Environmental factors from air pollution, garbage collection, water, fumes, late nights, stress can cause damages to the skin. Some of these factors cannot be avoided, but you can take steps to protect your skin from premature aging, acne and wrinkles by creating a healthy skincare routine that works for you and your lifestyle Did you know?

• Skin type? Based on the different skin types, do you know if you have oily, dry, sensitive, combination or normal skin type?
• What products work best for your skin type?
• Exfoliating the skin helps remove dead skin cells and promote blood circulation and cell regrowth?
• Your skin protects your vital organs from infection, wind and other environmental problems?

Who doesn’t want a clear, beautiful and healthy glow? Some people are born with a glowing skin why the rest of us have to follow a good skincare routine to take proper care of the skin.   Soap used on the face can be extremely drying although it may be more economical than facial cleanser cream. Dermatologists advise not to use soap on the face due to the fragrances, detergents, and deodorants that they contain. This may be more suitable for the rest of the body but they are not formulated for the delicate skin on the face. Facial cleansers generally have a low pH that is more acidic. This is important because that avoids upsetting the skin’s acid mantle. Soaps are more alkaline and have a high pH. Products high in alkaline irritate the facial skin. Facial cleansing creams are beneficial for dry skin as they help to restore the skin’s moisture balance. Ensure that the facial cleansing product you are using is 100% fragrance free as most skin types will react adversely to fragrance additives. Almost all soaps will contain an artificial fragrance of some type. Some cleansing bars are soap-free and are gentle and mild enough to use on the facial skin. These particular bars also have a low pH level. These bars are so mild, though, that they may not be able to remove the oily build up from oily skin types. Facial cleansers have enough cleaning ability to remove the oily build up from oily skin but they will not dry out mature or sensitive skin.

Bar Soaps vs Liquid Cleansers: Which Is Best For Your Aging Skin?

by RICK RHOADS, Pharm.D. 0 Digg Digg Cleansing the face is an important step in keeping healthy and vibrant looking skin. Excessive oils, environmental pollution, and toxic chemicals can build up to form a layer of grime that damages your skin’s health and detracts from your entire appearance. Here is why we believe most liquid cleansers are better than bar soaps for facial cleansing.

Your Skin Is pH Balanced

The greatest difference between the two forms of cleansers is the pH, or measure of acidity in each product. Your skin tends to have a pH close to 5.5 which is slightly acidic. When the pH raises and the skin becomes alkaline, the normal barrier of your skin is disrupted. This breaks down the natural skin protection which keeps out toxins and holds in necessary moisture.

Bar Soaps Are Not pH Adjusted

The process of making a bar soap leads to a more alkaline product by nature. Most bars have a pH of 8 or 9 which is very alkaline. In contrast, cleansers are not subject to the same process of saponification. They are more easily pH adjusted to match that of your skin.

Most Bar Soaps Have Irritating Fragrances

While there are exceptions, most bar soaps contain harsh fragrances to enhance the natural odor of the soap. Many fragrances can be the most sensitizing and irritating chemicals for the skin. Mild redness and irritation can result from excessive use of bar soaps.

Cleansers Don’t Strip Away Natural Barriers

Although cleansers contain ingredients that wash away excessive oils and contamination, they are much milder than bar soaps. The goal of cleansers is to effectively wash away contamination while leaving the protective lipids alone. Many cleansers, like our Restorative Cleanser, contain essential vitamins, oils, and phospholipids to restore protective barriers while removing the excessive lipids. Although there are many different types of cleansers to choose from, we believe they are better than bar soaps for aging and acne prone skin. As we are being exposed to pollutants and environmental damage, the cleansing process is increasingly a crucial step in restoring healthy and clear looking skin.

Your Turn:

Do bar soaps tend to dry out your skin? Have you tried one that hasn’t?   The first step in following a proper skincare routine is to know your skin type and the products that work best for your type of skin. Also, know what is in your skin care products and understand the basics of skincare like cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and things not to do to help prevent premature aging and acne. Cleansing: This is the process of cleaning your skin to remove bacteria, dirt, makeup and excess oils from the skin.

• Using a good cleanser will remove dirt, bacteria, dissolve oil and remove makeup from the skin.
• For acne prone skin, use oil free cleanser with glycolic and salicylic acids to unclog the pores and help control excess oils.
• Always cleanse your face and neck areas both in the morning and before bed to remove dirt and makeup
• Never use commercial beauty bar soap on your face it contains harsh chemicals that would dry out your skin. Instead switch to a more natural mild cleanser for a healthy glow.
• Avoid cover cleansing your skin to avoid removing your skin’s natural protective oils.

   

• The problem is, they can disrupt your skin's normal pH balance, because most bar soaps tend to be alkaline (higher pH) compared with your skin, which is normally slightly acidic (lower pH). Because an alkaline environment encourages the growth of acne-causing bacteria, using a bar soap can make breakouts worse. In addition, the higher pH disrupts your skin's natural barrier function, so water evaporates more quickly and dry skin becomes even drier. However, if you prefer a bar soap to liquid, at least look for one that's gentle and nondrying, like Purpose Gentle Cleansing Bar with glycerin, or Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, which is nonalkaline. If your skin is sensitive or easily gets red and itchy, try to avoid sodium lauryl sulfate, a common skin irritant. I also like L'Occitane Shea Butter Milk Extra Gentle Soap, which is made with a vegetable base and 20 percent shea butter. As for the deodorant bar in your shower, save it for your feet and your armpits; most deodorant soaps are too harsh to use on your face.
• Liquid cleansers are pricier, but they're less harsh on your skin and their pH is closer to your skin's normal pH level. For oily skin, choose a gel or foaming cleanser, which will dissolve oil and makeup and rinse off clean. Try Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash or Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. These are particularly good for those who are taking prescription acne medications, because they won't dry out skin or interfere with topicals. For mild breakouts (if you're not using any prescription acne creams), try Aveda Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser with salicylic acid, which helps unclog pores. For dry or sensitive skin, look for a milky or creamy cleanser, which will leave your skin soft and moisturized. Try Cetaphil Original Gentle Skin Cleanser, Olay Definity Illuminating Cream Cleanser, or Shiseido Pure Cream Cleanser.