Skin Cleaning
Hi Katie,
I am new to this group. I have an oily skin type
which is a real problem for me. most of the times i
got pimples which leave marks on my skin whether i
peel them or not. I want to keep my skin clean and
fresh . I would be obliged if you please tell me the
proper skin cleaning .
thank you.
Dani
September 2nd, 2004 at 9:41 am
Hi Dani -
Another thing to try for deep cleansing and exfoliation might be a
I’m flattered you asked me. I’m no expert with any final answers, but
these are my preferences. Skin cleaning is firstly a very individual
preference. Sometimes I prefer my homemade soap, but most times I prefer my
oats, milk, and sugar blend for my face or legs (oily face and thighs, dry
shins, "regular" rest … acne on face and sometimes on thighs). The soap
choice should be made by knowing your soaps. Castille, or all-olive, is a
gentle low-sudsing soap. Some people love it, some don’t. If one is too
drying or leaves you feeling greasy, try another. I choose to avoid
surfactants, especially in the care of my face and scalp, as they are
generally harsher to our skin than we realize. In my case, switching from
surfactants to real soaps alleviated a lot of skin problems, like a severely
itchy scalp and face. Acne is still a condition, but is much less than
before for me, even on thighs where I have curly ingrown hairs. Most skin
cleansers from cosmetic sources are surfactant based, and many big-name ones
choose chemicals to put in them that would shock you. As you try different
things, the goal is to thoroughly clean but not to strip your oils (or it
makes it worse).
Proper cleansing involves using water that is "well warm," not hot …
but not too cool, either, as you do need to remove excess oil (even washing
greasy dishes with Dawn dishsoap requires at least some warmth to the water).
What you use to cleanse needs to interact with the water to help the water
clean you. Rinsing well is also important. Overall, avoid scrubbing, it
stimulates both oil production and acne. If you use a washcloth, use it as a
water-holding extension of your hands and be gentle. Your skin will come
clean. Some people like to end their shower with a cooler (just lukewarm or
slightly cooler) rinse. It will increase the circulation to your skin
surface
steaming treatment a few times weekly … right after cleansing and followed
by a mask. Several masks are good, but I prefer to avoid clays as some of
them can be clogging to pores. For oily skin, eggwhite is often used. For
acne, sugar and milk are good ingredients regardless of skin type. Oats are
fantastic with all skins or skin conditions, whether cleansing, scrubbing, or
masking. I just grind them up in my blender. Experiment and see what you
like.
It’s really important to tone and moisturize. You’re probably
cringing at the "moisturizing," but oily skin needs to be balanced, too. To
avoid this step, your skin will continue to produce more oil to compensate
for what it thinks it needs. You may want to try 1/2 tsp of jojoba (very
balancing for over oily skin) in a cup of witch hazel stored in a spray
bottle … you’d have to shake before each spray (I spray into my palm, then
apply), but it would avoid too much oil while giving your skin what it needs.
I admit I’m a bit distracted today, so if you have questions, ask
away.
- Katie