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Do You Really Have to Wash Your Face in the Morning?
If you care about your skin, it’s essential that you wash your face at night, and, we’ve written about why that’s important before. Do you need to wash your face in the morning as well? It depends. Learn more in this post. Shop Aha-Mazing Clean Gel Cleanser Shop Cloud Nine Foaming Cleansing Creme How Many Times a Day Should You Wash Your Face? For most of us, a once daily face wash is enough. Nightly cleansing helps to remove dirt and make-up that accumulates on your skin during the day. It also gets rid of oil build-up that can lead to clogged pores. But what about in the morning when all you’ve done is sleep? Whether or not to wash your face in the morning comes down to skin type and preference. Some of us prefer a warm water splash while others enjoy a morning cleanse. If your skin doesn’t feel dry or oily, continue on with what works for you. If you have oily skin, however, a morning face wash may be essential to help clear away excess oil. Can You Wash Your Face Too Much? While once or twice a day is best for most skin types, there are times when you may want to sneak in one more wash. A third wash can be okay if you’ve been sweating a lot or want to remove make-up ahead of an activity like going to the gym. Over washing removes skin’s protective oils and can lead to dryness, irritation or breakouts. Pay attention and cut back if this seems to be the case. Choose the Best Cleanser With so many cleansers to choose from, how do you find the best one for your skin? No matter what type of cleanser you lean towards, the most important thing is to ensure is that it’s gentle, even if you have oily skin. Harsh, soap-based cleansers are alkaline and can disrupt your skin’s pH leading to redness and irritation. Just as importantly, dry skin types should avoid cleansers that may leave a greasy layer on your face. Opt for creamier textures like our Cloud Nine Foaming Cleanser, if you have dry, sensitive skin. Oily or combination skin types do well with exfoliating and/or foaming cleansers like our AHA-Mazing Clean Gel, which is formulated with alpha hydroxy acids to help dissolve oil. Somewhere in the middle? You have the luxury of using what you enjoy and switching things up! Back to you? Morning cleanse – yes or no?
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What Happens If You Don't Wash Your Face?
You’ve likely heard it before: “Always wash your face.” You’ve heard it so many times, it must be good advice. But is it? Can anything bad really happen if you don’t wash your face? Find out in this post. Shop Aha-Mazing Clean Gel Cleanser Shop Cloud Nine Foaming Cleansing Creme Wash Your Face to Clean & Prep It The main reason to wash your face is to clean it. A cleanser helps to remove dirt, make-up and oil that can accumulate on skin over the course of a day. Cleansing also helps to remove old, dead skin cells, which can build up on the surface, leaving skin looking dull and lifeless. The accumulation of these impurities along with dry and dead skin cells puts you at risk for clogged pores, which ultimately, can lead to breakouts. In addition to removing debris and potentially damaging substances, a clean face preps the skin’s surface for the application of subsequent skincare treatments. Actives are more easily absorbed deeper into the skin where they can exert their action. Moisturizing ingredients – humectants (which draw moisture to the skin); emollients (which soften and smooth skin) and occlusives (which lock moisture in) are also more effective, leading to increased hydration. The good news is that hydrated skin looks healthy and younger. Choose A Suitable Cleanser Convinced yet? If so, it’s important to choose a cleanser that’s right for your skin. There are many to choose from – gels, creams, powders, oils and balms – and we’ve written about them before. Choose one based on personal preference and also on your skin type. Sensitive skin tends to do better with milder, less foaming cleansers such as crèmes, balms and oils. Skin that is more tolerant can pick and choose. Cleansers can include actives such as alpha hydroxy acids (which help to exfoliate), moisturizing ingredients , antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. At Apothekari we offer two cleansers that are suitable for a range of skin types: Cloud Nine Foaming Cleansing Crème. Rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients to clean, moisturize and protect skin. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. AHA-Mazing Exfoliating Cleansing Gel. Infused with a triple combination of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to exfoliate, hydrate and help improve the health of skin. Caution sensitive skin. How to Wash Your Face When it comes to getting the deed done, you can follow a one or two-step method, which are explained in this post. The important bits: Use warm (not hot) water and rinse thoroughly Stay away from harsh surfactants (soaping agents) which strip away oils leading to dryness Ensure you wash your face at night. While there is some debate about a morning cleanse, at Apothekari, we feel that’s optional. The world isn’t going to end if you don’t wash your face, but your skin will look much better. Trust us on this one!
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An Exfoliating Face Cleanser for Summer
Our exfoliating face cleanser, Apothekari AHA-Mazing Clean Exfoliating Cleansing Gel, is ideal not only for summer, but year round. Regular use will help to keep skin feeling soft and smooth. And, we may be slightly biased, but we have to confess that we are quite partial to its refreshing and soothing mint scent! Shop Aha-Mazing Clean Gel Cleanser Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin. A build up of these cells can leave skin looking flaky, dry and even more wrinkled. They can also interfere with the absorption of active ingredients that you apply after. For these reasons, it’s important to remove these skin cells and an exfoliating face cleanser can help. Most skin types benefit from exfoliation if it’s done properly. However, certain skin types, such as sensitive skin, may not be able to tolerate products that exfoliate. In this case, it’s important to do a patch test first to avoid unpleasant side effects such as stinging, burning, redness or irritation. Two Ways To Exfoliate There are two main ways to exfoliate skin at home – mechanically or chemically. Both are safe and effective, and it really comes down to a matter of preference. Mechanical exfoliation involves the use of a tool such as a brush, a sponge or a scrub to help remove the dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliation relies on the use of chemicals such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) – found in Apothekari AHA-Amazing Clean Cleansing Gel, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA like salicylic acid) or L-ascorbic acid (a mild exfoliant, found in our Bespoke Vitamin C Serum), which work to gently dissolve the ‘glue’ that holds skin cells together. Experts often recommend chemical exfoliation over mechanical exfoliation because chemical exfoliants don’t penetrate very deeply and the results are not dependent on how you apply. When one mechanically exfoliates, it is possible to apply too much pressure or exfoliate for too long with an increased possibility of damaging or irritating skin. In the case of an exfoliating face cleanser, it is rinsed off, so the risk of over-exfoliating is almost non-existent. Besides using a cleanser, you may also choose to exfoliate chemically with a moisturizer, serum or lotion . Tips to Exfoliate To minimize skin irritation and damage, the following tips may help: Don’t Overdo It. Examine the skincare products you’re currently using, including those that are prescription medications or over the counter treatments, such as other topical acids or retinoids. Go slowly, paying special attention to how skin reacts. If your skin becomes red, irritated or you experience more breakouts, it’s a sign to cut back or spread treatments out. The frequency depends on your skin type and what you are using to exfoliate. Be Gentle. This is especially important if you are using scrubs or tools, which rely on pressure. Aim for small, circular motions, followed by a rinse with warm (never hot) water. If you have open cuts or wounds or skin is sunburned, exfoliating can wait. Moisturize. Skin can be dry after exfoliating so apply a hydrating treatment afterwards to maintain skin’s health. Our Daily Infusion Moisturizer offers gentle and light hydration that is suitable for all skin types. Our Exfoliating Face Cleanser Regular use of AHA-Mazing Clean Cleansing Gel can help to even out skin discolourations, minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and soften and smooth skin. A triple combination of alpha hydroxy acids maximizes its benefits and because it’s a rinse off product, it is well tolerated by most skin types. Use caution with sensitive skin.
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