Last week we held a skin event at Randle and Randle; as part of Face Map the Nation we were aiming to contribute to dermalogica’s target of analysing 20,000 skins throughout September and recommending suitable products to deal with concens and problems.
We welcomed lots of new clients interested in finding out about their skin and what the product range could do for them. What I found very interesting was the amount of clients who used facial/cleansing wipes on a regular basis, stating that they didn’t have time for a ‘proper’ cleansing regimen. In general most of them described their skin as feeling tight, not fully clean and that occasionally they would get flaking, especially when the climate/temperature began to drop. Saying you use face wipes instills horror and disbelief right to the very core of every skin specialist, but as with everything, there are pro’s & con’s!! Make up your own minds from the facts whether they suit you, your lifestyle and your skin.
Facial/cleansing wipes
Convenience: We all like a quick and effective method of cleaning our faces (especially after one too many vodkas on a night out). As a one off, you can get away with it but wipes only remove the surface dirt and make-up on your skin. In reality you’re actually smearing some of the existing impurities over the rest of your face and leaving them on the skin.
Cost: Most wipes are fairly cheap ranging from 99p upwards. If you use 2 per day and you get a pack of 50 then each cleanse costs you less than 1p. Great news!! But they’re cheap for a reason – low cost ingredients! (see below)
Ingredients: To keep the wipes ‘wet’ certain ingredients are included which aren’t beneficial to the skin (check the listings on the back of packets for the following culprits, although not all manufacturers use all of them)
Phenoxy ethanol – an alcohol which is a common irritant and used to preserve the wipes to prevent them from growing bacteria giving them a long shelf life. Alcohol is drying to skin as it strips away its’ natural oils.
Propylene glycol – a colourless, syrupy liquid at room temperature (found in e-cigarettes) is used as a stabiliser to keep wipes moist; it is an irritant. Industrial grade propylene glycol is used in anti-freeze (would you pour that onto a cloth and wipe your face with it?)
Methylisothiazolinone – used as a microbial agent to inhibit bacterial growth. It is common in wipes for babies and intimate areas. It can cause redness, blisters, rashes and swelling.
Sodium lauryl sulphate: a cheap surfactant (foaming agent) used to emulsify oils and lift them off the skin. It is a well known skin irritant which should be thoroughly rinsed off the skin with water; in the case of using wipes this ingredient will stay on the skins’ surface causing tightness, redness and irritation.
How do you feel about using wipes now? If you want to help your skin, prevent ageing and irritation then read on.
Professional cleansing products.
My training as a therapist – in particular the anatomy of the skin , has meant that undergoing further training with dermalogica has reinforced my belief in looking after your skin with the correct products and application methods. I believe in the products and the company ethos. Glynn and I use the products daily and we constantly see amazing results when clients begin to invest in and use the products themselves.
Cleanser: Should be prescribed for your skin type by someone who can explain why you should use it and point out the characteristics to support the choice. There are certain consistencies of cleanser and certain ingredients which will benefit a certain skin type or condition e.g. a creamy formulation will have an instantly softening effect on the skin but will still clean dirt and impurities without stripping off the natural oils. If the product is also water soluble (which all dermalogica cleansers are) then there is no danger of product being left on the skin to cause any reaction.
Ingredients: Steer clear of cleansers containing ‘parfum’ (synthetic fragrance), lanolin (cheap emollient which is a known irritant), mineral oil (sits on the skins surface causing blockages), alcohol (dries out the natural oils).
Cost: You will get what you pay for! A cheap cleanser at £3 will get rid of dirt but won’t help you get healthy, glowing skin. A 250ml dermalogica cleanser currently retails at £27.70. We recommend a double cleanse morning and evening – you will use approximately 5ml of product in a day = 55p per day: so your product will last around 50 days (just short of 2 months). Within a day you will notice your skin feels differently, within a week other people will notice your skin looks clearer – RESULT!
Convenience: This is a sticking point for some clients! We all need quick cleansing – what dermalogica offers is quick and effective cleansing. All the products love water so it’s ideal to use them in the shower or at the sink. It should take between 2-4 minutes to clean your skin. OK so this is slightly longer than skimming over with a wipe, but you will reap the rewards!
Conclusions
Hopefully you’ve found this blog helpful and it has allowed you to consider your skin care needs, and why sometimes your skin won’t look its best. Without cleaning your skin there is no point buying an expensive moisturiser because it has nowehere to go – it will sit on top of the skins dirt, natural oil and make-up. There are thousands of products out there and to try and get the right one for your skin, without advice is incredibly difficult. If you have a cupboard full of products that you’ve bought in the past and not used because they don’t work, (or have made your skin condition worse),then you’ve wasted time and money to experiment. Come and see us in the salon for a Facemap skin analysis, try products before you buy and ask as many questions as possible so you understand why your skin is behaving like it is. Let us take the guesswork out of skin care – invest in the one skin you have and make it the healthiest it can be.