Cleansing the face – an important daily ritual

Facial cleansing is one of the most important commandments in skin care. This commandment of cleansing the skin is especially important now, in order not to create conditions for the transmission of bacteria and viruses through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes.

 

WHO and GIS experts warn us to avoid touching our faces with our hands, as we can transmit viruses and other pathogens through mucous membranes. Despite disinfected hands, we spread germs through uncleaned facial skin. It is very difficult to control these involuntary movements of touching the face. It is best to wash the face thoroughly with a suitable preparation as soon as you return home.

 

How does a lack of cleansing affect the skin?

During the day, the skin is loaded with excess sebum and sweat, keratinised skin and many other impurities. This leads to clogged pores, disruptions in the composition of the water-lipid layer and in the pH of the skin. This promotes the formation of unsightly blackheads and imperfections. There is also often irritation manifested by small red pimples. Unclean skin is also a barrier to the nutrients contained in creams and concentrates.

 

Cleansing facial skin step by step

Impurities on the skin surface are mainly excess sebum, exfoliated corneocytes, dust, sweat components, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and their metabolic products. To remove these, cosmetics containing so-called surfactants should be used. Surfactants act on a variety of dirt on the skin. They combine easily with dirt of fat and oil origin and can therefore be rinsed from the skin with water.

 

How do traditional cleansers affect the skin?

However, the surfactants in many cosmetics are not inert to the skin. When washing away dirt, several chemical phenomena occur that alter the composition of the skin’s hydro-lipid mantle and the natural acidic pH that protects the skin from bacteria. This in turn accelerates TEWL, or transepidermal water loss, and contributes to skin dryness. Excessive leaching of lipids from the skin has a detrimental effect on the skin, its protective abilities and its bacterial flora. This often causes irritation and allergic reactions and even inflammation.

 

Why is soap not recommended for washing the face?

The most popular cleansing agents are soaps. They come in the form of bars or in liquid form. Their reaction is always alkaline – i.e. above pH 8.5. Soaps are very effective in removing dirt particles, but their irritating properties and strong degreasing action mean that they are not recommended for facial skin cleansing.

 

Daily, thorough make-up removal

Don’t wait until the evening to cleanse your skin and perform make-up removal as soon as you get home. Our facial skin collects and carries the dirt and microbes we come into contact with throughout the day. It is a good idea to get rid of these as soon as possible and to moisturise and regenerate the skin with the right cream.

 

Best facial skin cleansers

Special products for facial skin cleansing usually come in the form of foams, gels, liquids or milks. Chantarelle experts have developed the active formulas of such products so that they not only cleanse, but also act on the problem of the skin type in question. They do not contain soaps or irritants, and their pH is adapted to the skin type in question.

The cleansing cosmetics in the Agemelan and Sebumelan Holistic lines have a lower, slightly acidic pH of 4.5 – effectively strengthening the skin’s protective barrier against damage and pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and moulds. These formulations also contain many antibacterial and anti-inflammatory active ingredients that protect the skin’s natural microbiome and maintain an optimal pH level. Antibacterial cosmetics not only effectively cleanse, but also effectively fight pathogens on our skin. Agemelan Holistic – a rejuvenating and repairing programme to lighten hyperpigmentation and colour, for skin with phototype I-IV, with hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, especially dry, vascular, with symptoms of premature ageing and photoageing, mature, with wrinkles. Sebumelan Holistic – normalising and brightening programme with pH 4.5, designed for oily, acne-prone, combination skin; for the reduction of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scars. It is a programme based on modern active ingredients targeting anti-inflammatory, sebum-regulating, rejuvenating and brightening effects.