Cleansing your skin. Are you doing it right?

If you’re a woman who wears makeup and you’re washing your face with just soap and water, your skin is not really getting clean. And no matter who you are or what skin type you have, if you live in a city or spend time near auto traffic, soap and water simply aren’t enough to properly cleanse your skin.

Fight skin pollution

Soap is an efficient surface cleaner, but makeup leaves deposits deeper within skin’s pores. Automobiles emit acrolein, a toxic chemical produced by burning fuel, which can also get into the pores. Dust and dirt from the air also get into your pores. Often that dirt can get trapped in the pores by dead skin cells that accumulate at the top of skin’s pores.

Beyond soap and water

Cleansing milks and cleansing lotions are more efficient cleansers, and are formulated to emulsify and flush out dirt and other pollutants from the pores. And there are cleansing milks and lotions formulated for all different skin types, so you should be able to find one that brings out the best in your skin. If you are reluctant to give up your soap, try cleansing with your soap, and then following up with a cleansing milk or lotion formulated for your skin type.

Exfoliants boost cleansing power by removing dead skin cells

Unfortunately, neither soap nor cleansing milk nor cleansing lotion is truly effective at removing dead skin cells. It’s advised to supplement your daily cleansing with an exfoliant at least once a week. Again, there are many exfoliants available to cater to various skin types. Reviva Labs offers various scrubs and exfoliants, as well as our popular Light Skin Peel.

Facial Cleansing

Skin care professionals stress the importance of thorough makeup removal at bedtime. They also know that most women don’t cleanse their skin adequately. The chemicals and colorants in commercial makeups, while mostly safe, can clog pores and cause congestion in the skin. Normal perspiration during sleep can aggravate the situation. Instead of cleansing with soap before bedtime, skin care experts recommend a cleansing lotion or cleansing milk formulated for one’s skin type. Reviva Labs has many popular cleansers formulated for various skin types. In addition to the type of cleanser you choose, the cleansing method is also important. Apply cleanser with clean fingertips, then wipe off with a moistened cotton pad, turning cotton as you wipe until you see no traces of dirt or makeup on the cotton. This method is gentle and effective.

Special cleansing for oily skin

Many people with oily, acne-prone, or problem skin become obsessed with cleansing; sometimes using a strong soap or alcohol-based lotion up to six or eight times per day. While this may seem like a good idea, it usually gives the opposite of the desired result. “Over clean” skin causes skin to become overly dry. Overly dry skin causes the body to compensate by producing more oils, which leads to more blemishes. If you’re looking for a good cleanser for your skin type, contact the skin care experts at Reviva Labs for a recommendation at 800-257-7774.