Facial Cleansing Dos and Donts

Your face will thank you for getting into a good skincare routine

Most of us want to do the very best we can for our skin. After all, our skin, specifically our faces, feature in first impressions, photos, and will be with us for the rest of our lives.  In order to take care of your precious face -- not to mention your body’s largest organ -- a great skincare routine is critical. It’s the first step to protecting our skin from as many germs and bacteria as possible.

Our Own Worst Enemy

Even the healthiest people on this Earth have germs. In fact, there are anywhere from 2 to 10 million bacteria on your fingertips at this very moment. This bacteria is easily transferable and can survive on the surface of your skin for up to 3 hours. Even if you are told multiple times to not touch your face, we all still do it -- typically without even realizing it.  On average, a person will touch their face about 16 times per hour. Assuming that you get your recommended eight hours of sleep, this is roughly 256 times that your hands will touch your face in a single day. That’s 256 opportunities for the millions of bacteria to leave your fingertips and latch onto your face. Once the bacteria reaches your face it cultivates and disrupts the balance of the skin bacteria. From here, your pores begin to clog and the oil begins to accumulate on your skin; this can lead to the development of acne.

Unclog Those Pores

A simple solution to ensure your pores are clean is similar to clean hands: wash! Washing your face at night can help eradicate dirt, bacteria, make-up, sweat, and anything else that you have ‘faced’ during the day. Ideally, dermatologists suggest washing your face twice a day. Of course, this recommendation is subject to change based on things such as skin type, activity level, and dryness of skin.

The Dos and Don’ts

Just as important as washing your face is making sure that you have a good product to get the job done. Some cleansers can make your face feel squeaky clean and tight but this may not be the best thing. Menas Kizoulis, scientific engagement leader breaks down why the tight, squeaky clean feeling is not the one you should be searching for:

“While removing dirt and oil, the surfactant interacts with the stratum corneum, the skin's outermost layer and protective barrier—and that is where problems begin. The surfactant can remove the good oils skin produces, resulting in overdrying.”

That’s why it’s important to avoid certain ingredients commonly found in skincare products like parabens, siloxanes, and propylene glycol. Chemicals like these can weaken, dehydrate, and irritate your skin, all things that can make your skin appear clean when really, it’s compromised. In reality, skin care products with these problematic products can slowly break down your skin.

When searching for exceptional skincare, look for these words in the ingredients list:

• Vitamin C: Lends a gorgeous natural glow
• Vitamin E: Provides outstanding moisturization
• Aloe Vera: Supports healing with moisturizing properties
• Caffeine: Naturally tightens and treats puffiness/swelling

These ingredients top most short lists of ideal ingredients for a great cleanser. They also have another thing in common -- you can find these ingredients, among others natural powerhouses, in Blue Monarch products. With Blue Monarch, a paraben will never be a problem nor will any siloxane, propylene glycol, or any other nasty, hard to pronounce chemical.

Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Routine

When you take the extra time at the end of a long day to do your skincare routine, your skin will thank you. The benefits of this are that the health of your skin will improve, and it will prevent future issues. Think of a skincare routine as being proactive. If you stay ahead of issues, you shouldn’t have any.

By sticking to a daily skincare routine, you can also help slow down your aging process. Your skin will stay naturally tight (not to be confused with the restrictive feeling of a stripping cleanser) and hydrated, which can translate as less chance of developing wrinkles.

Self-care can be such fun, while also helping you tune in with your body and what it needs. The trick is supplying your skincare routine with the right products. For example, give yourself a glowing start to your day with a Brightening Face Cream from Blue Monarch, proven to provide long lasting hydration and moisturization

Take care of your skin for all the times that you touch your face! Shop the whole line of Blue Monarch Skin Care for natural skincare products that are great for your face, and have ingredients you can pronounce!