Why your cleanser is the foundation of a good skincare routine?
What if the beauty world got it wrong, and your cleanser is the foundation of a good skincare routine, not a flashy serum? We understand your scepticism – cleansing can seem such a chore after a long, hard day, and they get washed off after a minute or two.
Does your skin feel tight after cleansing? (Hint: this is not a good sign)
What if you have been cleansing all wrong – overwashing and stripping your most precious asset – the natural oils that protect your skin? Your clever skin spent ages making these beautiful natural oils, only to be rudely stripped off.
We will let you into a secret – that squeaky clean feeling doesn’t mean your cleanser is working – it means you’re removing the natural oils from your skin barrier, leaving it naked and vulnerable.
Does your cleanser contain surfactants?
That tightness is a sign of dehydration, and you can blame the harsh surfactants (cleansing ingredients) in your foaming cleanser, wipes, or micellar water. Yes, they can remove makeup, dirt, and pollution from your skin’s surface in one swipe. But these cheap ingredients aren’t clever because they will also remove the natural oils that protect your skin.
Surfactants are the bad boys of the beauty business. Instead of breaking your heart, they will break your skin barrier. Imagine how the most powerful surfactant, washing-up liquid, removes the oils from greasy pans. Great for greasy pans, but NOT for skin. No wonder your skin barrier becomes red, reactive and dry. (Learn more about surfactants in our blog: ‘Not all skincare is skincare and why you should choose Dermaviduals’).
Corneotherapists cleanse your skin, not clean it.
At Tej & Co, we cleanse your skin; we don’t clean it. (Your skin is not like a car or window surface). If the skin barrier is in disrepair, we can’t change it, so we start by taking all our clients off surfactant cleansers that hide in beautiful oils that are just posh wipes. (Yes, we’re looking at you, micellar water). Think of it this way: if you overwash a silk sheet, you end up with linen.
When is the best time to cleanse?
Never miss the evening cleanse; find a time that works for you. Do it once you get in straight from work when your jobs are done, before you settle down for the evening, or while the kids are in the bath. Even if you don’t wear make-up, yes, you must cleanse and remove the build-up of the day’s pollution, dirt and sweat. We will allow the occasional slip, skip the morning cleanse our skin doesn’t get that dirty overnight.
Dermaviduals cleansers protect your skin microbiome pH.
While the beauty world is obsessed with chasing collagen and elastin for eternal youth, our skin wants us to look closer to home. Overwashing strips the skin microbiome pH, the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria on our skin, that neutralises pollution and prevents premature ageing. At Tej & Co, we recommend Dermavidual cleansers that create a happy home for our good bacteria – not strip it off!
Dermaviduals Cleansing Milk
Dermaviduals Cleansing Milk lifts away debris, pollution and make-up without disturbing the barrier. It’s like a probiotic for your skin: if your microbiome is intact, your skin doesn’t feel under attack and stops overreacting. (Remember – happy microbiome, happy skin).
- Suitable for all skin types
- Use with or without water
- Can be used as a light moisturiser for highly reactive skin.
- Restores barrier with gentle, skin-identical lipids
- Removes eye make-up
- Free from emulsifiers, surfactants, essential oils or harsh preservatives
- Skin feels soft and cleansed, not tight and dry
- Free from oils: no need to tone afterwards.
Dermaviduals Bespoke Cleanser
Before you start using the cleansing milk, we have to wean your skin off surfactants. Like a guest who overstays their welcome, they stick around the deeper layers of the skin and take ages to wash out.
If you go cold turkey, your skin will panic and start feeling tight, sore and flaky; this is known as the wash-out effect. So we make you a bespoke blend of Dermaviduals cleansing milk and a refreshing, mild gel cleanser to wean you off gradually.
For new clients, we will start with the BespokeCleasner, a blend of non-drying gel that is free from SLS and contains carefully selected sugar tensides (weak surfactants) in a vegetable base that is kind to the skin and doesn’t change the pH of the skin microbiome. The Bespoke Cleasner is also suitable for clients with slightly oilier skin or who have overwashed their skin barrier and like to feel ‘clean’ after a cleanse, especially teenage boys or men with beards.
- Detoxes skin of surfactants and begins to repair the barrier
- Prevents the wash-out effect
- All skin types, especially an impaired barrier
Dermaviduals are available directly from our clinic. Please email us with your order if you are familiar with these products or if you’d like to discuss our range email us for more details & we’ll be happy to advise.
