1. What are the benefits of cleansers on the skin ?
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a. What does double cleansing mean?
b. What is a gentle face cleanser?
c. Wear sunscreen every day
2. Does a cleanser help improve acne?
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a. Can over-cleansing cause acne?
3. How to care for acne-prone skin?
Struggling with acne? We feel your pain! Blemishes can happen to just about anyone, and adult acne is surprisingly more common than people think. According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, acne affects 20% to 30% of adults aged 20 to 40. If you’re only reacting to a pimple once it reaches the surface of your skin, you’re likely perpetuating a cycle of breakouts. In an emergency, an acne spot treatment is a great solution, but it’s better to get ahead of the breakout before it develops with a solid cleansing routine.
Like with most things in life, you need to ensure that you’re acing the basics before any kind of advancement—and your skincare is no different. The good news is that the right cleanser can help treat blemishes before they become unmanageable. But there’s more to a perfect cleansing routine than wash ’n’ go. Kick-start your skincare routine into high gear with this master class in pimple-preventing cleansing.
1. What are the benefits of cleansers on the skin ?
Washing your face may be the most basic of skincare steps, but dermatologists know that using a gentle face cleanser is not only good for your skin but also the essential first step in achieving a clear, glowing complexion. Finding the best cleanser for acne-prone skin is a personal journey; it may take trial and error, but, at its core, a face cleanser should remove dirt, oil and dead skin cells.
Cleansers contain surfactants that wash away and dissolve unwanted substances and particles from the outermost layer of skin. They work by attracting makeup, dirt and oil so they can be washed away easily. Some gentle hydrating skin cleansers are formulated with moisturizing active ingredients that help to reinforce the skin barrier.
a. What does double cleansing mean?
The concept of double cleansing comes from Korea, in which you use two cleansers, back to back, to remove makeup. The first cleanser is often a balm or oil formula and removes sweat, bacteria and dead skin cells. This is followed by a water-based cleanser that removes any remaining dirt and impurities. But the question begs to be asked: Does double cleansing dry out skin? It’s possible but unlikely. With the right cleansers and technique, double cleansing shouldn’t harm the skin. If your skin is feeling tight and dry after double cleansing (or single cleansing), it’s a sign that you’re using the wrong formula. The best gentle face cleanser has a carefully balanced formula that cleans skin without stripping it.
b. What is a gentle face cleanser?
A gentle face cleanser uses mild cleansing agents that preserve the skin barrier. The best gentle face cleansers are often sulphate-free, oil-free, fragrance-free and soap-free. They prevent the stripping of natural moisturizers and oil while preventing irritation that can cause breakouts.
2. Does a cleanser help improve acne?
While cleansers have shorter contact with your face than a serum or moisturizer does, they’re an essential part of treating acne. Sure, they wash away dirt, oil and impurities and help to unclog pores while boosting your skincare’s efficacy by allowing for better absorption. But they also balance the pH of the skin and treat specific skin conditions, like acne.
a. Can over-cleansing cause acne?
When it comes to blemishes, stronger isn’t always better. Your skin naturally acts as a barrier, meaning it keeps out what it’s supposed to (dirt and environmental pollution) while keeping in the good stuff (moisture and some oils). But if you’re using a cleanser that’s too harsh—also known as over-cleansing—you run the risk of stripping the good natural oils, triggering your skin to produce, and oftentimes over-produce, sebum, which can lead to future breakouts. A good way to tell if you’re over-cleansing is your skin feels tight after cleansing.
3. How to care for acne-prone skin?
A one-size-fits-all cure-all for acne would be great, but it doesn’t exist. Acne is individual, and it’s caused by many internal and external factors. But there are some tried-and-true combinations of acne-fighting products and ingredients that you can rely on. Whether you’re looking to treat adult acne or want to know how to treat sensitive, acne-prone skin, here are some small changes you can make in your skincare routine that can set you up with clearer skin.
Use a gentle hydrating skin cleanser
When you’re looking for the right cleanser, the key is balance. Taut and tight are bad; dewy and moisturized are good. Here are some easy ways to make sure you’re cleansing properly—and to make your cleansing routine even more effective. The best cleanser for acne is one that’s packed with pimple-fighting ingredients while still being a gentle hydrating skin cleanser. Vichy Normaderm Anti-Acne Purifying Gel Cleanser is packed with exfoliating salicylic acid, which is important for healing cystic and severe acne. Another hard-working ingredient in this formula is zinc. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to relieve some of the redness and irritation associated with acne. A newer ingredient that’s joining the fight against acne is probiotics. They work by decreasing the counts of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) on the surface of the skin. Essentially, the probiotics create holes in the p.acnes and kill them while reinforcing the skin barrier.
Choose a mattifying skin toner
Toners are most beneficial to people with oily or acne-prone skin. They give skin an extra cleanse, removing every last trace of pore-clogging dirt, debris and makeup that cleansers might have left behind. The best gentle toner adds a powerful punch of skin-boosting ingredients to your routine while helping to remove any last trace of dirt. Vichy Normaderm Purifying Lotion does all that thanks to a combination of salicylic and glycolic acids while leaving skin mattified and balanced.
Exfoliate, the right way
Oily and acne-prone skin can be exfoliated up to three times a week. The best gentle scrubs contain chemical exfoliants. These are ingredients in skincare products—usually acids—that break the bonds between skin cells allowing you to easily wipe them away when you wash the product off.
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