Dirt. Oil. Makeup.

By Mikala Ewald

Dirt, oil, and makeup are just a few of the many elements our skin comes in contact with throughout the day. These elements clog pores and cause breakouts.

As an esthetician, I often talk with people about their skin care regimens, and it’s surprising to me how many people don’t know how or don’t bother to properly cleanse their skin. For healthy skin, it is imperative that you first remove the dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin and follow by actually cleansing the skin.

So, if you do nothing else in your skin care regimen, at least take the time to properly cleanse the skin. Start by removing all makeup with a gentle makeup remover. If you skip this step, when you apply cleanser to the skin you will just be removing makeup, not actually cleansing the skin. You must remove the makeup and cleanse the skin in order to maintain healthy skin.

Then, to thoroughly cleanse the skin use a gentle cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. Apply the cleanser to damp skin, and massage it in for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Lastly, rinse the cleanser from the skin with warm water. Be sure to completely remove all cleanser residue, as improper removal can also cause breakouts.

It’s best to follow up with a toner and a moisturizer. You should follow this simple routine every morning and every night.