Cleansing your face

This comprehensive guide to face care will optimize your cleansing routine. Find out what ingredients suit your skin type and more.

By IDIT GUR
Skin Care (photo credit: Courtesy)
Skin Care
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Facial cleansing should be done twice a day, using ingredients that will remove both water-soluble and oily dirt without removing the natural protective flora (the good bacteria that covers the skin). Daily cleansing is required to remove dirt that is accumulated from our surroundings, such as dust, sand and soot, as well as perspiration, makeup and residual cosmetic substances.
Cleansing formulas are divided according to the cleansing stages and areas of the face. There are products that are meant for removing eye makeup, general formulas for the whole face, soap for different skin types and hydrophilic oil for removing excess oils.Cleansing products
Makeup remover: Its role is to remove leftover makeup easily and efficiently without irritating the skin or eyes. Soothing ingredients are usually added, such as jojoba or chamomile. Makeup remover may come in lotion, oil or gel form. Whatever the form, it is important that it be hypoallergenic .and rinse off easily with water
Cleansing lotion: This is an emulsion which removes dirt that dissolves in fat. It is not a penetrating cleanser, so it does not remove the natural flora. Color and scent are often added, as well as active ingredients according to skin type. The difference between the various cleansing lotions lies in their degree of thickness and the added active ingredients.
Toner: This substance doesn’t contain oily ingredients. It completes the cleansing lotion’s action and is thus applied after. Toners for different skin types differ in their added active ingredients and concentration level. Toner contains a certain percentage of alcohol. It removes oily dirt and leftover cleansing lotion, renders a feeling of freshness, shrinks pores and purifies the skin. Recommended amount of alcohol in toner according to skin type: -Sensitive skin 0% - Dry skin 0-5% - Normal skin 15-20% - Oily skin 25-35% - Problem skin, up to 45%  
Face soap: This substance dissolves oils and has a foaming quality. There are liquid soaps and bars of soaps. Regular soap should not be used with tap water, as it produces salt residue (salt, calcium and magnesium) that seals the skin and pores.The PH level of regular soap solution dries out and irritates the skin. Soapless soap, on the other hand, can be used with tap water.Its PH level is almost neutral, so it doesn’t dry out the skin, doesn’t remove the natural flora or cause irritation.
Hydrophilic oil: Apply hydrophilic oil on your face, then wet your hands with a little water to form a lotion. This lotion removes dirt that dissolves in oil and water.
Cleansing stages
1. Removing eye makeup: Pour some makeup remover onto an absorbent cotton ball or pad while supporting the forehead area over the eyebrow with your other hand. Start removing makeup from the eyebrow line, from the top to the bottom and then from the outside to the inside. Repeat on the other eye, using a clean piece of cotton. Don’t rub the eye. If you experience irritation, use a compress of herbal essences such as chamomile.
2. Removing makeup from the lips: Support the edge of the mouth with one hand, and with the other hand remove the makeup using cotton and makeup remover.
3. Cleansing the face and neck: Using cleansing lotion and toner, soap or hydrophilic oil, put some of the substance in your palm, rub it a little to warm it up and spread it on your face. Apply with both hands on both cheeks, as well as the neck and cleavage area. Spread the substance on the face outwards. In the neck and cleavage area, spread downwards, from outside inwards and down.
4. Using a wet wipe, remove the remaining cleansing substance.

The writer is the founder of the Eve Center cosmetic school.