While doing some research on cleansing the skin, I was shocked to learn that a number of women confess to sleeping with their makeup on! In fact, I gave a very good friend who, just the other day, commented on how much better her skin was looking now that she’d started removing her makeup every night and washing her face! And this woman is 30 years old!
So why is it so important to cleanse one’s skin?
Cleansing your face not only removes your makeup, but also dirt and debris that may have accumulated on your skin during the day.
In fact, research shows that pollution in the air is also ageing our skins. The culprit: an increase in miniscule particles and liquid droplets of pollution in the air so tiny that they lodge in pores. These environmental impurities destroy skin’s natural oils, which act as a protective barrier. This leaves skin exposed to free radicals and leads to collagen breakdown, ageing, cell damage, redness and irritation. The toxins also create a physical barrier that prevents treatment products from penetrating.
Not removing your eye makeup like mascara and eye-shadow can cause your eyelashes to become brittle and break. Sleeping with eye makeup can also lead to an eye irritation and infection.
Our skin naturally exfoliates itself by shedding dead skin. However, if makeup is left on the skin, this cannot happen, leading to a dull and flaky looking skin. Sleeping with your makeup on clogs pores, leading to acne, rashes, irritated skin and enlarged pores. It will also cause the skin to feel rough.
Nighttime is when the skin repairs itself, so it’s essential to clean the skin so it can absorb the treatment products you apply thereafter.
There are many cleansing options available, from foaming washes to balms and oils and micellar waters. For normal to dry, or just ageing skin, I quite like a cream cleanser and toner combination.
My current favourite is the QMS Deep Cleansing, R480 (BUY IT HERE) – This cleansing emulsion gently yet effectively removes makeup and impurities including eye makeup from the skin. All skin types can use it to deeply cleanse the pores, while enhancing dermal permeability (ensuring what you apply thereafter really penetrates the skin). You simply massage a little onto dry skin, morning and evening, massaging the cream into the skin using circular movements. You then remove the formula with warm water, using either your hands or a clean, damp facecloth.
Now, whenever you use a cream cleanser, it is a good idea to use a toner after. Why? Because a toner will remove any product residue left on the skin, as well as balance the skin’s natural acid mantle. It will also refresh the skin.
The perfect partner to the Deep Cleansing formula is the QMS Freshening Tonic, R480 (BUY IT HERE). This gentle toner leaves skin feeling clean, soft and fresh. It also neutralizes the skin’s PH level and contains no alcohol (an ingredient that is very drying to the skin). You apply it morning and evening, using a cotton wool pad. I love the way it refreshes my skin.
There is a lot of talk about whether a toner is actually necessary. It is, if you use a cream cleanser, oil or balm. If you cleanse with a foaming face wash, I don’t think you need a toner.
GIVEAWAY
I’ve got a QMS Deep Cleansing (R480) and a Freshening Tonic (R480) up for grabs for one lucky reader to try. To enter, subscribe to In My Bag (if you haven’t already) then, leave a comment below this post telling me why you’d like to try these two products. The winner will be chosen on Monday 7th December and notified by email.
