Being faced with skin problems is no fun, whether it’s related to sensitive, dry or oily skin, maybe even eczema. Unlike your everyday cold, these issues are sometimes not as easy to cure. If you’re struggling with skin problems now, here are some reasons why it’s still bothering you even after all the cleansers and serums you’ve tried:
1. You wash your face with a foam cleanser more than ONCE a day
While washing your face in the morning is important, it’s best to use a non-foamy, gentle skin cleanser to cleanse your face of any oils or dirt accumulated during your sleep. Avoiding non-foamy cleansers in the morning will help you avoid stripping your skin of that protective layer it actually needs too. This will definitely help those with dry or sensitive skin.
2. You use oil blotting sheets
Yes, those blue pieces of paper you think is helping your skin is actually making it worse. By stripping your skin of that layer of natural oil it needs, you not only remove the protective layer from your face but at the same time, you’re pushing whatever dirt and grime that’s on your face further into your pores with every wipe. This will lead to blocked pores and even oilier skin in the future. Blocked pores also equal to more breakouts and blackheads btw!
3. You use that one bath towel for your body AND face
We’re willing to bet that you use the exact same bath towel for your face too. And although that’s convenient and your towel may seem clean (because you only use it after you bathe), there are still germs and microorganisms lingering on different parts of your body that can transfer onto your towel and then onto your face. This can cause some serious problems for your face over time and make it more prone to breakouts because of all that bacteria.
Instead, opt to have a separate, smaller sized towel for your face, and only your face.
4. You lather your face for wayyy too long
If you think that the longer you lather your face equals a cleaner face, then you are quite mistaken. When it comes to washing your face with a cleanser, you should never lather for more than 30 seconds, unless you’re using a non-foamy, gentle skin cleanser (in which case you can lather for up to 60 seconds). Otherwise, this can lead to dry, red and irritated skin. Instead, wet your face and apply your cleanser in a circular motion, then wash it off once it starts to lather. This should take you just over 20 seconds.
5. You love swimming
While swimming does help you stay in shape, swimming can often do tremendous damage to your skin (and hair)! Not only has a hundred other people been in the pool before you (imagine all the germs, sweat and bacteria!), but the high amounts of chlorine in the pool can strip your skin of its natural oils and cause irritation too.
6. You only use skin or facial products that smell nice
Are you the type of person who opens soap bottles at the pharmacy to sniff out if it smells nice before buying it? Well, the next time you buy a cleanser, you might want to opt for one that has no added fragrances! Simply because, 9 out of 10 times, those fruity, flowery smells that your soaps or cleansers emit aren’t natural and are all synthetic fragrances. They’re mostly made up of perfume and chemicals, most of which can be very harsh on your skin, especially if you already have sensitive skin. This can lead to breakouts too.
7. You think that more foam and bubbles = cleaner
When it comes to shampoo, soap or even cleansers, many of us have the idea that the more foam and lather it makes, the cleaner we become. While we may feel cleaner afterwards, that’s not actually the case. In fact, the chemical that causes the foam or lather in products, a.k.a. sodium stearate, is actually found in latex paints, inks and so forth. It’s known to strip your skin completely of its protective layer, which can cause your face or body to dry out and excrete even more oil in the future because your skin’s oil production kicks into overdrive.
That’s why, whether or not you have perfect or sensitive skin, it’s always best to play it safe.
One cleanser you can opt for to avoid all the nasty chemicals and sensitive skin problems is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser!
This cleanser helps to gently clean and moisturise your skin without stripping off its natural oils and it’s great for all skin types! You could even use this twice a day and not have to worry about over-drying your skin.
In fact, it comes with countless other benefits too, such as:
- Free of soap, lather, foam and fragrance (which are ingredients in skincare products that can cause breakouts)
- pH balanced, meaning the pH value is very close to the skin’s pH reading, thus ensuring it isn’t too alkaline
- Clinically proven to be non-irritating
- Dermatologist recommended
And although it says “Gentle”, Cetaphil is able to effectively remove impurities and light makeup without over-drying the skin! Omg, dream come true! But don’t take our word for it, a study actually found that 99% of Malaysian women agree that the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser gently cleans and moisturises without stripping the skin of its natural oils!
If you’re interested, find out more about Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser here!