How To Cleanse Your Face Naturally
When it comes to taking care of your skin, cleansing is the foundation upon everything else rests. It concerns everyone, no matter what age, gender or skin type. Whether you choose to wear makeup or not, whether you are a product junkie or prefer to keep it as simple and minimalistic as possible, at the end of the day you still want to wash your face. Without proper cleansing, there is very little sense in doing anything else with your skincare routine, so this is something you want to get right. This is a part of basic personal hygiene, which if done right can preserve the health and well-being of your skin; done poorly or not at all, and it will lead to problems ranging from clogged pores and blemishes to excessive dryness.
So, how do you cleanse your face naturally and effectively? I say naturally and effectively because I believe the two can and should go hand in hand. There is obviously no shortage of choice when it comes to facial cleansers but many of them are too aggressive, drying and contain harmful ingredients not only for yourself but also for the environment (like micro beads). Isn’t there something better out there?
Respect the skin barrier
The most important thing to remember when choosing a facial cleanser is that it must be mild. If you strip away the natural oils too aggressively or too often, your skin will become dry, dull and flaky – and worst of all, it can actually kick the sebum production into high gear. Producing more and more oil is the only way to restore moisture levels your skin knows. That becomes its response to drying ingredients like alcohol and harsh detergents.
Two main methods to cleanse your face naturally
You can clean your face with soap and water, or you can clean it with oil. Both approaches lift makeup and impurities and neither is inherently better than the other. It’s a matter of finding out what works for you. As always, the quality of your soap or cleansing oil will play a major role in the success of your selected method.
Choose a gentle soap suitable for your skin type
If you go for the soap and water method, make sure you use real soap with nourishing ingredients. All our soaps are made with skin-loving oils and butters like shea butter, olive and coconut oil. It’s important to read the ingredients list and know what goes into your soap. You should also consider your individual skin needs, too. Consider French Green Clay, or Activated Charcoal soap for oily, combination and/or acne-prone skin. Calming and nourishing French Pink Clay, Avocado and Charcoal or Rooibos Tea soap will suit normal, dry and sensitive skin. If you have any conditions like eczema, psoriasis or acne, you may benefit from our Dead Sea Clay soap, made with unique medicinal mud of the Dead Sea. Whatever you choose, make sure that you use warm water – not too cold or too hot – and pat dry your face rather than rub it. The benefit of using real handmade soap is that it is wonderfully softening thanks to naturally occurring glycerine. Glycerine is a perfect humectant: it helps your skin retain moisture. Mass produced soap usually has glycerine taken out of it, but homemade soap will always contain it.
Try the oil cleansing method
You can also cleanse your face naturally, safely and effectively with oil. It may sound strange at first but don’t be alarmed,  it can do wonders for your skin! The idea is that oil dissolves impurities while also nourishing your skin as you cleanse it. Some people believe that the best oil and only oil you’ll need is coconut oil, while others prefer a combination of castor oil with other plant oils. The oil cleansing method consists of massaging it into your skin for at least two minutes, then removing any excess with a warm washcloth. This will dissolve all the impurities and makeup, open the pores and help get rid of blackheads.
Another way to use oil to cleanse your face naturally is to use an oil-based cleanser. We make Purity cleanser and makeup remover with an option to go unscented or choose from a list of essential oils depending on your skin needs. It works exactly the same, but your oil cleanser will turn into a milky emulsion upon contact with water. Personally I like this way better because it washes off more easily.
Have you tried cleansing your face with oil? What did and didn’t work for you? Share your experience in comments!