𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 Step 1: Cleansers

First thing you’ve got to do when it comes to your skincare routine is wash your face. (You’d think it’s obvious, but not for some!)

I’m talkin rain or shine, passed out on the couch after binging Netflix or sloshed from a night out—you’ve gotta get the days dirt&debris off your face before bed!

Which cleanser to use? Cleansers usually come in gel, cream, or oil form.

Gel cleansers usually have some type of soap in them that cause foaming — they are the “strongest” in terms of removing debris from the skin, and very good at removing makeup. These cleansers usually leave you with that “clean” feeling.

Cream cleansers don’t usually foam up, and they leave a lightweight veil of hydration after rinsing. (This feeling can take getting used to) All cleansers will adequately clean the skin, but if you’re using a cream cleanser, you may need something like micellar water in addition, to remove all traces of makeup.

Oil cleansers — amazing at taking off makeup IMO! You might wonder how an oil is cleaning your skin. Well, fat likes fat — lipophilic particles in the cleanser form around the oil on your skin, carrying it away. For someone dry skinned and mascara loving like me, I love me an oil cleanser 

What about active ingredients in my cleanser? This is where evaluation by a board certified dermatologists can be very helpful. Your skin is unique and may need exfoliation with salicylic, or decolonizing with benzoyl peroxide. I often recommend alternating cleansers based on what your skin is going through and what it needs at the time. This is why medicine is an art!

Say No to scrubs! Sorry, St. Ives. Tbh, I used to use it when I was younger, but our skin is more resilient at a younger age. We’ve also come a long way in what we know about the skin. Conditions like acne and rosacea are due to inflammation. Beaded scrubs only cause more irritation in the skin.

How to wash? WITH YOUR FINGERS! Ditch the washcloths, throw out the Clarisonics. Please. Lukewarm water, gentle circular motions with your fingertips, and rinse. It’s that simple.

Protip: Using a gentle cleanser allows your skin to tolerate more actives (like retinoids, AHAs/BHAs) in your skincare routine, which are actually the workhorses!)

And this same secret answers the question of how often we should be washing our face. Typically, because my patients use retinoids and other active ingredients, they only need to wash their face at night before bed. This cleanses the skin of the day’s dirt and debris, and allows a clean canvas for the rest of their skincare routine.

In the morning, rinsing with lukewarm water is enough of a cleanse.

What about after a workout? If one has acne prone skin, I prefer a quick wash with a salicylic acid cleanser. With normal to dry skin, sometimes just plain rinse with water can be enough.

More questions on cleansing? Get at me.