 Cleansing is the basis for achieving a healthy and functioning skin and you can’t cheat. Neglecting this stage is like doing a poor job cleaning and preparing the walls at home before you paint them and you wouldn’t do that (would you ?) If you buy an expensive moisturiser but neglect cleansing, you may as well throw the money in the bin.
Every day the skin is exposed to UV-light, dust and other pollutions. The skin is also the body’s largest organ and one of its main jobs is to get rid of “waste products” from the rest of the body. Cleansing gets rid of dirt, superfluous grease and dead skin cells and also helps the skin to uphold its natural protection.
 Most guys look at the huge range of products on the shelves, shake their heads, and then go home and think they are real men using only soap and water. Nothing could be more wrong. Soap and water drastically dries out the skin and this is due to the pH value. The skin’s natural pH value is 4.5-5.5, whilst soap it is around 12. By using a product with a completely different pH value you disturb the balance which leads to the skin drying out and the pores clogging up. Or, if you have oily skin, this can otherwise lead to the skin producing a surplus of grease. Either way, it's not a good look. And so now you have a few good reasons why you should use a cleanser and not soap – not too tricky, hey?
How to use it… Moisten the face with warm water and take a small amount of cleanser in your palms. Massage the cleanser on your face until it melts and wash off with more lukewarm water. Pat your face dry with a towel – do not rub!! Before applying moisturiser, don't forget to use toner!  1-2 times per week you can replace the cleanser with an exfoliator or a face mask but that is a completely different lesson – more about that later!
To achieve the best result you should use the cleanser in the morning as well as in the evening. A good trick is to do it before you shave so the stubble becomes soft. Another trick to speed things up a bit is to use the cleanser whilst having your shower. Getting rid of bad habits can be tricky though. If you do anything, just remember not to use that soap whilst showering – use the cleanser for the face instead. Finding the right products… So, now you know how to do it, let’s find out a few rules of thumb to get the right products. Probably the best way to get the products that are best for you is to go to a salon and get a skin analysis and a facial. The therapist will recommend products that are the best for you and your skin. However, do remember, they will be working on commission so if you feel they are trying to bombard you with products, leave.  One or two guys will probably hesitate to do this though and will want to find their products on their own which is fair enough. Here are some basic guidelines:
1 Foaming cleansers are normally better for oily skin since they tend to dry out the skin a bit more. 2 Some cleanser contains AHA acids. Do not use these if your skin is sensitive or dry as they are stronger than normal cleanser. They are best for problem skins and acne but can be harsh. 3 Cheaper products = cheaper ingredients. This used to be a good rule of thumb but these days there are very good products that are very reasonably priced. You never really know what products will suit you so it is a bit of trial and error until you find the right products for your skin (that analysis can really help here). That was the basics for cleansing – your face will now be clean and ready to moisturize but first something about toners and exfoliators. Did you miss Lesson 1 or need to freshen up before moving on - click HERE to get back. Otherwise - take me to Lesson 3! Recommended products: Clarins MEN - Active Face Wash, SEK 225, 125ml Recipe for men - Facial Cleanser - SEK 169, 100ml
Trackback(0)
 |
Category
RSS feeds
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
