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Daily cleansing is the key.

What’s the secret weapon for achieving glowing skin in just minutes? It’s something that everyone should do, no matter what. 

Cleansing your skin is just a fancy phrase for “washing your face.” Cleansing is the first and arguably the most important skin care step in both your daytime and nighttime routines. Cleansers are instrumental in removing the dirt, oils and impurities from the surface of your skin. And ladies, they’re great for removing makeup at the end of the day. You must wash your face first thing in the morning and at the end of the day before bedtime if you want glowing, youthful-looking skin.

Cleanse to Glow
Both men and women will benefit considerably from proper facial cleansing. Even if your face looks clean, chances are it’s not. There are “invisible impurities” that land on your skin and can cause a lot of unnecessary damage if not properly removed. Pollution, smoke, hair spray and perfumes all have the potential to end up on your skin and must be removed to ensure your skin maintains its healthy glow.

It’s important to remember that bar soaps are generally formulated for the body, because they contain stronger detergents and deodorants than your average facial cleanser. Keep the bar soap for your body and choose a cleanser that is properly formulated for delicate facial skin.

Choosing the right cleanser for your skin is very important. If you suffer from dry skin, you want to look for a hydrating cleanser that’s sulfate free. Look for ingredients such as aloe vera that will provide hydration. How do you know if your skin is dry? Look in the mirror. You may notice some dry, flaky patches, or that your skin will be sensitive to temperature extremes, and dare I say it – any fine lines you may have will be more noticeable. The good thing about having dry skin is you usually have fewer blemishes and breakouts. The not-so-good news is that people with dry skin tend to look a bit older than they really are.

If your skin is on the oily side, you’ll notice excess oil build-up in the T-zone area. The T-zone includes the forehead, nose, chin and inner cheeks. This is where we have the most oil glands on our face, so the excess oil will be most noticeable in these areas. People who have oily skin tend to be more prone to blemishes and breakouts. The good news is that those with oily skin tend to look a bit younger, because fine lines are much less noticeable.

Once you’ve selected the proper cleanser for your skin type, follow these simple steps for glowing skin:

• Before you cleanse your skin, you must cleanse your hands. The last thing you want to do is spread germs all over your face.
• Only cleanse your skin using warm water. Never use water that’s overly hot or cold, as extremes in water temperature can damage the capillaries in your skin.
• Dampen your skin and hands and squeeze a dollop of cleanser in the palm of your hands. How much product you use is entirely up to you, so experiment until you get the amount that works best for you.
• Gently massage into your skin using a circular motion. Be sure to thoroughly massage your skin, including your neck and throat area. Be careful when washing around your eyes.
• Once you’ve massaged the cleanser into your skin, rinse until your face is clean.
• Gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel. Don’t rub.
• Follow the cleansing process with toner, serum, eye product and day or nighttime moisturizer.

By removing all the surface dirt, oils and makeup from your face, your other skin care products such as toner, serum and moisturizers will be able to penetrate more effectively into your skin, so you get the maximum benefits. Look for cleansers with fresh, natural scents, cleansing jojoba beads and aloe vera for a wonderful cleansing experience.

Because skin types change on a regular basis, it’s always good to have a few cleansers on hand. Give yourself a quick look in the mirror before jumping into the shower so you know exactly what cleanser you should use. Let’s face it – some days we wake up oily and some days we wake up with dehydrated skin, so let’s be prepared for anything by keeping cleansers for both skin types on hand.