Dermalogica Double Cleanse

The double cleanse. I heard that term for the first time from my sister after she went for a Dermalogica treatment years ago. At first I thought the notion was silly. Why would I wash my face twice? Surely what I’ve been doing up till then was sufficient? Was I wrong! My skin improved from the moment I started double cleansing.

Why should we double cleanse? This is what Dermalogica says:

What did your cleanser leave behind?

Everyone knows to cleanse their skin twice daily, but most people don’t realize that a single cleanse with a surfactant-based cleanser still leaves behind a film of oil-based debris, such as sunscreen, long-lasting make-up, pollutants and your skin’s own sebum (oil). How does it happen? The oil-based debris on your skin creates a barrier that your usual cleanser simply cannot fully penetrate. The result is a dull, congested complexion. – www.dermalogica.com

So, how exactly do you double cleanse?

Dermalogica Double Cleanse

Step 1: Use a cleansing oil

A cleansing oil (or balm) is an oil-based cleanser that will remove all oil-based debris as mentioned above. My preferred cleansing oil is still Dermalogica’s PreCleanse. The very first time I used it I was completely blown away. This is how you use it: Apply a few drops to dry skin and massage it all over the face and neck. Make-up, sunscreen, oil and dirt just melt away. Take note… do not add water at this stage or the product won’t be as effective. Once this is done, add a little water and massage the now milky emulsion, all over. I then rinse with lukewarm water and it’s as though the product and everything it has dissolved, just disappears.

Dermalogica Double Cleanse

Step 2:  Cleanse with your preferred cleanser

I usually follow the PreCleanse with a gel cleanser. Because the oil has done such a fantastic job with the first cleanse, I can feel that my gel cleanser works deeper and is actually cleaning my skin, and not just trying to work through layers of make-up, etc.

I recently added the Dermalogica Skin Resurfacing Cleanser to my cleansing routine. I love highly active products and could not wait to get my hands on this one.

Achieve superior smoothness and ultra-clean skin after just one use with this dual- action exfoliating cleanser. A highly-active Lactic Acid concentrate helps retexturize skin suffering from visible signs of aging by removing dulling surface debris and helping accelerate cell turnover. Use of this silky cleanser dramatically improves skin texture and properly prepares for maximum penetration of AGE Smart® products. Formulated without artificial fragrances and colors.

This stuff is potent. I quickly realised that I tried to do too much to quickly and that using this cleanser 3 to 4 times a week is ideal for my skin (especially during winter when it’s extremely sensitive). It leaves my skin feeling super soft and glowing. And obviously perfectly cleansed. Note that this cleanser is recommended for mature or prematurely-aging skin and you should use a very good sunscreen whilst using it (we should do that always anyway).

Thank you Dermalogica for reminding me just how gorgeous preCleanse is and giving me the chance to experience the power of the Skin Resurfacing Cleanser. My skin thanks you!

xoxo

2014: The Year of Oils

I have always been quite fond of beauty oils, but they have never really formed a big part of my beauty regimen. Last year changed that. 2014 saw amazing skin and hair oil launches and I also had the opportunity to try products that have been around for a while. I have fallen in love with so many oils that it is quite difficult to choose a clear favourite in each category so I decided to give you a round up of products that I highly recommend you give a try.

Essential-Oils

 

FACE

In the past I have been weary of facial oils as I was always worried that they would cause more oiliness and congestion, but I quickly learnt that it is not the case. Facial oils work wonders for my skin especially during the winter months as my skin can become very dull and even flaky. Change of season is particularly harsh on my skin and oils have proved to be lifesavers. Winners include Lipidol Overnight Face Oil, L’Oreal’s Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil and Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (and yes… this oil is as good as they say). An oil that deserves a very special mention is Naturals Beauty’s Sweet Orange Wrinkle Banisher. This oil takes top spot on days that my skin is very sensitive. It is amazing and I will be making sure that I have enough of this beaut in my stash when winter comes a knockin’. This is most definitely one of my best beauty buys of 2014.

I also tried a couple oil cleansers and two really stood out: Dermalogica’s PreCleanse and Lipidol’s Cleansing Face Oil. You will note in my review of the Lipidol Cleansing Face Oil that I liked it as a pre-cleanser, but I don’t use it just for removing make-up anymore. It has proven to be a perfect morning cleanser and it works beautifully as a second cleanse. It has been a godsend on sensitive skin days and this product will be repurchased again and again.

BODY

My skin is very dry and body oils work the best to combat scaly, dull skin. Favourites of 2014 include Lipidol’s After Shower Oil and the REN Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil. I have recently discovered Nivea’s Firming Body Oil and I adore it! It is light, absorbs very well and does not aggravate my eczema-prone skin. It is true love, people. Well worth a go. Yet another Lipidol product that deserves 5 stars is the Lipidol Sunscreen Oil. It feels like the After Shower Oil but with an added SPF… need I say more? One of my best beauty discoveries of all time is the TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil. I am allergic to the chemicals in self-tanning products, but this organic self-tanner gives my a gorgeous tan with no negative reaction. Read my full review HERE.

HAIR

I don’t think a day has gone by that I have not used a hair oil since discovering what a major difference it has made to the condition, look and feel of my dry, chemically treated hair. To treat my hair I love to use Africa Organics Hair Treatment Oil (I love their hair care products) or good old organic coconut oil. To treat and style, INOAR Extreme Premium Oil and Moroccanoil can’t be beat. My full Moroccanoil review is on it’s way. I now understand why the brand has such a cult following. Great budget-friendly options include Dark and Lovely Amla Legend Oil and OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco (available at Foschini).

xoxo