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In just one day, our body releases about 500 ml of water through the skin, mixed with salt, urea, sebum, carbon dioxide and lactic acid. And this is only from the inside, and from the outside, urban dust and dirt, which is mixed with cosmetics, falls on us. There are many small pores on the face, located close to each other, in addition, this is an open part of the body – therefore, the skin of the face is constantly weathered, exposed to high and low temperatures, and irradiated with ultraviolet radiation. That is why, in order to preserve beauty, it is very important to provide the face with complete care and cleansing.
Cellular regeneration processes are constantly taking place in our skin, which are accompanied by the death of the obsolete upper layer of the epithelium. High-quality facial cleansing implies not only the removal of impurities, but also the exfoliation of dead particles that slow down renewal and prevent us from seeing our attractive reflection in the mirror: fresh blush, healthy complexion, elastic and smooth skin. Skin of any type and any age needs regular cleansing, but for this it is not at all necessary to spend big money on cosmetics.
Today we will tell you all about effective facial cleansing at home using natural and affordable ingredients. You will learn how to get rid of blackheads on the nose and prevent their appearance, which skin care products are right for your skin, and which ones are not recommended. The best recipes for cleansing face masks, homemade scrubs and peels are waiting for you on this page – try it and see for yourself!
Cleansing of normal skin
Let’s start our conversation with the rarest type of skin – normal. Alas, in modern realities, absolutely healthy skin with a smoothly functioning mechanism of self-regulation is rare, mainly in children and very young girls.
You have normal facial skin if:
After washing with soap or plain water, you never feel tight;
There is no greasy shine on the forehead, nose and chin 2-3 hours after washing, after waking up your face does not look greasy;
The skin never flakes, does not become stained from frost or heat;
The pores are not enlarged, there are no pustular rashes;
The face gratefully perceives any creams, they are quickly absorbed and do not cause irritation.
What not to do to owners of normal skin:
Indulge in skincare. If you have normal skin, the main task is to maintain its status as long as possible, that is, to adhere to the principle of non-intervention. Most women believe that expensive high-quality creams and masks can only bring benefits, because there is never too much good. This is an erroneous opinion – with the help of potent cosmetics, especially the wrong ones, you can disrupt the natural balance of the skin and ruin it forever;
Neglect to clean your face. Normal skin gives its mistress a minimum of trouble and does not “revenge” for sleeping without make-up removal with redness and pimples. But this is for the time being. If you often go to bed unwashed and at the same time do not carry out cleansing procedures at least once every 2 weeks, very soon a healthy complexion will be replaced by grayness, peeling and black dots on the nose will appear.
Normal skin care
Providing normal skin with quality care is very simple, and it does not require large material investments. The best facial cleanser in this case is ordinary baby soap (you can use cosmetic cream), or a foam or gel cleanser. Particular attention should be paid to water quality. It is hardened by the high content of magnesium and calcium salts, which, when combined with soap and sebum, form insoluble compounds that are practically not washed off with water and leave a dense, harmful film on the face. Constant washing with hard water can ruin normal skin.
There are two ways to solve the problem with hard water at home: boiling or freezing. Melted water is much more preferable than boiled water, and it’s easier to cook it – take the container out of the freezer in the evening, and in the morning soft, cool water is ready. You need to wash your face not only in the morning, but also in the evening, regardless of whether you use decorative cosmetics. During the day, a lot of dust and carbon monoxide accumulate on the surface of the skin, especially if you live in a big city and are often on the street.
After washing the face in the morning, it is enough to moisturize the normal skin with a light day cream with a UV filter. In the evening before going to bed, you can apply a nourishing night cream, but for girls under 30 this is not at all necessary. Special creams for the area around the eyes should be used after 35 years. Cleansing face masks for normal skin owners are recommended to be done no more than twice a month, the same applies to scrubs for deep cleansing of the skin and steam baths. Light peels can be used every week, but only if they are needed (blackheads on the nose). The only product that can be added to the daily care of normal skin without fear of disturbing its natural balance is an alcohol-free tonic based on natural extracts.
Cleansing for oily and combination skin
How to determine your oily skin type? Very simple: wash your face thoroughly with room temperature water and baby soap (just with soap, special cleansers will not work), pat dry with a clean towel and wait three hours, while doing your usual things and being in a cool room. After the allotted time, attach a thin piece of paper to your nose – if an oily trace remains on it, then you have oily skin. However, do not rush to get upset: in owners of oily skin, wrinkles on the face appear on average 5-8 years later than in women with dry skin. And with proper care and proper cleansing of the face, such skin can look quite decent.
The oiliness of the skin of the face is due to the increased activity of the sebaceous glands. This is either a hereditary feature, or an acquired defect, the fault of which is hormones. No wonder the “peaks of fat content” occur during puberty and pregnancy (and sometimes menopause). If problems with oily skin become catastrophic, it is necessary to be examined by a dermatologist and endocrinologist, since it is impossible to achieve cleansing of oily skin at home with cosmetics alone.
What not to do with oily skin:
Wash with hot water. In an attempt to achieve cleanliness and eliminate the treacherous shine, many girls wash their faces thoroughly with soap and hot water, because the high temperature helps dissolve sebum. In no case should you do this – the sebaceous glands will immediately begin to intensively compensate for dryness, and within an hour after such a procedure, the skin will shine again;
Wipe face with alcohol lotion. It would seem that such cleansing, tightening and disinfecting agents were invented specifically for oily, acne-prone skin. However, if you apply them not pointwise to the focus of inflammation, but to the entire surface of the face, and even do it daily, you can achieve the exact opposite effect, for the same reason that is described in paragraph 1. The more we dry out the skin, the more actively they work sebaceous glands.
Oily skin care
Do not wash your face too often, it is enough to do it three times a day: in the morning after waking up, in the evening after coming home from work/study (complete make-up removal) and at night before going to bed. It is necessary to wash off cosmetics in the bathroom, milk for removing makeup is inappropriate here. Any soap is categorically not suitable for washing oily facial skin – as we mentioned above, sebum reacts with hardness salts contained in water, and an irritating film forms on the face. The best choice is gels and foams for washing with a pH level of no higher than 4,5, containing special components for regulating the activity of the sebaceous glands, narrowing pores and gently disinfecting acne (for example, chamomile, calendula or tea tree extract).
As care products for oily skin, light daytime moisturizing cream-gels are ideal, which are quickly absorbed. Just because your skin is oily doesn’t mean it doesn’t need regular moisturizing. At night, heavy nourishing creams should not be applied to the face, especially oil-based ones. Until the age of 30, owners of oily skin should not use a night cream at all – it is better to make a nourishing mask from natural products before going to bed. Alcohol-free tonics for oily skin will only benefit, especially those containing lemon or cucumber juice.
Cleansing oily skin at home should be carried out according to the following schedule:
2 times a month – a full-scale treatment with a steam bath;
1 time per week – scrub, peeling or mask for deep cleansing of the skin;
2-3 times a week – light peels and scrubs.
If you have oily skin prone to inflammation and acne, it is preferable to use homemade cleansing masks and peels rather than scrubs. Peeling removes dirt and excess sebum more gently, and a properly selected mask soothes the sebaceous glands. As for scrubs, especially those containing large and sharp polishing particles (crushed nut shells, apricot kernels), they injure the inflamed skin. Subsequently, microtraumas are easily infected, and since sebum is a free environment for the reproduction of pyogenic bacteria, new rashes appear on the face.
Is it possible to squeeze pimples and blackheads on the face? Definitely yes, but only if they are already ripe and easily come out. In addition, mechanical cleansing of oily facial skin is possible only after careful preparation (steaming and disinfection). If you squeeze a pimple with dirty hands, the wound will almost certainly become inflamed. And the longer such wounds heal, and the more often they are reinfected and picked open, the more obvious scars remain in their place. Getting rid of acne scars is very difficult.
Cleansing dry and sensitive skin
To understand that you have dry skin, you can by the following signs:
Washing with plain water causes a feeling of tightness, soap – itching and burning;
The skin is often flaky, especially around the nose and on the cheeks;
Red spots appear on the face from icy water and cold wind;
The forehead, nose and chin sweat in the heat, but do not shine with a greasy sheen;
Creams are instantly absorbed (“like in dry earth”), and after a few hours, discomfort reappears.
Despite the lack of moisture and increased sensitivity, thin and dry skin also needs regular cleansing. After all, if you do not help the skin cells to get rid of keratinized particles, the renewal of the epithelium will significantly slow down. However, cleansing dry facial skin requires a very delicate approach, and it must be combined with moisturizing and nourishing creams and masks. The best recipes for gentle cleansing facial masks enriched with natural beneficial ingredients can be found later in our article.
What not to do with dry skin:
Leave on the face of cosmetics that are not intended for this. We are talking about numerous foams, gels and creams for washing. Since they moisturize well and have a pleasant texture, some girls deliberately do not wash them off completely, hoping to avoid tightness and maintain a feeling of comfort. You can’t do this – dust and dirt will quickly stick to the skin treated in this way, the pores will become clogged, and irritation will appear. Washing agents should be rinsed 8-10 times with warm water from the face;
Wipe your face with ice cubes. This is a very popular and effective toning procedure, however, you should not resort to it if you have dry and sensitive skin. From the burning cold, red spots will go down the face, in addition, if the subcutaneous capillaries are close, they can burst. Contrasting and ice washes are also contraindicated for girls with dry skin;
Apply creams with smearing movements. In order for the product to be well absorbed and not cause irritation, it must be lightly “driven” into the skin with fingertips. This advice is relevant for owners of any type of skin, but dry and sensitive – especially since it is prone to the early appearance of wrinkles. The cream must be distributed following the correct trajectories and avoiding stretching of the skin.
Care for dry and sensitive skin
There are now a wide range of face wash emulsions on the market that can be used in place of traditional morning routines. The emulsion is a neutral mixture of fat base with water (fat content 25-50%). When applied to the face, this product simultaneously cleanses thin, dry skin and impregnates it with oils, like tissue paper. However, make sure that you choose the right cleansing emulsion and do not confuse it with a regular make-up remover milk.
If you prefer to wash your face with water and delicate foam, take care of the quality of the water. Hard water has the most detrimental effect on dry skin of the face, so it is better to prepare melted water or purchase micellar water. Frequent washes are harmful to dry skin, as they provoke flaking. It is enough to wash your face twice a day, and after each procedure, apply a cream on your face: in the morning, a daytime moisturizer with a good UV filter, in the evening, nourishing and rejuvenating (after 30 years). Dry and thin skin around the eyes needs a separate care product from about 25 years old.
Cleansing dry facial skin at home is recommended 1-2 times a month: a steam bath, then a soft scrub, and finally a soothing mask. If you choose between scrub and peeling, then for dry skin, a scrub is preferable, since only with its help you can eliminate visible peeling, which prevents smooth application of makeup. Facial peels, especially those that are aggressive (such as those with salicylic acid), can irritate sensitive skin and aggravate dryness. The same applies to alcohol lotions.
Home skin cleansing treatments
If you want to have a healthy complexion and smooth, supple skin, make it a rule to have a “cleansing day” at least once a month. Do not plan any activities outside the home for the evening of this day, since you cannot go outside after a home skin cleansing procedure: firstly, you can catch a cold, and secondly, dirt will immediately get into open pores.
Complete cleansing of the skin at home includes several stages:
Steaming the face over the bath;
Removal of comedones (if any);
Exfoliation of the keratinized upper layer of the skin;
Face mask (cleansing, moisturizing, nourishing, narrowing pores – the choice depends on your type of facial skin).
To prepare a steam bath, you will need a healing herb from a pharmacy:
For dry skin – oregano, thyme, linden;
For oily skin – coltsfoot, nettle, mint;
For acne prone skin – calendula, St. John’s wort, yarrow;
For normal skin – chamomile, lavender, string.
Pour boiling water over one tablespoon of the selected herb, cover the container with a plate and wait 5 minutes. When the herb is brewed and the boiling water has cooled a little, sit over the bath, tilt your face and cover yourself with a terry towel. By the way, if you do not want to mess with herbs, you can use essential oils instead – just a few drops with your favorite aroma of rose, bergamot, orange, patchouli, ylang-ylang or tea tree.
It is best to steam the skin for at least 15 minutes, then the sebum will completely dissolve. After the allotted time, do not rush to take your head out from under the towel – the pores will immediately close from the temperature difference. Instead, roll up a hot towel, cover your face with it, and lie there until it cools. Then blot the steamed skin and sit in front of a magnifying tabletop mirror.
If you want to get rid of blackheads on your nose, now is the time to do it. Wrap your fingers with a sterile bandage or a napkin moistened with hydrogen peroxide, and with light pressure in the opposite direction, clean the pores around the nose, on the forehead and chin from comedones and excess sebum.
It is best to perform mechanical cleansing of the face with very short nails or just fingertips. There are special metal devices in the form of eyelets, but the reviews about them are very controversial – someone likes to remove acne and comedones with their help, someone does not. Do home cleansing of the face in the way that is more convenient for you, the main thing is to observe sterility and do not try to squeeze out an unyielding pimple at all costs. So you will only damage the skin, an ugly red spot will remain, and the pimple will become more inflamed and will mature longer.
Skin cleansers for blackheads
Comedones, or blackheads, are small plugs of sebum, the top of which is contaminated with street dust and cosmetic residues, which is why they stand out so ugly against the background of the face. It is necessary to remove comedones, and not only because they spoil the appearance. Old sebaceous plugs tend to increase in volume over time and stretch the pores. And when you finally remove the large comedone, a real “lunar crater” will remain in its place. To prevent this, clean your face regularly.
Best home remedies for blackheads on nose:
Protein mask – beat the white of one egg into a stiff foam, apply it to the area covered with comedones, and put a paper napkin folded 2-3 times on top. When it dries a little, apply a second layer of protein foam and wait until completely dry. The napkin should become hard, then you can easily and gently remove it from your face. Protein perfectly draws sebum from steamed pores, since it is very sticky, and shrinks strongly when dried;
Black mask from black dots – crush 1 tablet of activated charcoal, add half a teaspoon of gelatin to it and steam this mixture with 1 tablespoon of hot milk. After a few minutes, when the gelatin has dispersed and the mass has cooled down a bit, apply it on the steamed nose and the area around it. After 20-30 minutes, the mask will dry completely and become like a shiny film, then it will be possible to remove it. The principle of operation of this tool from black dots is the same – pulling and adsorption of contaminants during the drying process.
How to get rid of blackheads with lightening?
If your nose is covered with small black dots that do not want to be squeezed out, do not despair.
You can get rid of them by bleaching:
Salt, baking soda and baby soap – Add 1 teaspoon of salt and baking soda to the soapy solution. Put the resulting slurry on a cotton pad, toothbrush or a special brush for cleansing the face and massage the skin of the nose for 3-5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat these procedures 2-3 times a week, and after a month, small comedones will completely lose their black “caps” and stop being noticeable;
Lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide – Mix one teaspoon of the above ingredients with a tablespoon of water. Moisten a cotton pad liberally and wipe the area covered with blackheads daily in the evening for two weeks. During this time, the comedones will discolor, but keep in mind that such a blackhead remedy is not suitable for girls with very dry and sensitive skin.
The best cleansing face masks
We bring to your attention recipes for cleansing masks that will suit any type of skin and at the same time saturate your face with useful substances:
Kefir cleansing mask – heat a quarter cup of kefir 3,2% in a water bath, soak a piece of clean gauze with it and apply on your face for 10-15 minutes. The acids contained in kefir gently dissolve sebum and restore a healthy pH level if the skin is too oily and its environment is alkaline;
Rice Purifying Mask – a popular Japanese recipe for cleansing the skin of the face at home. Rinse half a cup of round rice thoroughly with running water, then pour three times the volume of warm boiled water over it and leave it overnight. In the morning, drain the excess liquid, knead the rice to a pulp and apply on clean face skin for 15-20 minutes;
Cucumber Protein Purifying Mask – peel one small fresh cucumber, grate on a fine grater. Beat the white of one egg in a steep foam and mix with grated cucumber. Apply to face and leave to dry, then rinse with cool water. This mask is especially suitable for those with enlarged pores;
Yeast Purifying Mask – recommended for dry and mature skin, perfectly saturates with vitamins. Mash a small cube of fresh baker’s yeast in warm milk and apply the resulting mass on the skin of the face and décolleté. Leave on for 15-20 minutes and rinse with room temperature water;
Potato Purifying Mask – optimal for oily skin, well removes excess sebum and reduces its secretion. Grate a raw potato on a fine grater, apply the resulting mass on the face, paying special attention to the T-zone. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse with cool water;
Cosmetic Clay Purifying Mask – a universal option, since you can choose clay for your skin type: red – for dry, pink – for mixed and normal, blue, green and white – for oily and problem skin. Clay is diluted with warm water to a comfortable consistency and applied to the entire face, avoiding the area around the eyes, for 10-15 minutes, and then washed off thoroughly;
Herbal cleansing mask – has additional healing properties, depending on the choice of medicinal plant. Oily facial skin can be soothed and disinfected with calendula, yarrow, St. John’s wort or sage. For owners of dry skin, linden blossom, rosehip and thyme are perfect. For normal skin, almost any herb is good, opt for the classic options: chamomile, mint, lemon balm. A small amount of raw materials needs to be crushed with a coffee grinder, add a little warm water until a homogeneous gruel is obtained and apply on the face for 15-20 minutes, and before washing off, it is easy to massage the skin – you will get a scrub effect.
Scrubs for deep skin cleansing
Try homemade scrub recipes based on natural ingredients – it’s simple, healthy and economical:
Semolina scrub – particles of semolina are quite small, and at the same time not sharp, which allows you to use semolina as the basis for all kinds of homemade scrubs. The easiest option is to mix semolina with heavy cream or sour cream;
Oatmeal scrub – in this case, the oatmeal will first have to be ground with a coffee grinder. Oatmeal-based scrubs are very mild and ideal for sensitive skin. You can mix ground oatmeal with sour cream, whipped protein or natural yogurt, and you need to start the procedure right away, because the grain particles swell quickly;
Coffee Scrub – natural ground coffee is also great as a base for home scrubs. Especially good options: coffee + banana pulp and coffee + fat cottage cheese. These products are very easy to use and at the same time useful for any type of facial skin;
sugar scrub – Ideal for cleansing dry skin. Fine sugar is mixed with sour cream, cottage cheese, avocado or banana pulp. Such compositions should be used immediately after preparation, since sugar melts quickly;
Honey salt scrub – more suitable for owners of oily facial skin, but if you use it for the body after a bath, then this is just a fairy tale for any skin type. A face scrub is prepared from a tablespoon of honey and half a teaspoon of finely ground salt, and for the body choose a larger table salt or better sea salt, roughly maintaining the above proportions;
Egg shell scrub – Best for flaky skin. The shell from several eggs must be very carefully ground with a coffee grinder, literally “to dust”. Then we get small, dense particles that perfectly remove the keratinized layer of the skin without injuring it. You can mix ground shells with any of the above bases, but best of all – with fatty cottage cheese and cream;
Almond orange scrub – the most fragrant and pleasant to use homemade scrub recipe. A handful of almonds should be ground with a coffee grinder to a state of crumbs with a diameter of 1-2 mm, then add a little freshly squeezed orange juice (or better than lemon if the skin is very oily) and this gruel can be easily massaged into the face for several minutes.
It is recommended to use natural scrubs for deep cleansing of the skin, regardless of its type, more often 1-2 times a week. Take care of yourself and be beautiful!