It’s the most basic part of your skincare routine, but cleansing’s come a long way in the last five years or so! If your beauty resolution this year is to up your skincare game, finally conquer those breakouts or to generally get your skin looking gorgeously glowing, then cleansing is an important place to start. Here’s our super handy guide to cleansing correctly…
ALWAYS. REMOVE. YOUR. MAKEUP.
Come on ladies, you know this one! Even if you’re exhausted, and even if your enviably clear-skinned friend regularly sleeps in her slap, there’s no excuse to keep your makeup on at night. Forgetting to remove your foundation can lead to oil buildup, breakouts, and clogged, enlarged pores – just remember, all the pollution you’ve encountered during the day will still be sat on your face! Eye makeup can cause irritation and infection if not removed, so make sure you cleanse properly at night. Note, we said PROPERLY. See below…
Bin the wipes
Makeup wipes are great for festivals or when you’re on the go, but they definitely shouldn’t be used in place of washing your face regularly at night. Not only do they not have enough cleansing power to remove all the dirt and makeup from your face, but they’re also often formulated with alcohol to keep them moist, which can dry out your skin in the long term. Keep a pack for emergencies, but otherwise cleanse properly every night to get amazing, healthy skin.
Double cleanse at night
If you’re wearing makeup or SPF during the day (which, let’s face it, most of us are), then you should double cleanse at night. All this means is that you do one round of cleansing to remove makeup, and then another round to properly cleanse the skin, leaving you with a gorgeous complexion in the long run.
For the first cleanse, try a micellar water, or makeup removing oil or balm. We love Clinique’s Take The Day Off range, No 7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Oil and Garnier Micellar Water. Don’t be afraid of balms or oils if you have oil-prone skin – it can actually help regulate sebum production! Apply to dry skin, and be sure to remove any residue with a hot flannel or muslin cloth. For your second cleanse, choose a cleanser that’s best for your skin type, whether that’s a milk, gel or another oil. One thing we don’t recommend is using a foaming product, especially if you’re prone to breakouts, as the surfactants will only dry out skin and aggravate skin conditions.
Cleanse once in the morning
Morning cleanses are great for removing all the dead skin cells and sweat (gross) that’s accumulated while you sleep, so it definitely shouldn’t be something you skip! Simply use your milk, gel, balm or oil cleanser depending on how your skin feels that morning. Don’t use your micellar water here though; they’re best for removing makeup, rather than cleansing impurities. We love Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser, Clarins Cleansing Milk and Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser for all skin types.
