansers are formulated in a 5.2 – 5.8 pH range to ensure they don’t strip or damage the skin.

Aloe Chamomile:

Suitable for sensitive to normal and/oily/or acne prone skins skin
Gentle vegan formulation
Contains Aloe which is an excellent skin healer and chamomile to calm inflamed skins.
Removes excess oil without causing any dehydration

Shea and Jojoba

Suitable for devitalised, dehydrated and/or dry skin
Vitamin-enriched formulation
Contains Vitamins A, C and E
Prevents cutaneous dehydration, comforts, and revitalises

Pineapple & Papaya Enzyme Cleanser

Suitable for dull, lack-lustre skin
Brightening and vivifying formulation
Contains fruit enzymes to gently sweep away surface pigmentation.
Contains Vitamin C which plays a vital role in the synthesis of collagen production
Unifies the complexion and protects against external aggressions

Activated Charcoal Cleanser:

Suitable for oily, acne prone and congested skin
Draws out impurities and decongests pores
Instantly lifts and brightens the complexion.
Comforts and sooths skin inflammation.

Banish and Repair Facial Cleansing Oil

Ideal for oily acne prone skins
Lifts and sweeps away excess oil
Adds moisture to dehydrated skin
Packed with Vitamins to heal and treat acne and help fade remove marks scars and blemishes

For the eyes

For the removal of eye makeup, especially waterproof mascara, there are particular products specifically formulated for the eye area. Most facial cleansers are not designed to properly break down and remove waterproof eye makeup so be sure to use a separate makeup remover is extra gentle yet strong enough to remove all traces of eye makeup.

Our Oh So Gentle Eye Make Up Remover effortlessly removed impurities and makeup (even the waterproof kind) gently and thoroughly thanks to its bi-phase formula combining a fluid for its high tolerance and an oil phase for its efficiency.

So to recap:

Whilst skipping the cleansing step and heading straight to bed may be appealing, cleansing your face twice daily will benefit the health, youth, and radiance of your skin. Remember that regular cleansing should not be neglected since it is one of the most effective ways to achieve a clearer and brighter complexion whilst leaving your skin feeling softer and smoother.

If there’s one skincare practice you should absolutely make a habit out of, it’s religiously cleansing your face!