CLEAN UP YOUR ACT!
Clients are constantly picking my brain to discover the new wonder cream, or a high-tech new foundation that will cover all manner of problems, to which I reply, “before we chat magic potions, lets go through your cleansing routine”, because the truth is there is no quick fix, thorough skin prepping is the only way to that radiant, youthful glow.
Going back to basics…. when you re-access your facial cleaning and dedicate a little bit more time to it, you get results, simple! If you are rushing or skipping this essential stage, you may as well rub your £200 pot of miracle cream into the leather on your purse!
Lets get one thing straight, wipes do not constitute a proper cleansing routine! While they are okay for camping trips (one night only please), mid day freshen up, or long journeys, they do not actually CLEAN your skin, the simply smudge the dirt around, and lets not even get started on how dreadful they are for the environment! We can do much better than this!
If you get that really tight feeling after cleansing that leaves you sprinting for your moisturiser, you will probably find your cleanser is full of sodium lauryl sulphate, which is really drying, destroys your natural pH balance and creates an environment for bacteria to thrive in, making blemish-prone skin worse.Sodium lauryl sulphate is usually only added to cleansers to produce foam/ bubbles, which sub-consciously makes us feels squeaky clean. Note – squeaky clean skin = dehydrated, pimply, unhappy skin – not good. I avoid sulphates at all costs, and when my clients have previously eliminated this stripping ingredient, they have experienced a more supple, hydrated, much clearer and even skin.
A quick splash of water in the morning won’t cut the mustard either, over night we are busy shedding old cells, sweating, producing a bit of oil – sounds lovely – and this needs to be cleansed offbefore applying your daily skin care. Admittedly you don’t need to go to town in the morning, a once over cleanse with cleansing milk, balm or a SLS free gel formula is sufficient. Night time cleansing requires a bit more effort, if you wear make-up, or sun screen you will need to cleanse twice, once over to remove surface make up and the second cleanse will remove dirt, excess oil, sebum and impurities. This also preps the skin for serums and moisturiser, making them work more efficiently. Cleansing oils and balms are extremely effective at giving the skin a thorough clean. Oil’s removes oil, so don’t worry if you have oily skin tendencies, it’s the one cleanser type your skin will love and react best to.Having said that be careful of essential oils if you have redness or irritation.
Rich creamy cleansers are a personal favourite of mine, and I like a cleanser that packs a punch, full of actives. Exuviance Gentle cleansing Cream contains PHA’S to gently exfoliate, whilst hydrating too! If I have time in the evening’s I like to leave an active cleanser on for 10 mins, a little like a mask, so the actives/ acids get chance to do their thing!!
