So one lovely evening my husband and I were sitting outside on the patio, enjoying each others company while catching up on the day and people watching. It's kind of like our daily ritual, which I love.
Our 13 year old cat, Mia, is truly a scaredy cat. She's skiddish with any kind of sudden, loud noises. I'll have to include a picture of this nut case. lol Anyway, we usually leave the screen open for her to join us - if she's feeling brave. She usually manages a couple steps out. Which is what I though had happened the night of 'the incident.' I stood up, eyes fixated on Mia, and plowed straight into our screen! It was a full face plant. And I hit hard! LOL My husband, who was behind me, was in disbelief. And secretly laughing, I'm sure of it. I turned to ask him, 'is there anything on my face?' To which he responded, 'I think we need to clean our screens.' LOL LOL LOL
And so, round two of my nightly cleansing ritual. If ever there was a moment to explain just how important it is to cleanse your skin at the end of the day, this is it. LOL
Consider what your skin is exposed to throughout the day. From makeup and sweat, to particles in the environment, and now let’s throw in our new accessory, the face mask. Oh! And a dirty screen! lol Your skin inevitably faces many external aggressors.
Cleansing is the first, and the most important step of all skincare routines and is beneficial in a number of ways. If not done properly, pollution can accumulate at the surface and could potentially contribute to breakouts, dehydration, irritation, and accelerated aging.
What would happen if you stopped washing your face?
Eek! Do you remember the story about the woman who did not cleanse her skin for a month? I'll have to try a find the link. It wasn't pretty.
If you completely stopped washing your face you run the risk of a whole host of issues; clogged pores resulting in acne, enlarged pores, (Sidebar.... think of your pores as a rubber band. When the rubber band is new, it's usually quite taut. But as it ages, it becomes large and misshapen. Well, the more opportunity your pores have to clog with oil, debris, makeup, etc, the larger they will become. They stretch). Without proper cleansing, the skin may also experience a combination of severe redness and inflammation, dryness and irritation from insufficient hydration.
Benefits of cleansing - as if these need to be bulleted. ;)
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Boost hydration. Proper cleansing helps manage the skin ph balance, enabling sufficient water and product retention. Another sidebar: Imagine a sponge. If it's completely dried out, it takes a while for it to fill with water and plump back up. As opposed to a sponge that is already moist, the sponge will soak up water instantly. Your skin will absorb water and products better the more hydrated your skin is.
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Extend your youth :) Every day your skin is aging. The simple step of cleansing is an excellent way to get rid of the environmental toxins from the day that accelerate the aging process.
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Increase product effectiveness. Now how are any of your active ingredients going to penetrate past makeup, sunscreen and the pollutants from the day? I'll just leave it at that. ;)
The Evening Cleanse
Cleansing your skin every evening is more than just removing makeup and sunscreen. An evening cleans is incredibly important to allow for the skin to repair itself from the aggressors of the day but also to improve your overall skin health. Certain physiological changes in the skin occur overnight and impurities may hinder the skin from regenerating.
Morning cleanse?
There are definitely differences in opinion on whether or not a morning cleanse is important. My opinion is this; if you have dry skin, then skip it. I do a quick splash of water in the morning before continuing on with my regimen. If you have oily skin, or skin that is prone to impurities/acne, then twice a day is a must. You'll want a fresh complexion before continuing on with your actives.
Do NOT get lazy!
A quick 'wash and go' might seem like the only option at the end of the day, but if you're exposing your skin to the city air, a double cleanse is the best way to ensure your skin is free from all pollutants.
The first cleanse will remove makeup and debris that act as a barrier. Your second cleanse will work down deep to really reach into pores to remove any surface grime that the first round may have left behind. But do not overdo it. Too much of a good thing, or perhaps using the wrong cleanser for your skin type can strip the skin of its natural oils and protective barrier, leading to dryness, sensitivity, and irritation.
The cleansing cloth? Nope! Not a fan. They are too rough on the skin for daily use, they are oftentimes used as the only cleanse, hence leaving a film on your skin, and... they are bad for the environment. If you want an actual makeup remover, there are far better options.
Choosing the right cleanser for your skin
Although it may be tempting to get that squeaky-clean feel, this can disrupt the barrier function, stripping away your skin's good oils and triggering skin to increase oil production. Have you ever noticed you feel extra oily even though you have dry skin? This is probably why! The skin doesn't have time to repair itself between cleansing. And this is why it is so important you find the right cleanser for your skin. :)
Please let me know if you would like guidance finding the right cleanser for your skin. I'm happy to help. <3
Happy cleansing! :)
