Recently there has been many a discussion on the internet on whether or not to wash you face in the morning. After all, how dirty could your skin get over night? I personally am a huge fan of two cleansings per day. Once in the morning and once at night. Here's why...
The Difference Between Day & Night Cleansing
Day and night cleansings have one thing in common. They're both meant to clean the skin and present a fresh face for the rest of your skincare routine. Your night time cleanser has to work harder because of the oil and dirt you have come in contact during the day. It's critical that you remove any traces of makeup that you wore that day. Makeup is sure to clog the pores and contributes to breakouts if not properly removed. This means using a makeup remover or a double cleansing routine at night if you wear makeup. If you still have makeup on your towel when you pat your face dry after cleansing that means you haven't done a through job of cleansing your skin.
One thing you may not have considered even if you are not a makeup wearer is sunscreen buildup on your skin. Sunscreen is a vital component of any anti-aging skincare routine. Nothing works better at preventing the damage from sun that ages your skin. Wearing sunscreen negates many an extreme anti-aging solution you may need to consider in the future. When you prevent wrinkles and hyperpigmentation it's so much easier than trying to correct it. However, sunscreen left on your skin over night not only clogs the pores but acts as a barrier against effective exfoliation and other skin correcting products.
But, Do You Really Have to Cleanse Your Face in the Morning?
I have many reasons for recommending a morning cleansing...
Removes yesterday's treatment products. Leaving on last night's retinol, acids, peptides eye cream and night cream etc. leaves a barrier on your skin that prevents your morning treatment products like C & E Antioxidant Serum and other antioxidant serums or stem cell growth factors (Stem Stim) from properly getting into your skin and providing their fantastic anti-aging benefits.
Removes sweat and sebum produced while you slept. While you sleep your skin is producing sweat which can contribute to dehydration when left on the skin and oil which can contribute to clogged pores and breakouts. Never mind that remnants of bacteria and oil end up on your pillow case which is then reintroduced to your skin the following night.
Detoxifies your skin. Your skin is very busy during the night. It is during deep sleep that your skin does most of its repair and renewal. Waste products are created during this process and purged from the skin, left on the skin's surface it can be irritating, clogging and dehydrating.
Re-hydrates your skin. The process of using a gentle, well formulated cleanser actually raises the moisture content of your skin. You seal that moisture in with humectant based serums or moisturizers, or even a moisturizer/sunscreen hybrid. This of course depends on the cleansing formula you choose. Choose a detergent free cleanser that is void of harsh ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate which is a detergent that strips your skin of moisture. A tight feeling skin after cleansing may mean you've just dehydrating your skin. Soapy cleansers will loosen the bonds between cells and allow moisture to escape. Its essential to choose that perfect cleanser for your skin type. This is where your esthetician can help.
Prepares skin for your morning treatment products. In the morning the main job of your skincare routine is to protect your skin from the environmental assaults you'll encounter during the day. To do this we apply melanin inhibitors (Vitamin C), skin calming antioxidants (Sunrise Solution) and of course sunscreen (Brightening Day Protection SPF 50). By removing your night time residue of products you can ensure that you daytime actives will get deeper into the skin and do their important jobs.
Can't I just Splash with Water?
In a word... no! Water doesn't do anything to remove the substances found on your skin when you wake up in the morning. That means your daytime products aren't going to work as well. Furthermore just splashing water on your skin tends to dehydrate it. The water gets absorbed for a moment but quickly evaporates and tends to remove more moisture out of your skin than was there in the first place. This makes your skin more prone to dehydration. It is so obvious to me when clients come in for treatments that they are just splashing water on their face in the morning. There is a dullness and lathery look to their skin - matters made worse by not following up with a toner.
The Perfect Morning Cleanser for Your Skin Type:
REFRESH This new cleanser is absolutely the perfect morning cleanse for mature, dull or under-circulated skin. As one ages skin metabolism slows down. This light, detergent free gel cleanser contains no surfactants - not even mild surfactants that might dry out your skin. It does however contain these important actives that gently boost skin energy and give you a nice radiant glow to start your day.
HYDROSOLS - Very simply, a hydrosol is the water that is distilled with essential oils (also called floral waters). When the steam from the distilled water passes through the plant material, it takes with it the volatile oils from the plant. The two travel through the tube at the top of the steam vessel and down through a condensing tube. Once the water and oil have separated, the essential oil is siphoned off the top and what you have left is the hydrosol. It’s important to note that hydrosols are not simply distilled water with essential oils added to them. In this case, the two would not mix. Hydrosols create a much gentler, more diluted product, which is generally safer to use than an essential oil but still contain curative properties.
Rosewater Hydrosol - When applied topically, rose water eliminates dullness and instantly refreshes your complexion. Rose hydrosol is rich in antioxidants – molecules that protect the cells from oxidative stress and help your skin stay youthful and healthy. Rose water is also rich in vitamins and minerals that play a key role in the synthesis of collagen and elastin.
Orange Blossom Hydrosol - Orange hydrosol helps hydrate and tone the skin. According to Patricia Davis, author of Aromatherapy: An A-Z, orange blossom helps stimulates skin cells to regenerate, giving it anti-scarring properties. This makes neroli (orange blossom) a fantastic ingredient for stretch marks, age spots and scars. It has light astringent properties to balance sebum and promote skin elasticity.
ROSEHIPS - Rosehips contains a wealth of essential fatty acids, including linoleic and linolenic acid. Fatty acids help to keep cell walls strong and boost the barrier function of the skin. This means more protection agains trans epidermal water loss (TEWL). Rosehip oil is rich in Vitamins A and C, which are both necessary components for collagen production. Rosehips has also been shown to inhibit MMPs, the enzyme that breaks down collagen.
HAZELNUT EXTRACT - Due to the lipid molecules present in hazelnut's fatty acids, hazelnut extract is the ideal emollient for providing moisturizing properties. It works by improving the skin's ability to retain moisture, thus enhancing the skin's overall level of hydration and appearance.
NOTE: REFRESH contains energy boosting actives which may not be appropriate for sensitive skin.
Perfect for normal to combination skin types as well as most sensitive skins. This detergent free cleansing gel contains a very gentle surfactant derived from coconuts. That means it will foam ever so slightly and will not dehydrate even sensitive skins. It is a great morning cleanser for those with normal to combination skins who have produced a bit of oil and perspiration overnight. It leaves skin soft, clean and fresh feeling when used as your morning cleanser. You may also like to use it at night if you are not a makeup wearer, or as your second cleanser after a makeup dissolving cleansing milk.
This is a similar cleanser to gentle gel except it cuts a bit more oil. Great for younger skins, Orange Essence smells fresh and yummy. This is part of our Skincare 101 collection designed to start young clients off with a simple and effective program for their skin.
This is a favorite cleanser amongst oily skin types. It's minty ingredients cut excess oil on your skin. This leaves thicker, oily skins feeling cool and fresh in the morning. A great way to wake up your skin in the morning. This is also an energy activating cleanser and should be reserved for less sensitive skin types.
This acne reducing cleanser has anti-bacterial and pore clearing qualities, because it is based on salicylic acid. Problem skin will also enjoy the perfectly round jojoba beads that perform excellent morning exfoliation to whisk away dead cells that collected on the skin's surface overnight. This cleanser is designed to cut excess oil but without stripping your skin.
It's true that some skin's just can't tolerate any kind of gel cleanser. If this is the case, our tried and true Calming Chamomile Cleanser can be used twice a day. Chamomile is an herb that has been used for thousands of years to promote sleep when drinking chamomile tea. In skincare, chamomile placates redness because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Redness is a side-effect of underlying inflammation. If an ingredient is anti-inflammatory skin is soothed, it becomes less red and is less likely to become irritated.
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