Depending on your age, you might be using a cleanser already. Or you might be using just water and a flannel. The thing is, it's only a matter of time before you will need to use a cleanser. Why? Because as you get closer to - or further in to your teens - your skin will start producing more oil (official name: sebum - the greasy stuff that lubricates your skin and keeps it healthy, but goes a bit crazy when you hit puberty).
When you start producing more sebum, water and a flannel won't be enough to really clean your skin, and you might start to notice little bumps on your nose and your chin (these are blocked pores and might turn into black heads). You might also be getting blemishes. We know - yuck!
We believe that you should really begin cleansing from the minute you start producing even a little bit of extra sebum. It's good practice, anyway, for the cleansing you are going to be doing for the rest of your life, if you want to have beautiful, blemish-free skin.
How to use the cleanser
If you are a cleanser newbie, read these instructions carefully. If you use cleansers already, read them anyway because our method might be different from the product you use right now…
- Put a blob on your hand and spend a couple of minutes massaging it into your dry face, paying particular attention to the areas where you might be getting spots or black heads (forehead, nose, nostrils and chin). If you haven't got enough to do your whole face, use a bigger blob.
- Massaging it in is also great for your complexion because it increases the circulation of blood to your skin. Good circulation = good skin!
- Take a clean flannel (flannels that have been sitting around for days are like hotels for bacteria, and bacteria create blemishes). Wet it with warm water then squeeze out the excess water.
- Wipe your face with the flannel to remove the cleanser and also use the flannel to gently massage the skin on your nose, forehead and chin. This is called exfoliation, and is a key part of keeping your skin clear. It also feels pretty good.
- If you can't find a flannel, a tissue will work - kind of. But tissues are not as effective at removing this cleanser as a flannel would be. Warm water and a flannel really are the best way and create the best results. So, use the flannel!
- Dab your face dry with a towel or just let it air-dry.
- Do this morning and night, ideally.
- If you are under 10 with perfect skin, you might need only to use the cleanser once a day on your nose, forehead and chin.
- If you are wearing make-up/concealer, you might need to rinse the flannel and do a second wipe/massage. Keep wiping until the flannel comes up clean. If you leave make-up on your skin when you go to bed at night, you are doubling - or even tripling - your chances of getting blemishes.
- Keep it away from your eyes as it's not formulated for them. If you are wearing mascara, use another product formulated for removing eye make-up.
