Why do we need to cleanse the skin?  Well I am going to tell you, besides us all wanting the perfect skin, it is fundamental for a healthy complexion. 

Plus:

• Remove all the dirt, pollution and make-up that is on our skin
• Help reduce the risk of blemishes and irritation to the skin
• Get rid of excess sebum that is left on the skins surface and sweat
• Gently exfoliate the skin of dead skin cells (desquamation), this will improve the skin’s appearance and expose younger cells giving you a fresher look
• Also get it ready for toning

Once you have done your skin analysis it is then important to get the correct products for your skin type and condition (if any).  

WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR CLEANSING YOUR SKIN:

Damp cotton wool – as you don’t wish to drag the skin with dry cotton wool.

Your correct cleanser for your skin type

Eye make-up remover – this will also take off your lipstick.

Headband  

SUPERFICIAL CLEANSING PROCEDURE:

• It is always advisable to put your hair back in a headband first to avoid getting any in your hair or your hair getting in the way of your cleansing routine.  Don’t forget to wash your hands.

• Take some eye make-up remover in the palm of your hand and rub a little very gently over the lashes and the eye socket in circular movements, with one finger.  Remove with damp cotton wool.  Some therapist prefer to work down the eye socket from the eyebrow and then when removing make-up from under the eye – outwards from the nose.  Then again some prefer to work from the corner of the eye to the nose, but whatever way you do it, be very careful with the skin around the eye.  Do this until all your eye make-up is removed.

•   Take some damp cotton wool and apply a small amount of eye make-up remover to it and gently wipe across your lips from one side then fold and wipe back over in the other direction.  Do this until all your lipstick is off.

•   Put some cleanser in your hands (rub together so both hands have some) and then work the cleanser in upward gentle sweeping movements from the base of the neck.  I find it easier to overlap my hands working on one side of the neck and then go across the neck to the other side.  It also helps if your elbow are in the air as if someone was doing it for you.  Don’t worry you can always close the bathroom or bedroom door so no one sees you.

•   Start working over the jawbone up to the cheeks with the same movements, making sure that you have enough cleanser on your hands so not to drag the skin.  Do this 6 times on each cheek, not forgetting to sweep across the chin to the other side.

•   When you have done the cheeks, close your mouth and sweep across above your upper lip with one finger and at the same time with the remaining fingers sweep across the chin.

•   Make your way up your face again to the nose and carefully rub either side of the nostrils up and downwards (you can put your arms down for this) work your way to the tip of your nose and overlapping hands work your way up the nose to the forehead.

•   At the forehead, work the cleanser over the forehead as you did the neck.  When covered then part the hands and finish at the temples.

•     Remove all the cleanser in the same way as you applied it, with damp cotton wool.  Place a flat piece of damp cotton wool between your fingers on both hands.   

Then you will go on to do a DEEP CLEANSING PROCEDURE:

•   Take some more cleanser and apply the same as you did before from the base of the neck to the cheeks, nose and forehead.  When the area is covered with cleanser, take your thumbs and place them both on one cheek, your fingers should be under the chin.  Gently roll your thumbs downwards (one thumb at a time followed directly with the other, see picture above) to meet your fingers at the jawbone, continue this movement all over the cheek then across the chin onto the other cheek, repeat a couple of times, but do not irritate your skin by doing it too much, finish on the left side of your face.
• Sweep your right hand across your chin and then move both hands upwards to the nose.  Do the same movement as before for the nostril, then in small circular movements.
• Now over the nose area sweep your hands upwards to your forehead.  Take your fingertips and gently do circular movements over the forehead working from just above the nose to the temples.
• Remove the cleanser with damp cotton wool, using the same movements as the superficial cleanse just making sure that you have removed all of the cleanser.

Well done, you have cleansed your skin, it will get easier once you get the hang of it and your skin will also feel so much better!  Now you can read about toning your skin.