Cleansing 101 | The Beginners Guide to Cleansing

A couple of months ago, I conducted a poll over on my Twitter page asking my followers/readers what types of beauty related posts they wanted to see from me. I feel like I have so much to share from my many years of working as a Skincare Consultant and Makeup Artist and I want to create a selection of posts that can help newbies to beauty to create skincare routines and makeup applications that work for them by giving them helpful tips.

One of the most asked for posts was about cleansing and this fits well into the start of my new collection of beauty inspired posts because cleansing is the first step in a skincare routine.

So here are the 6 important tips you should remember and use to get yourself into a great cleansing routine that can help keep your skin clean, radiant and healthy.

1. Don’t use facial wipes as your primary cleanser

Regular use of facial wipes can cause irritation to the skin, can increase block pores resulting in blemishes and acne and can cause premature ageing because of the friction of movement using a wipe.

Try to avoid using them but if you do use them, keep them solely for removing makeup before using another cleansing product or for the times you need a quick refresh when travelling or when you are at the gym. Don’t just stick with wipes because they are quick and easy. This one change alone will result in your skin looking healthier and less congested.

2. Find a cleanser that is right for your skin type

It is important to find a cleanser for your skin type – i.e. Dry/Sensitive, Normal, Oily & Combination. All cleansers will specify what skin type they are designed for, so do some research. Most skincare brands will have a Consultant on hand to help you decide what is best for you. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to a Consultant, then here are some quick tips to help you check which skin type you are.

• Using the back of your hand, run the back of your fingers over your forehead, down to your cheeks and over your chin; does it feel dry or oily?
• Then run your fingers over the centre of your face, again is it dry or oily or even normal? This should be enough to know what skin type you are.

3. What of cleanser works for you and your new routine

Think about what type of cleanser you are most likely to use and stick to when getting yourself in a good routine. The main types are:

• Facial Washes
• Cleansing Creams
• Micellar Waters/Cleansing Waters

Find one or even two that you are comfortable using. I have two that I use regularly, I have the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and the Neutrogena Facial Wash that I alternate morning and evening depending on how my skin is feeling and if I am removing makeup or not. This is what works for me so don’t be afraid to have a play around to see what works for you. After all thats is the fun of playing around with skincare products.

4. Cleanse twice daily

In the morning – cleansing prepares the skin for the day ahead by removing any oils and build-up in the skin from a night of sleeping, as well as refreshing and awakening the skin making sure pores are clear and the skin is clean for the next skincare product and ready to go for the day.

In the evening before bed – remove makeup, oil and dirt build up, refreshes the skin by decongesting pores and preparing the skin for your bedtime skincare products. This is very important because your skin naturally repairs itself while you sleep, so clean skin is essential before bed.

5. Don’t be afraid to double cleanse

Thats right, I used the phrase double cleanse! No its not necessary but if you find that your skin doesn’t feel clean because you had too much makeup to remove then don’t be afraid to cleanse again until you do feel clean. This will ensure your skin doesn’t clog up and cause blemishes and outbreaks, this is a good idea if you suffer from sensitive skin or have acne prone skin.

6. Definitely invest in the best cleanser and more than one type to keep your routine going strong

Not only is having more than one type of cleanser good for double cleansing and for easy cleansing around your lifestyle but it will more than likely encourage you to make sure you are cleansing morning and evening. My typical routine is as follows –

If I have had a day of wearing makeup, even if its just BB Cream and mascara, I will always reach for my Micellar water first. Using a few coton pads, I will soak them with the micellar water and gently remove my eye makeup first and them my face, neck and ears. I will then continue with a facial wash to cleanse my skin now the makeup is removed as this will remove and last traces of makeup and ensure my skin properly pleased, ensuring my face feels refreshed and clean.

WHAT IS IN MY CURRENT CLEANSER COLLECTION

I have combination/oily skin, which is prone to sensitivity and blemishes so my go to cleansing products are :

• Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Facial Wash
• Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Cleansing Cream & Muslin Cloths
• Garnier Micellar Water for Sensitive/Oily Skin

For a full list of what skincare products I use in my morning and evening skincare routine check out these posts below – they are filled with more skincare tips and insider knowledge.

My Morning Skincare Routine

My Night Time Skincare Routine

****Just one final little tip to remember when creating your own cleansing routine – always check if the cleanser is suitable for use on the eyes, as many are not. The reason for this is because the skin around the eye area is a lot thinner and more sensitive, so it is best you use a suitable eye makeup remover/eye cleanser of these areas first before using a cleanser for your face. My favourites are Liz Earle, Clarins and Estee Lauder. This will avoid irritating your eye areas, which can cause puffiness and dark circles as well as premature ageing.

I hope this post has helped clear up a few questions around the topic of cleansing and if there are any other skincare related topics you want me to cover then please let me know!

What is your go-to cleanser for your skin type?

Pinar xo

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