Cleansing may seem like the simplest part of your daily skincare routine, but it may also be the most important. In fact, if you don’t get the basics right, you’re setting your skin up for trouble.

Improper cleansing is a common factor behind skin behaving inconsistently. This is why your face can sometimes feel oily, while at other times extremely dry. It’s also a factor in why pigmentation products could only seem to work for a short while. 

It’s important to note that cleansing doesn’t just remove excess sebum, bacteria, and external pollutants. It also helps ensure that you maximise the effectiveness of your other skincare products!

No time to research the right cleansing habits? Don’t worry, we’ve prepared a handy list of five key questions to ask yourself about your current skin cleansing method.

Are natural organic surfactants in your cleanser?

The skin is the body’s largest organ, so you should remember to prevent your skin from being polluted or irritated by the hundreds of chemicals that can be found in many of the products available – such as SLES that damage your skin’s natural protection.

Natural organic skincare products have much friendlier ingredients, like the natural organic surfactant Decyl Glucoside, which cleans your skin while removing less of its natural oils.

Is your cleanser formulated to maintain your skin’s pH at 4.5 to 5.5?

You’ve got to ensure that your skin’s pH levels are kept between 4.5 and 5.5. This is a safe zone for all skin types, so your skin will be well-balanced. Remember, a great deal of your skin’s natural protective components only function with the right pH levels.

How much time do you spend cleansing?

You also need to balance how much time to balance the pitfalls of both spending too little and too much time on your skin cleansing routine. Rushing the routine could prevent dead skin, foreign bacteria, excessive sebum and pollutants from being properly removed – which will also prevent your organic skin care product from penetrating your skin properly.

On the flip side, spending far too much time on your cleansing routine could help burrow bacteria deep into your pores, leading to clogged pores and pimples. As a general rule, you should be done cleansing your face, neck, and décolleté in 2 minutes.

How hot is your water?

Your skin isn’t only sensitive to pH levels. It’s also important to ensure that you wash your face with lukewarm water, as hot water can cause irritation, excessive dryness, and may play a part in early ageing.

How rough is your towel?

There are those who believe that vigorously rubbing the skin with a towel helps one do a better job of cleaning their skin. This is wrong and, in fact, causes irritation. You’re better off using a soft, absorbent towel to dry your skin – and gentle pats are a better alternative to rubbing your skin.

What cleanser should you use?

As mentioned before, natural organic skincare products cause much less wear and tear on your skin due to safer ingredients. For example, bSoul’s Hydra Milk Cleanser has an isodermic formulae that is safe to use on all skin types and works to maintain the skin’s protective barrier function. It removes make up and cleanses effectively at the same time. If you need a dry skin solution, we recommend using bSoul Nutri Comfort day and night moisturizer. If you’re looking for an oily skin solution, your best option is bSoul Hydra Comfort day and night moisturizer.