Is your cleaning routine responsible for your glow? And is a good scrub necessary? Here is some advice from Skin Expert Kris from Skincare Boulevard to glow more.
A thorough face cleaning. From make-up to dead skin cells: cleaning your face (twice!) every day is a very important part of your skincare routine. Some people engage in a multi-step cleansing plan, with double or triple oil cleansings, followed by scrubs, toners, tonics, and even nasal strips. Or just the opposite: there are also people who use an all-in-one product such as micellar water or only work with a cleansing cloth and leave it at that.
Why is cleaning your face so important?
Cleaning has more than one important function in daily skin care:
– Cleaning removes general dirt and waste from the outside (fine dust, pollution, bacteria from other people, etc.)
– Cleaning removes your own old skin cells, bacteria, sweat, sebum and make-up residue
– Cleaning removes the layer of dirt that sits on top of the skin, making it rough, gray and dull
– Cleaning reduces the risk of impurities such as black heads, pimples, and slows down skin aging
– Cleaning reduces the risk of build-up of clustered skin cells, which is a breeding ground for bad bacteria, irritations and acne
– Cleansing improves the accessibility of active serums and creams to care for your skin
And, last but not least: a great cleaning routine makes your skin smooth, and gives it the most healthy glow.
Why is cleaning twice a day important?
Cleansing is an essential step before applying serums and creams. You want the skin channels open and free, so that the active nourishing and protective ingredients can be absorbed quickly. Excess dirt not only prevents absorption but, when mixed with creams, can lead to inflammation more quickly, and a rather unclean feeling.
In the morning you clean the accumulated secretions from the night, such as sebum, sweat, the remains of the creams from the night before.
In the evening you clean the dirt of the day, dust and pollution from the outside, also the remains of SPF, creams and make-up. This way you create a clean surface, ready to absorb new ingredients.
Can you clean too much?
Yes. A cleaning routine of 6 or more steps that removes layer after layer; or a routine that involves intense exfoliation or washing your face with a sebum regulating (mostly drying) face wash, irritates the skin barrier. The skin barrier consists of useful dead skin cells combined with your own fatty acids, which together form a protective layer against invaders from outside, and prevent moisture evaporating from your skin.
Cleaning is important, but too much cleaning will weaken your skin’s barrier, leaving you with dry, red, and sensitive skin. A greasy skin, pimples and acne will increase as a sensitive reaction to cleaning too hard and too much.
Can you clean too little?
Yes. Not removing the dirt and dead skin flakes sufficiently results in dull and gray, rough and uneven skin. Between all these accumulations, bad bacteria have free rein, resulting in inflammation (pimples, pustules but also general inflammation = sensitivity).
Can you damage your skin by cleaning incorrectly?
Yes. Exfoliating with a harsh scrub peel can damage the skin, but also: cleansing too often (more than 2x a day), using harsh cleansers, using brushes and other cleansing tools. You can cause more damage to your skin than you think. Only when there is a clear signal from your skin, such as redness, sensitivity, swelling or an irritated prickling sensation, you realize something is wrong. For some people it takes a while to realize the cleansing routine is the source of the problem. The skin barrier damaged, and soothing recovery is needed.
Why is a one-step cleaning routine such as cleansing wipes or micellar water not recommended?
Quick cleansers such as wipes and micellar water often contain alcohol, perfume and other harmful ingredients. You quickly increase the risk of irritation, red spots, dryness and tightness.
The usually coarser structure of a cloth can damage the protective barrier of your skin, making your skin even more sensitive.
With a one-step cleaner you can remove superficial dirt, but it does not clean deep enough into your pores. There are always small residues left on your skin, which can lead to irritation, clogged pores and impurities such as blackheads and pimples.
Is a scrub or peel the answer?
Sure, a nice scrub or chemical exfoliant will help improve your skin quality, but these are not suitable for general every day use. Using a scrub, which contains small often harsh particles, on a daily basis can even damage your skin.
Can you improve your skin with an upgraded cleaning routine?
Definitely! Consistently removing all dirt ensures more cleanliness, and therefore fewer impurities such as comedones and pustules. Removing too many dead skin flakes makes the rough skin smoother, reduces lines and wrinkles, the skin finds its natural glow. Removing dead skin cells also stimulates cell renewal. Clearing the skin channels so that anti-age and other goodie – ingredients can quickly find their way, keeps our skin young, fresh and glowy.
3 step cleansing routine:
Cleanse without risking to damage your skin barrier, and yet thoroughly. Whether you have oily or dry or sensitive skin, cleanse enough but not too much. Get started with the step-by-step plan of 3 and Kris’ tips.
Use a gentle washing gel: wash away dirt daily with a washing gel that cleans very gently, a face wash suitable for sensitive, dry and acne-prone skin. You rinse away dirt and excess sebum and other residue.
Tip: rose – oil based face wash, a gently foaming wash for all skin types.
Soft scrub with a natural sponge: you can polish away dead skin cells every day in the safest way. The natural sponge is gentle on every skin, and removes just enough dead skin cells without damaging the skin barrier. Thanks to this soft scrub tool, cell renewal is also stimulated, the lymphatic system (waste removal) improves and the supply of oxygen-rich blood improves.
Tip: konjac sponges are 100% natural.
Tone your skin: choose a toner without alcohol such as rose water. Spray frequently, calm the barrier and add partially restorative ingredients and moisture, then dab away the last traces of dirt with a cotton ball. You can leave the skin moist from the toner.
Tip: organic rose water.
STEP 4: advised only if you have open pores, too much sebum and pimples or acne: dab locally with a tonic to balance sebum, close the pore and dry out the pimples.
Tip: facial toner, organic toner with rose & citrus.
To help you along, Krist created 4 skin sets to match your skin type:
1. Soft en calm
2. Soft clean
3. Acne clean
4. Acne deep clean
With this cleaning routine, you will find your glow. Now go and make your cleaning routine an important part of your skincare routine. Need more help with your skin? The integrated online skin analysis tool is the base for starting your targeted skin care journey, with excellent skincare products and expert guidance for your best result.
