THE FIRST STEP…
Cleansers are the unsung heroes of the skincare world. If you aren’t doing the first step of your routine correctly, all of the products that follow can’t do their job correctly! Think about it this way-you wouldn’t swish with mouthwash and then brush your teeth, right? When it comes to products, the ones doing the most work are those that are staying on the skin. But how can the superhero serum get to where it needs to go if the dirt, debris, and oil on the skin haven’t been removed properly? It can’t!
In my opinion, cleansing is way underrated. And it’s often not done correctly. The first piece of advice that I give is to always wash your hands before you wash your face! If you don’t, then when you pump your cleanser into your hands, the cleanser will first remove the dirt and debris from them before it even can do anything for your face-yikes! It takes a few extra seconds to give the hands a quick wash, and I promise it will make a difference. After your hands are clean, wet your face (Neutrogena commercial style splashing is not necessary, but I won’t judge). You’re going to want to put about a quarter sized amount of your cleanser into your hands, rub together, and start massaging in circles…for a full minute or two. That’s right-no quickly rubbing your face for 5 seconds and calling it a cleanse. Take your time! Make sure you’re getting all of the nooks and crannies.
Some other things to keep in mind are water temperature (Goldilocks style is best-not too hot, not too cold) and how you dry your face. You definitely don’t need to be taking your towel and scrubbing your face with it. GENTLY pat your skin dry! On most days, I leave my skin slightly damp (not wet, just not bone dry) to allow for better application of my serum and moisturizer. With proper cleansing, those products will be able to do their job!
Lastly, I believe that everyone needs a gentle cleanser in their routine. I have some more exfoliating type of cleansers that I love to use a couple of times a week, but doing too much to the skin just messes with the precious barrier. A lot of exfoliating cleansers (with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, etc) claim that they can be used daily, and I don’t agree. Our skin’s barrier is vital to its health, and over exfoliation disrupts it. If you have a favorite exfoliating cleanser, don’t worry! You can still use it-just alternate it with something gentler.
Start your skincare routine with a proper cleanse-you deserve to get the full benefits from the products that you’ve invested in. Haven’t found something you love yet? If you’re looking for the perfect cleanser for your skin, I can help! Leave a comment or send me a message, and we’ll get you on the right path. Happy cleansing!
love & lipstick,
Cherrie
