Christina Hendricks and her glowing skin. Photo: Getty
Cleansing, it’s the first step in any skincare regimen and it’s also the most underrated. Regardless of the price tag on your face wash, taking a few extra minutes to properly massage the product into the skin not only removes impurities, like makeup, dirt and excess oil, to leave skin looking glowing and smooth, it’s also key to making sure the products that follow, such as a treatment mask, moisturiser or serum, sink in that much more effectively.
Here are some easy to follow tips and tricks for clearer-than-crystal skin in next to no time.
1. Just like your wardrobe, it pays to reassess your cleanser at the start of every season. If your skin feels dry or irritated after cleansing, it’s time to update to a milder, more skin-specific formula.
Oily skin: Steer clear of foaming cleansers as they can be too stripping and make the switch to a gel-based product containing salicylic acid. A natural exfoliant, salicylic acid helps to slough away at dead surface cells to prevent oil and skin cell build-up from clogging pores. Try: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, $13.99.
Dry skin: Keep your eyes peeled for a soap-free, non-foaming milk or cream-based formula that’ll leave skin feeling clean, without disrupting the natural pH level of the skin. Then, if your skin is still craving extra nourishment, it’s worth investing in a rich cleansing oil to use in the evening, when your skin needs the moisture the most. Try: Burt’s Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser, $19.95.
2. Double cleansing is the new black. Fact: no matter how expensive or active a cleanser claims to be, skin isn’t clean unless you’ve double cleansed. The first cleanse is vital to cut through product build-up, like makeup and primer, while the second cleanse removes excess surface oil.
3. Add a little elbow grease. These days, cleansers contain the same kind of nourishing ingredients you’d expect to find in a face cream or serum, so it pays to give the ingredients adequate time to sink in and treat the skin. Try massaging the product into the skin using small circular motions, extending it right down to the neck and chest area, then leave it to work its magic for a few minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.
4. Invest in a power tool.
The busy girl’s guide to skincare, the latest crop of cleansing gadgets, like the Clarisonic PRO Skincare System, can buff away at dead surface cells, cut through oil, decongest pores and boost circulation in less time than it takes to butter your toast in the morning. Not only are they gentle enough to use daily, but they’re also great for treating tricky-to-reach areas like breakouts on the back and shoulders.
Over to you now…
Do you double cleanse already?
Do you switch your cleansers to suit the seasons?
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