Facial Cleansing For Healthy And Clear Skin

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Skin cleansing is the first and most important step in maintaining a healthy and glowing skin. Sweat, dirt, grime, dust, chemical pollutants in the air, bacteria and dead skin cells accumulate on the surface of the skin and inside the pores.

These irritants should be removed from the skin properly before applying any makeup. Cleansing is the only method of getting rid of these pollutants.

Many women are under the misapprehension that soap and water are enough to remove the impurities. This is not true. Soap will not get rid of bacteria or old makeup completely. The reason is that bacteria can be killed by using only anti-bacterial soap. Any common cosmetic soap will not remove bacteria.

Makeup like foundations, blush-ons are prepared using chemicals which hold on to the skin for a long duration. This is done in order to make the makeup last. Hence, a good cleansing routine should be followed.

Makeup worn during day time should be removed after 8 -12 hours. This cleansing should be done religiously before going to bed. Use cleansers like cleansing creams, lotions and milk. If you don’t have any of the cleansing products then use a simple cold cream or baby lotion to get rid of all traces of makeup.

Always massage the cleanser on the skin in an upward movement using light pressure. Use only the tips of your finger to spread the cleanser on face and neck. Follow the upward movement with outward movement. Don’t forget to clean areas under the chin, the creases around the nose and laugh lines around the lips. Take care to clean the ear lobes as well.

Take care to use moist cotton for cleansing your face. Dry cotton is not only abrasive on the skin; it can also rob your skin off its natural moisture. Cleanse thoroughly using three to four wools of cotton. The last cotton wool used should come out clean.

Of course this would also depend on the amount of makeup you have been wearing. Less makeup would require less time to clean up whereas heavier makeup will require more effort. If you have oily skin then wash your face with a medicated soap after removing the makeup. This will get rid of signs of grease on your skin. Don’t forget to rinse your face properly with water.

Cleansing Creams

Cleansing creams have a double role to play. They not only help wipe dust and grime from the face but is also handy when it comes to removing stale makeup. Makeup cannot be cleaned simply with soap and water. The reason is that products like paraben that are used in the formulation of makeup have a waxy base. It is difficult to get rid of this wax coating completely with only a wash. Use of a good cleansing cream or lotion becomes important to wipe the face clean of stale makeup.

Cleansing creams should always be applied in an upward stroke and left on the skin for about half a minute. This gives the cream ample time to penetrate deep into the skin pores and bring out the hidden impurities. Leaving the cleansing cream on the skin for some time also helps dissolve the makeup.

Use a soft facial tissue or a wet cotton wool to wipe the skin off the cleansing cream. Using a cleansing cream will help keep the pores clean. Clogged pores often result in formation of blackheads that are responsible for giving rise to acne and pimples. Cleansing creams can be purchased at any drug store but they are also easy to prepare at home.

Rose Water Cleansing Cream

Women across the globe have been using this cream for centuries to keep their skin clean and fresh. To prepare the cleansing cream you will require

4 teaspoons beeswax (you can also use white paraffin wax)

2 teaspoons emulsifying wax

8 teaspoons vegetable oil or mineral oil

12 teaspoons rose water½ teaspoon borax and

4-5 drops of rose essential oil (for giving perfume to the cream)

You will require one tablespoon glycerin as well if you have extremely dry skin.

Begin by melting the waxes and oils in a double boiler. In a medium sized pan heat rose water and borax till borax dissolves completely. Now remove the double boiler and the pan from heat and add water-borax mixture to the wax-oil mixture. Stir well till a white thick cream starts forming. Pour rose essential oil in to this cream after it has cooled completely. Mix the essential oil well by stirring the cream.

If you prefer lotion over cream then simply increase the quantity of rose water. Refrigerate the cream or lotion if you live in hot climate.

Witch Hazel Cleansing Cream

This cleansing cream is suitable for all skin types.

You will require

8 teaspoons baby oil

4 teaspoons almond oi

l4 teaspoons distilled water

2 teaspoons witch hazel

One teaspoon beeswax or white paraffin

2 teaspoons emulsifying wax½ teaspoon borax and

A few drops of lavender essential oil for perfume

Combine the waxes with the oils and melt them in a double boiler over medium heat. In a pan add water and borax and heat the mixture stirring it continuously to dissolve the borax well. Into this water-borax mixture add witch hazel. Take care not to leave the pan on the flame for long or the witch hazel will evaporate completely.

Remove the waxes from heat after they have melted completely. Pour the witch hazel-borax-water mixture in the wax mixture. Slowly add water to this mixture while stirring continuously. The mixture will begin thickening. Now add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the thickening mixture.

Let the cream cool before using. Increase the quantity of baby oil if you have extremely dry skin or stay in places that have harsh winters. Use of baby oil and almond oil will not harm oily skin. Both the oils have excellent cleansing properties and remove dirt, grime and makeup from the skin pores without leaving any oily layer on the surface of the skin.

Photo Credit- Neelscorner.com

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