Education

Did you know that in the 1980’s it was quite common in facials to have your face cleansed with oil and the oil was removed with an alcohol-based toner?   For those of us who’ve never experienced this- we can be thankful.  The concept seems archaic now, but there was logic behind this approach, which is why the concept is having a come-back, without the drying alcohol.

Make-up Artist Shu Uemura was a pioneer in cleansing oils, Dermalogica launched Pre Cleanse- to name a few products that are available. Few people would think that cleansing their skin with oil is helpful, especially people with oily/acneic skin.  The amazing thing about these cleansing oils is that they are good for all skin types and conditions- they can even help improve oily/acneic skin types.  So how and why do they work?

It’s quite a simple concept to grasp when you look at it from a chemistry perspective.  Oils are attracted to oils.  So when you massage the cleansing oil into your skin, it’s being attracted deeper into the follicles (pores) in your skin and grabbing onto layers of excess sebum (oil), sunscreen, waterproof make-up, environmental pollutants and residual skin products that build-up during the day.  

It’s great to have these oils deeply cleansing our skin- but how do we remove it without stripping our skin?  With Dermalogica’s Pre Cleanse, a blend of Olive and Kukui Nut oils  have been formulated to be hydrophilic (water-loving). Once water is added to the oils, they are broken down in to a milky emulsion which is easily rinsed off the skin.

A fact that was brought to my attention recently was about how our skin has many functions (nine in total), but what it cannot do is purify itself. I think the importance of cleaning our skin goes by the way-side with the distraction of anti-aging serums, creams and masks.  But the first step to healthy skin, is clean skin.

I’ve put this theory to the test and I’ve had amazing results.  I’ve been double cleansing my skin in the morning and at night with a cleansing oil and a skin specific cleanser. A double cleanse seems to be the only way that I get my skin truly clean.  With one cleanse, it’s too easy to spend a mere 10 seconds rubbing a cleanser around and quickly rinsing it off.  When I wash my skin twice, it takes my 30 second cleanse to two minutes and I get better results. My skin hasn’t felt and looked this good in years. It’s brigher, smoother and I have fewer blackheads and break outs.

If you’re not happy with how your skin is feeling and looking- try a cleansing oil combined with a double cleanse for a month and test it out. If you’re currently using a cleansing oil, has it worked for you? 

   

Dermalogica Pre Cleanse