CLEANSER BENEFITS

• with a gentle facial cleanser, you create a fresh base

People often gloss over facial cleansers when building their skincare routine. Instead, they focus their energy and money on serums, eye creams and moisturizers, but that’s a big mistake. If you don’t lay the proper foundation by using the best cleanser for your skin type, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle from the very beginning.

SO, before putting on any serums, creams, or oils, always start with cleansed skin, both morning and night.

• What does a cleanser do for your face?

A quality face wash—tailored to your needs—should cleanse your skin of dirt, sebum, makeup, and debris without stripping it of essential oils and maintain its pH balance. It should create a clean canvas so that whatever you put on topically afterwards has a much better uptake into the skin, meaning it can penetrate better.

• How long do you leave the cleanser on your face?

That really depends on your skin type. For oils, gels, and foams, aim for at least 30 seconds, or until the product lathers up on your face. However, it’s always best to read the instructions.

TONER BENEFITS

• Use a toner to clear pores

Do you need toner? Technically, no. But the right one, when used correctly, can help improve your skin. Traditionally, on cleansed skin, toner is swept on with a cotton pad.

• So, what does face toner do?

A toner is a liquid that’s meant to remove any makeup, dirt or oil that’s left on your skin after cleansing. Every formula is different and may contain moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or exfoliating ingredients. If you choose to use one, it’s important to select one that’s best for your skin’s needs. If you have sensitive skin (it reacts easily, is prone to redness and is often itchy), look for one that’s hydrating and alcohol-free, so it won’t be overly drying and cause irritation.

If you have acne-prone skin, that’s when toners can be extremely beneficial. One ingredient to be on the lookout for is glycolic acid. Like all alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), glycolic acid is watersoluble, which means that it works well on the superficial skin layers. The best glycolic acid toner is one that has less than 5% glycolic acid and helps bring your skin back to its natural acidic state, sweeping impurities away and helping your skin absorb your skincare products.

Acne, or “acne vulgaris”, is an oily skin condition where skin’s sebaceous glands produce excess sebum. This causes pores to become clogged with dead cells and sebum. Sometimes, the process stops there, resulting in blackheads and whiteheads. This is known as “retentional acne”. In more severe cases, bacteria multiply in the trapped sebum and cause inflammation in the skin, resulting in superficial pimples called pustules, or deeper, hard and painful lesions called nodules and cysts. This is called “inflammatory acne”.

WHAT CAUSES ACNE?

In acne, an inbalance in hormones called androgens cause the sebaceous gland to produce lots of oil. The same hormones cause increased production of skin cells lining pores. Pores then get clogged with a mixture of cells and sebum, becoming a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. This results in several types of pimple ranging from red spots to pustules or deep, painful cysts.

HOW CAN I GET RID OF ACNE?

Mild acne can be managed with the right dermocosmetic solutions. Gently cleanse skin twice daily with a micellar water or foaming cleansing gel. Follow with daily skincare with active ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide and piroctone olamine. If these measures are not enough, see your dermatologist to ask about medical treatments such as retinoids, antibiotics and isotretinoin.