Daily advices
Make-up removal and acne: secrets for healthy skin
To fix skin problems in general, all dermatologists repeat to their patients that daily cleansing is critical.
You’ve certainly seen this message in magazines, which also repeat that beautiful skin starts with clear skin that is properly cleansed on a daily basis, especially for women wearing make-up. For people with acne, cleansing and make-up removal are even more important, which doesn’t mean they should vigorously rub and scrub their skin – quite the opposite.
Oily acne-prone skin requires gentle cleansing!
Here are some points that will help you follow a good cleansing routine and choose the right type of make-up remover. Also, we’ll take a look at cleansing brushes and whether or not they’re beneficial for acne.
Healthy skin starts with clean skin! The objective of make-up removal is to eliminate all traces of make-up. There’s no question of sleeping with foundation on, right when the skin naturally triggers its biological cell renewal and detoxification process.
But even for people who don’t wear make-up and tend to have blemishes, twice-daily skin cleansing is mandatory.
The aim of this hygiene ritual is to thoroughly remove excess sebum, dead cells resulting from natural desquamation, and all external residues of atmospheric pollution. The accumulation of particles of various origins can play a role in acne by causing skin inflammation.
Learn more about the appropriate type of make-up removal for acne and the benefits of cleansing brushes.
What type of make-up removal is suitable for acne?
“When my skin starts breaking out with several spots, I tend to use a make-up remover that ‘strips’ my skin but I have the impression it ends up drying it out...”
“My dermatologist has always told me not to do this!”
It is important to establish a face cleansing routine for the morning and evening, to significantly reduce your blemishes. But not just any routine!
Dermatologists recommend gentle facial cleansing that isn’t harsh on the skin.
This is especially true since most oral and topical acne treatments tend to irritate or weaken the skin. It is important to understand that acne-prone skin is often sensitive and needs to be handled carefully, not stripped.
- You absolutely must avoid alcohol, antiseptics and soaps that destroy the skin flora – the famous microbiome – and dry out the skin by needlessly raising its pH.
- Micellar waters for acne-prone skin have the benefit of being both effective and quick to use. A single stroke of the cotton pad is usually sufficient and rinsing is unnecessary. The skin is rid of all impurities, regardless of their origin. Micellar solutions formulated for acne-prone skin preserve the skin’s natural protective hydrolipidic film and the skin’s pH.
- The traditional make-up removing milk + toner duo may also be appropriate, provided that both products are perfectly suited to acne-prone skin.
Are cleansing brushes a good idea for acne?
Of the various beauty devices that have been launched on the market over the past few years, cleansing brushes have generated significant hype. But as with scrubs, dermatologists are extremely cautious about their use for acne patients. Highly abrasive and aggressive, they over-cleanse and eliminate the hydrolipidic film, thereby altering the natural skin barrier.
