Clean Up Your Act!
| 7th July 2015
Clients are constantly picking my brain to discover the new wonder cream, or a high-tech new foundation that will cover all manner of problems, to which I reply, “before we chat magic potions, lets go through your cleansing routine”, because the truth is there is no quick fix, thorough skin prepping is the only way that radiant, youthful glow.
Going back to basics…. when you re-access your facial cleaning and dedicate a little bit more time to it, you get results, simple! If you are rushing or skipping this essential stage, you may as well rub your £200 pot of miracle cream into the leather on your purse!
Lets get one thing straight, wipes do not constitute a proper cleansing routine! While they are okay for camping trips (one night only please), mid day freshen up, or long journeys, they do not actually clean your skin.
If you get that really tight feeling after cleansing that leaves you sprinting for your moisturiser, you will probably find you cleanser is full of sodium lauryl sulphate, which is really drying, destroys your natural pH balance and creates an environment for bacteria to thrive in, making blemish-prone skin worse. Sodium lauryl sulphate is usually only added to cleansers to produce foam/ bubbles, which sub-consciously makes us feels squeaky clean. Note – squeaky clean skin = dehydrated, pimply, unhappy skin – not good. I avoid sulphates at all costs, and when my clients have previously eliminated this stripping ingredient, they have experienced more supple, hydrated, much clearer and even skin.
A quick splash of water in the morning wont cut the mustard either, over night we are busy shedding dead skin cells, sweating, producing a bit of oil – sounds lovely – and this needs to be cleansed off before applying your daily skin care. Admittedly you don’t need to go to town in the morning, a once over cleanse with a milk, balm or a sulphate free gel formula is sufficient. Night time cleansing requires a bit more effort, if you wear make-up, or sun screen you will need to cleanse twice, once over to make-up remove and the second cleanse will remove dirt, excess oil, sebum and impurities. This also preps the skin for serums and moisturiser, making them work more efficiently. Cleansing oils and balms are extremely effective at giving the skin a thorough clean. Oil cleanses oil, so don’t worry if you have oily tendencies, it’s the one cleanser type your oily skin will love and react best to.
Some of my more natural balm cleansers are packed with such a cocktail of skin gorgeousness, I like to leave them on the skin (when I have time) for a good 15-20mins as a mask before removing… heaven.
Amba’s Hit List:
Cleansing Balms
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm £38.00 for 100ml, – my personal favourite!
Keep you eye open for regular offers at marks and Spencer & Feel unique.com
REN Rosa Centifolia™ No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm £24.00 for 100ML
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £39.50 for 105g
Cleansing Oils
Decleor Micellar Oil £25.00 for 150ml
Elemental Herbology Harmonising Cleanser £29.00 for 100ml – great for balancing combination, oily skins.
Aesop Parsley Seed Facial cleansing Oil £39.00 for 200ml
And for those who still love a wash…………..
All the gel cleansers from REN are lovely, try the ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser for calming breakouts and inflammation £19.00 for 150ml
Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser £15.00 for 150ml
Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream £28.00 for 200ml – best for dryer skins!
www.cassielomasmakeupacademy.co.uk
Credits- Photographer: Karl Collins, Make Up: Amba Logan at Creatives Agency, Model: Chloe Grant at Industry People.