Now that we’re all fully aware of the importance of skincare, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty. Over the past few months, I have been using cleansing and toning products as part of my daily skincare routine. Skin cleansing in Australia is one of those steps that most people skip over and don’t take seriously until they start suffering from breakouts or dull skin.
Cleansing and toning are two separate steps in your routine, but they go hand in hand when it comes to achieving healthier skin. Cleansing removes dirt, oil, and makeup from your face so that you can seal in your moisturizer for the day or night ahead. Toning restores balance by helping to remove excess sebum from the pores that keep acne at bay.
If you want to know how I cleanse and tone my skin each morning, keep reading!
1. Banishing Acne and Blemishes
The first step to a clear complexion is to banish blemishes, blackheads, and pimples. The best way to do this is with a gentle cleanser that removes dirt and excess oil but doesn’t dry out your skin. It is very important that you cleanse your skin twice a day so that dirt and oil can be removed from your face. You can use a simple cleanser or even make a face pack for yourself by mixing a few ingredients like milk, lemon juice, and honey in equal quantities.
You should also tone your skin twice a day with proper products to get soft and clear skin. If you tone your skin properly then it will help in getting rid of acne marks, scars, and rough patches on your face which may look unattractive to others too.
2. Purifying Your Skin
To purify your skin, you need to cleanse it gently while removing impurities that can cause breakouts. You can use a gentle cleanser or facial scrub to do this — just be sure not to overdo it because too much scrubbing can irritate the skin and cause redness or even breakouts. If you’re using a scrub, use it in the evening after you’ve washed your face with a foaming cleanser.
3. Hydrate Your Skin
Hydration is essential for soft, smooth skin and will reduce the appearance of fine lines as well as prevent future breakouts by helping keep pores clean and unclogged. Your best bet for hydrating is water! However, there are plenty of other ways to hydrate your skin if water isn’t practical for you (or if you don’t like how it feels on your skin).
4. Cleanse
The first step to a great skincare routine is to cleanse your face before you apply any other product. This removes makeup and oils that can clog pores, giving your skin a chance to breathe and heal itself. If you’re using a bar soap, such as Dove or Olay, gently wipe off any excess with a cotton ball or tissue.
5. Tone
Once your face is clean, it’s time to tone it. Your skin will be more receptive to products if it’s hydrated and free of dead cells or excess oil. The best way to do this is by toning — applying an exfoliating chemical solution that removes the top layer of dead skin cells and cleanses away impurities. Look for an exfoliating solution that contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or salicylic acid, which have gentle exfoliating properties but won’t cause irritation like some other products on the market can do when applied too often.