Cleansing your skin is essential for removing any products you have applied and getting rid of dirt, excess sebum, microorganisms, and dead cells. You are likely to develop clogged pores and milia if you do not cleanse your face since comedones (whiteheads and blackheads form when dirt, makeup, and dead skin cells clog pores. Also, many sunscreens (not EVY’s) and make-up products have silicons in them that must be washed off before you go to bed to prevent acne breakouts.
Reasons to cleanse your skin:
- Clear up any build-up for healthier and smoother skin
- Keep your skin hydrated, soft, supple, and youthful-looking
- Sweep away dry and dead skin cells, revealing a fresh layer of skin for a natural glow
- Stimulate blood circulation, boosting blood flow to your face for glowing skin
- Make your skin look younger and help fight any signs of aging
- Help your other skin care products penetrate properly into the skin
How often should you cleanse your skin?
Every person should wash their face both in the morning and evening, regardless of skin type. This is because the skin naturally clears out waste products during the night, such as dirt, oil, and slag that will stay on the skin’s surface if you don’t wash them off. It’s also a good idea to remove dead skin cells that have turned over on your face after sleeping and residue of your evening products.
In the evening your skin needs to be cleansed from make-up, pollution, microorganisms, dirt, and the build-up of excess oils and dead skin cells during the day. If you are wearing a lot of makeup or have impurities, we recommend you double cleanse and wash your face twice to get rid of everything.
What should you use to cleanse your skin?
What you use to wash your face with is just as important as frequency. After all, if you don’t choose the right product for your skin type, you could risk drying out your complexion during your twice-a-day cleanse. And, while you would think that dehydration would result in, well, dryness, it can actually make your skin oilier in the process. For this reason, the key to successfully cleansing twice a day is to use a formula that never strips away the skin’s natural defences.
Why should you not use soap to cleanse your skin with?
Chemically speaking, soap is a salt. Soap is also designed to lather up and create a foam texture – this should be your first warning sign that you should not be washing your face with soap. No product should “foam” on your face, especially if you have sensitive skin. In order for a product to foam, you need a surfactant. This can push your skin to an alkaline pH. Bacteria prefer alkaline which is why it is so shocking that so many oily and acne-treating skincare products are foaming face washes. The foaming agents strip your skin and leave it dry and irritated, as soap is designed to remove bacteria and dirt. Overall, you should not be washing your face with soap.
Why can’t you wash your face with water only?
Water on its own is not likely to remove all the unwanted delights. The face will be exposed to the following elements throughout the day: Pollution, Dust, Dirt, Bacteria, Viruses, and Harmful UV rays from the sun. On top of this, your skin may be covered in oil (sebum) that your skin produces and dead skin cells. We would not suggest water-only methods because of their short backs and increased risks. Research studies have shown that when removing lingering products like sunscreen on the skin, cleansers and cleansing oils have proven to be the most effective.
Water and oil repel each other, oil does not dissolve in water and vice versa, this is why water alone will not be able to remove oil (sebum), sweat, pollution, and skin care products that build up on your skin during the day. Even with arguments noting that water cleansing is enough to remove dirt, oil, and sweat, its advocates do not consider hotter climates, pollution, or the qualities of water sources around the world.