Cleanliness is next to ... gorgeousness?
Confession: I used to be of the beauty school of thought that if my face didn’t feel “tight” after cleansing, it ain’t clean and my skin’s still dirty.
Oh, how wrong I was. That squeaky clean sensation is so 1990s. We now know that odds are, if your face feels as if it’s been stretched by a plastic surgeon, it’s probably too clean – not a good thing at all, because that means your cleanser is wicking away water and lipids which are crucial for cushioning our complexion. The result? Wrinkly skin like a Shar-Pei’s. Cute on a dog, just not for us.
Algenist Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser, $51
Happily, there are some super next-gen cleansers that get the job done without collateral damage to your skin. Like oils? Try Algenist’s Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser, which melts into your mien immediately and supercharges it with microalgae oil.
The latter is said to to be a potent plumping agent that’ll keep your for skin that’s soft like a baby’s for up to five times longer than uncleansed skin over a 24-hour period. Basically, it’s a cleanser that almost doubles as a lightweight hydrator, it’s that good.
Sephora Collection Ultimate Warming Cleanser, $19
Or suss out Sephora’s Ultimate Warming Cleanser, which actually makes what can be a tedious daily routine into something to look forward to. Slap the comforting salve onto your skin and it instantly “warms” up – so very “cool”. The delightfully honey-like consistency also boasts a delicious maple sap extract for hydration; just remember this baby isn’t edible!
Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel, $104
Then there’s the whole painful pimple-prone phase where I avoided all scrubs and such. Sure, while it’s true that hardcore scrubs should be avoided at all costs, exfoliation really is for everyone – in fact, if you have reactive skin, gently lifting off debris and dead cells can actually help to unclog pores. How about that.
The trick is in finding products that are effective yet gentle enough for all skin types. Skin Inc’s Pure Revival Peel is completely non-abrasive and stuffed with skin goodies like antioxidants and a botanical complex, both of which work in tandem to salvage skin at the DNA level and sop up harmful free radicals.
Boscia Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder, $52
What else? Try Boscia’s Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder, which is really cool because you can adjust the level of intensity simply by using more or less water. For a deeper cleanse, mix less water with more powder to get a thicker paste before massaging onto your skin: Magic!
Right, then. Try all of ‘em out and let me know if these hero products work as well for you as they did for me. Cheers, and jiayou!