Health & Beauty Recipes > Skin Care > A Guide to Cleansing
Please read Herbal Safety Guidelines before trying any of these recipes, since some ingredients should be avoided by certain groups of people.
Many essential oils and herbs should always be avoided by pregnant/nursing ladies. Check with a qualified health advisor if in doubt.
Mountain
Rose Herbs offers a wide range of dried herbs and spices.
The most important and beneficial part of your skin's beauty regime is cleansing. Although our skin has a good protective layer resulting from the action of its acid mantle and individual population of bacteria and although four percent of our skin is shed every day, cleansing is still essential. The exfoliant effect of using even soap and water helps to speed up the rate of cell renewal by removing the dead skin cells. If we did not cleanse our faces it would take 25 days for grime and make-up to wear off naturally.
Cleansing creams and lotions are the only efficient way of removing make-up. This is because all make-up is oil-based. Cleansing needs to be done every night to prevent blocked up pores and to avoid a tendency to blackheads and spots. Unfortunately, dirt and make-up left on the skin work their way deep into the pores and can accelerate the development of wrinkles. The creams and lotions on the market consist of a mixture of oil, various waxes and water. As they are applied to the face, massaged in gently with clean fingertips, they melt with the warmth of the skin and free up the particles of dirt and cosmetics, holding them in suspension ready to be wiped off.
The products are usually formulated for particular types of skin so that a cleanser for dry skin will leave behind a film of protective emollients. On the other hand products for oily skin work at controlling the excessive production of oil. Ingredients like witch hazel and cucumber extract are effective in this case.
Once make-up has been removed with a creamy cleanser any remaining dirt and oil can sometimes be removed with soap and water instead of using a toner. Some people do not feel that their face is really clean unless they have used soap and water. It is important to realise that although often frowned upon, soap used in this way can form part of a good cleansing regime. However it is essential to experiment and find a soap which neither irritates nor over drys the skin.
Similarly cleansing bars which in fact do not contain any soap need to be chosen according to skin type as some are formulated for degreasing and some for exfoliating or moisturising.
If you are a fan of soap and water make sure that the water you use is of a moderate heat, avoid very hot or very cold as these extremes can help to cause spider veins. Soap can be applied with the fingers or consider using a soft complexion brush or a cosmetic sponge. Some beauty houses sell soft muslin clothes for cleansing which may be better than a flannel that has been washed in a strong detergent.
Cleansing is only one stage in the traditional cleanse, tone and moisturise routine. Cleansing has to be the most important of the three since without the removal of grime and debris toning and moisturising cannot begin to work. It is obviously something that has occupied the minds of people for many centuries as you can see from the recipe invented by Galen, the Greek physician in about AD 150. His cream when applied was found to give a feeling of coolness and so was named "cold cream", a truly iconic product that is still being used nearly 2000 years later.
If you have any questions you want to ask or any information you want to share please visit our friendly community forum.
Here are some of the topics being discussed at the moment:
- More Health & Beauty in The Green Chronicle.
- Shop for products to make these recipes at Mountain Rose Herbs
- Buy Health & Beauty Books in The Green Chronicle's Book Store.
- See other Health & Beauty Websites in The Green Chronicle's Directory.
- Visit The Green Chronicle Shop
Comment Script
PLEASE NOTE:
Although all the ingredients in these beauty recipes are natural, remember that it is still possible to be allergic to anything applied to the skin. DO NOT USE ANYTHING NUT BASED ON YOUR SKIN IF YOU HAVE A NUT ALLERGY. To test other ingredients make up a very small amount of the recipe you intend to use. Wash and gently dry a small patch of skin inside your elbow. Apply a little of the mix to the skin and leave for 48 hours. If you experience any redness or swelling DO NOT USE THE BEAUTY RECIPE AT ALL.Please read Herbal Safety Guidelines before trying any of these recipes, since some ingredients should be avoided by certain groups of people.
Many essential oils and herbs should always be avoided by pregnant/nursing ladies. Check with a qualified health advisor if in doubt.
A Guide to Cleansing
The most important and beneficial part of your skin's beauty regime is cleansing. Although our skin has a good protective layer resulting from the action of its acid mantle and individual population of bacteria and although four percent of our skin is shed every day, cleansing is still essential. The exfoliant effect of using even soap and water helps to speed up the rate of cell renewal by removing the dead skin cells. If we did not cleanse our faces it would take 25 days for grime and make-up to wear off naturally.
Cleansing creams and lotions are the only efficient way of removing make-up. This is because all make-up is oil-based. Cleansing needs to be done every night to prevent blocked up pores and to avoid a tendency to blackheads and spots. Unfortunately, dirt and make-up left on the skin work their way deep into the pores and can accelerate the development of wrinkles. The creams and lotions on the market consist of a mixture of oil, various waxes and water. As they are applied to the face, massaged in gently with clean fingertips, they melt with the warmth of the skin and free up the particles of dirt and cosmetics, holding them in suspension ready to be wiped off.
The products are usually formulated for particular types of skin so that a cleanser for dry skin will leave behind a film of protective emollients. On the other hand products for oily skin work at controlling the excessive production of oil. Ingredients like witch hazel and cucumber extract are effective in this case.
Once make-up has been removed with a creamy cleanser any remaining dirt and oil can sometimes be removed with soap and water instead of using a toner. Some people do not feel that their face is really clean unless they have used soap and water. It is important to realise that although often frowned upon, soap used in this way can form part of a good cleansing regime. However it is essential to experiment and find a soap which neither irritates nor over drys the skin.
Similarly cleansing bars which in fact do not contain any soap need to be chosen according to skin type as some are formulated for degreasing and some for exfoliating or moisturising.
If you are a fan of soap and water make sure that the water you use is of a moderate heat, avoid very hot or very cold as these extremes can help to cause spider veins. Soap can be applied with the fingers or consider using a soft complexion brush or a cosmetic sponge. Some beauty houses sell soft muslin clothes for cleansing which may be better than a flannel that has been washed in a strong detergent.
Cleansing is only one stage in the traditional cleanse, tone and moisturise routine. Cleansing has to be the most important of the three since without the removal of grime and debris toning and moisturising cannot begin to work. It is obviously something that has occupied the minds of people for many centuries as you can see from the recipe invented by Galen, the Greek physician in about AD 150. His cream when applied was found to give a feeling of coolness and so was named "cold cream", a truly iconic product that is still being used nearly 2000 years later.
See also:
Healthy Living (external link)The Green Chronicle Community
If you have any questions you want to ask or any information you want to share please visit our friendly community forum.
Here are some of the topics being discussed at the moment:
- More Health & Beauty in The Green Chronicle.
- Shop for products to make these recipes at Mountain Rose Herbs
- Buy Health & Beauty Books in The Green Chronicle's Book Store.
- See other Health & Beauty Websites in The Green Chronicle's Directory.
- Visit The Green Chronicle Shop
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