The Most Common Skincare Mistake

There’s actually two but I’m going to focus on probably the most common one first. I’ll focus on the other one in a later video. But the one I want to focus on today is over-cleansing the skin. The skin is a very delicate organ and it’s actually designed to be self-cleansing, self-exfoliating and self-moisturizing.

When you think back in time, people weren’t running as cave people washing their face and moisturizing and cleansing. That did not happen. Their skin self-regulated and that’s actually how our skin is supposed to act as well. But because we put so many products on our skin all the time, and we amplify a lot of the things that nature is supposed to do on its own, our skin really takes a toll.

The moisture barrier is the very top layer of the skin, the stratum corneum. And it’s designed very specifically to keep water in the skin so you’re nice and hydrated and to keep bad things out like toxins, pollution, bacteria, fungus, all the bad things that we’re exposed to. So the skin’s a protective barrier for the body. 

And when we over-cleanse it, often using harsh soaps that are very alkaline and that have surfacants, what happens is we damage this moisture barrier. And not only that, but we disrupt the pH of the skin, and we also disrupt the microbiome.

When the moisture barrier, the microbiome and the pH are disrupted, really bad things happen to the skin. When the pH is off, and this often happens when we use cleansers because most cleaners, especially those that foam, they have a very high pH, meaning they’re very alkaline. And when that happens, enzymes on our skin that are meant to help our skin naturally exfoliate, those enzymes don’t work. So you get a build-up of skin cells. And when the pH is disrupted, certain bacteria thrive, certain microbes thrive that we do not want to thrive.

For instance, P acnes, which is the bacteria that actually causes acne. And also when microbiome is disrupted, that’s also when fungal acne set in. So all of this can happen just by over cleansing your skin and choosing the wrong cleanser.

By improving this step in your skincare, your skin can actually change a lot. Heal, become less sensitive, less prone to hyperpigmentation and scarring. You’ll notice a big change. so what do I recommend for cleansing? 

Super simple. Remember, your skin actually can do this on its own if it’s left alone to its own devices with a healthy diet and a really balanced body, your skin can do this on its own. Makeup and skincare products, which is ironic, but anyways, it is what it is, it is what it is, right? 

So in the morning you should be waking up with pretty clean skin because the hope is that you’re cleaning off all the makeup and toxins and pollution the night before. I personally just use Manuka honey on my skin in the morning and I know a ton of my patients do the same, very, very successfully.

Cleansing in the evening is a little bit more involved because of course we actually have to remove the crap that’s on our face. And what I do is I use a very gentle Micellar water. Micellar water is the right pH for the skin. It’s not going to damage the moisture barrier. It doesn’t contain any surfucants at all. And it doesn’t disrupt microbiome.

So, using a micellar water to remove the makeup, and I mean, I don’t use just a little bit. Sometimes I use a few cotton rounds to really make sure everything is off. Micellar water is number one and then I cleanse it a second time. And for me, usually, I use Manuka honey as a second cleanse, but other people use very mild cleansers, which can work it all.

Mild cleansers that do not foam, that do not have any surfucants in them. Very, very important.

So that is really what you should be looking for when you’re cleansing. Something very simple. Don’t use cleansers with a lot of fancy ingredients. Don’t use cleansers with exfoliating ingredients in them. Keep it very, very simple. And believe me, your skin will thank you.

So, I hope this has helped and I hope this has made you understand why cleansing needs to be considered so carefully. Your skin will really appreciate it. And if you have acne, if you need more tips and want to really clear up your skin, check out my 7-Week Clear Skin Program. 

It’s helped hundreds and hundreds of women all over the globe clear their acne, reclaim their self-confidence, because acne is total killer when it comes to feeling beautiful and confident. So you don’t have to deal with acne anymore. you can get rid of it, honestly, within weeks, I promise.

Okay, so check out my 7-Week Clear Skin Program. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. Hope you’ve had a wonderful time watching this. So much fun, right? And I will see you soon. Thanks so much. Bye.