5 essential steps for better facial cleansing.

First of all, we cannot talk about skin cleansing without talking about the skin microbiome.

What is the skin microbiome? It's a real cloak for the skin! This bacterial flora protects it and promotes the proper functioning of our cells, while limiting the impact of oxidative stress.

Yes, indeed! Whether you like it or not, our skin is covered by billions of bacteria, just like our gut.

There are good bacteria and bad ones. Each person has their own microbial identity, and it fluctuates depending on age, gender, lifestyle, and diet.

An imbalance in the skin microbiome can lead to side effects, such as redness, breakouts, skin reactions, and certainly premature skin aging in the long term.

So, these are not reactions to be overlooked!

So, here are 5 essential steps to adopt to maintain a healthy skin microbiome for radiant skin!

Consequently, this will unbalance your skin's pH.

Do you remember what can happen if the skin's pH is unbalanced? Redness, irritation, breakouts... Think about it next time before rubbing your face with your bar of soap!

For your information, the skin's pH ranges between 4 and 6. It is clear from the photo that the soap's pH is closer to 7, which is more alkaline. Here, I used the commercial soap considered to be the mildest for the skin, so you can imagine the others...

When you think you have oily skin, the desire to cleanse your skin more than twice a day might seem appealing. But it's a very bad idea! You'll get caught in a dreadful vicious cycle. The sebum produced by your skin is there to protect and hydrate it; so, if you excessively dry out your skin, it will respond by producing even more sebum.

The goal: cleanse the skin without drying it out so as not to disturb its balance.

In the evening, use a cleanser adapted to your skin type, such as a gel, foam, or for drier skin, a cleansing milk. In the morning, spray your face, neck, and décolleté with lukewarm water, pat dry with a towel, and spray with a toner or finish with a cotton pad soaked in micellar water.

The texture of the cleanser is often chosen according to the skin type but also according to the season. For example, for normal skin, a cleansing gel can be a very good choice in summer, but in winter, the skin will need a little more comfort and cleansing milk will be preferable.

 

Step no.4

Gentleness, gentleness

 

Be gentle with your facial skin! There's no need to rub vigorously when removing makeup. This is generally what my clients notice when I remove their makeup; they are amazed at how gently I do it, unlike what they usually do. Take it easy! Intense rubbing irritates the skin and is not necessary for a good cleanse. As long as you use an appropriate cleansing product, the pressure doesn't need to be so intense. A little tip: from now on, treat your skin like a princess, it deserves it!

 

Step no.5

Use a lotion

 

Little known and rarely used in North America, daily application of a facial lotion is, however, a well-established habit in Europe. Women there prefer lotion to water.

As we know, water is impregnated with limestone, minerals, and chlorine. These undesirable residues settle and remain on your skin even after rinsing. These elements alone can greatly dry out and irritate your skin. This is why it is always recommended to finish your cleansing with a lotion. It will eliminate all traces of minerals, in addition to restoring your skin's pH to promote a healthy skin microbiome!

Skin cleansing may seem trivial, even routine. But it is essential in skin care. Effective cleansing will increase the effectiveness of subsequently applied creams by 30%, especially when done with these 5 essential steps.

Do you have questions? Would you like to know the right cleanser for your skin type? Contact me for a recommendation or a phone consultation :)