HOW TO BUILD A CLEANSING ROUTINE

The cornerstone to your skincare protocol needn’t be complicated, says the derm who beauty editors have on speed-dial. ‘Not only is cleansing one of the most underrated parts of a routine, it’s also one of the most important. In the morning, cleansing is really about managing the condition of your skin. Oily or acne-prone skin benefits from foaming cleansers with ingredients such as salicylic acid, zinc, niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide and sulphur – make sure to massage in and leave on for 30 seconds before rinsing. Those with dry or sensitive skin may prefer cream or oil-based cleansers, which are less likely to dry it out further. Other skin types can use micellar water and reusable cotton pads, provided everything has been taken off properly the night before. In the evening, cleansing is the step that removes the dirt, sweat, grime and pollution the skin comes into contact with during the day. I think there’s benefit in double-cleansing here, especially if you wear sunscreen and makeup on a daily basis as, chances are, you’re not going to get all that off in one go. Unless it was micellar water, you can use the cleanser you used in the morning and you can use it twice – there’s no need to switch to another type. I don’t recommend flannels or muslin cloths, which are essentially physical exfoliators that can abrade the skin, leading to a disrupted barrier function. If your skin feels cleaner when you use one then by all means go ahead, but as a dermatologist, I use my fingers to massage and my hands to rinse off. And, despite what you might have read, it’s okay to wash your face in the shower. But while there are no clinical trials on optimum water temperature, bear in mind that too cold and you won’t get rid of everything on the skin, and too hot and there’s a risk of creating sensitivity.’