Why is cleansing your skin properly so important? There are 5 very good reasons outlined below!
1. Research shows cleansing before bed is essential to looking younger, longer.
Overnight, the skin needs oxygen to repair itself. And sleeping with your makeup on deprives it of this vital nutrient. “When makeup is left on, it blocks the natural exfoliating process, which can leave your skin looking dull”, says Clinic Manager, Gillian.
2. Night-time cleansing is essential for letting anti-ageing ingredients work.
Nocturnal blood flow in the skin is higher. And when blood flow is increased so is absorption and penetration of ingredients. So again, if you aren’t washing you can’t apply actives that will help fight ageing (or acne or whatever your skin condition might be).
Thus, if you don’t wash your face before bed it’s a missed opportunity to do something great for your skin and to wake up with smoother, softer, clearer skin.
3. Forgoing night-time cleansing regularly will give you larger pores.
First, consider that excess sebum (oil), dead skin cells, and pollution are sitting on your face. Not to mention makeup (and just because you don’t wear foundation is no excuse). A cleanser will emulsify all of these and remove them from the surface of your skin. According to Clinic Manager Gillian, when makeup is left on it can seep deep down, clogging pores. She also says that once your collagen levels start to decline (due to ageing), the pores do not snap back as easily once they become enlarged. And, leaving makeup on can lead to inflammation that can generate free radicals and collagen breakdown.
4. Night-time cleansing prevents skin dehydration.
Skin temperature rises overnight which leads to trans-epidermal water loss (evaporation). This evaporation is significantly increased during the night, which is why our skin can sometimes feel more itchy at night. Thus, if you don’t wash your face, you can’t apply a moisturiser which will help hydrate your skin while you sleep.
5. Day-time cleansing prevents excess oil production.
I know what you’re thinking: So why then do I have to wash it again in the morning; I went to bed with it clean? As we just learned, overnight your skin recovers. Which means in the morning you have more dead skin cells to slough off. And more excess sebum to emulsify. These can’t be rinsed away with mere water. Water alone removes only about 65% of oil and debris from the surface of the skin. Think about what you’re leaving behind – yikes!
Do you really want to put your makeup on top of dead skin cells & excess oil? Would you skip brushing your teeth in the morning because you did it before bed? I think not….
With all that in mind, here’s our handy guide to choosing the right cleanser for your skin:
If you’re still unsure or want more advice about how to kick-start your new skincare regime, why not book a consultation with one of our skin experts who will be happy to advise on the best products for you.
