The fundamentals of good skin care begin with a proper cleansing technique. As basic as is seems most people are doing it wrong. 90% of people undercleanse and overmoisturize, piling on ingredients on the skin. This can cause a number of issues the main one being clogged pores. Cleanser needs to be massaged into the skin, giving it a chance to work into the pores and soften residue, and soaking is essential (similar to a dishpan with baked-on debris). Skimping on this process can cause buildup in the pores, which means even the most powerful serums, gels and moisturizers will be ineffective. Below are the essential cleansing steps every person should know:
*Always cleanse at night. Some clients may also need to cleanse in the morning depending on their skin type, others can simply rinse. Just think of all the environmental debris we walk through from day to day or how many times we subconsiously touch our face with our dirty hands, phones, etc. This debris needs to come off in order for our skin to replenish itself overnight.
*Smooth a small amount of cleanser onto the face, and neck.
*Massage the cleanser for at least 1-2 minutes using upward circular motions. Since our skin cells overlap on top of one another (like shingles on a roof), doing this motion helps clean under those skin cells a little better.
*Rinse with lukewarm water until all cleanser is off. You may even rinse using a soft, white, cotton cloth or gauze. When drying your face no makeup, dirt or debris should come off on the towel.
*Continue with the rest of your skin care regimen.
Once you've got this fundamental step covered it becomes second nature. Just think of it as getting the most out of the products you've invested time and money on.
P.s. adding a cleansing brush such as a Clarisonic to this process is even better!