Skin Cleansing Tips and Techniques

Cleansing removes the dirt, oil, makeup and dead cells that have accumulated on your skin during the day (but again, don't be overanxious removing all the oil that protects the skin from losing needed moisture will only dry it out). It is so easy to do you don't need a formula, or special circumstances or a lot of time. You do it each and every night of your life. Period. No excuses. No "I'm so tired" or "My makeup has worn off anyway" or "I'll just do it tomorrow." To properly keep your skin clean, you have to promise to care for it every night.


Cleansing your body is something you do regularly each time you use soap in a shower or a bath. Cleansing your facial skin is at least as important, if not more so, and as easy. Cleansing your skin can also treat your skin, if done with the appropriate cleanser in the right manner.


Since most of us have so called combination skin, the best cleanser to use is one that is water soluble and non-drying, a smooth cream that can be used with your hands, a face buff or a facial brush (you can buy a facial vibrator with attachments that are made for scrubbing and cleansing as well as increasing the circulation in your face). Such a cleanser will remove the dirt and dead cells without drying out the skin. If you prefer a cleansing soap, be sure it is not alkaline (which will dry you out).


For particularly dry skin, you can use a cleansing colon or cleansing milk but I wouldn't use soap; it might further dehydrate your skin. If you have very oily skin, you know that it can get dirty easily because dirt and makeup stick to it like glue. Be sure you use a cleansing milk that will remove the dirt but will not add any oil to your skin.


HOW TO CLEANSE YOUR SKIN


The nighttime routine when you remove your makeup is the beginning of any skin cleansing program. For some people, their makeup remover is a cleanser, although they still use a separate one to remove eye makeup. For others, a cleanser can be used in addition to a makeup remover.


First, be sure to wash your hands. Then use a gentle, non-drying makeup remover. Spread it on your face and neck, and stroke it with your fingertips or a face buff. Be sure to use a circular motion and always move upward (gravity will pull your skin down soon enough). Then rinse off with warm water or a damp washcloth. (If you are going to take a shower, you can cleanse your face there either with a nonalkaline soap or with your cleanser.)

If you do this simple cleansing every night, your skin will be able to breathe while you sleep. In the morning, chances are all you will need to do is use an astringent on your face to remove any traces of overnight secretion from your oil glands, and then apply your moisturizer and your makeup.


There are a couple of handy and effective cleansing tools on the market now. One is a rough towel that is used to cleanse and rub the skin on your body. It is a terrific skin reviver and helps remove dead cells. The loofah, a hard, sponge like "tool," is also effective in ridding your skin of the top layer of dead cells. For the face, there is a gentle face buff which helps in cleansing the pores and also in taking off dead cells. You can also buy a brush specifically designed to be used for cleansing facial skin.


When using any of these "tools," be sure to rub gently, yet firmly, particularly on your face. You may need some practice to get this balance down, because it is important to stimulate your skin but not to stretch or damage it.

The more cleansing and detergent-like the soap or shampoo, the greater its drying and scouring effect, resulting in the very thing these products are meant to protect from: dehydrated and vulnerable skin.

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