“You will never change your life until you change something… you do daily…The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”  – Rishika Jain.

This well-known quote applies not only to things like diet, exercise, and success, but also the health of our skin. The secret to good, clear, glowing skin lies not only just in the products we use, but more in the routine with which we use them.

​​The three key at-home skin care principles should be: Calibrated Cleansing, Vital Vitamins, and Proper Protection. Today we will focus on Calibrated Cleansing.

What is Calibrated Cleansing? Of all the products people tend to skip out on, it’s the cleanser, as there are a multitude of cleansers available on every grocery store shelf that are cheap as chips. Some people believe that cleansers are not as important as serums and creams. Incorrect cleansing results in two things:

• An Impaired Acid Mantle: The first line of skin defense. Most cleansers run at a very alkaline pH, stripping the skin of the essential fatty acids whose job it is to maintain the skin’s pH of 4.5 to 5.5.
• An Impaired Barrier Function: The second line of skin defense. By removing essential oils from the surface of the skin, trans-epidermal water loss occurs, compromising the barrier function immediately.

A cleanser is the most important product in skincare. It allows the gentle removal of dirt, grime, sticky oils, and dead cells. This allows for better absorption of the products that follow, enhancing absorption of key ingredients. It can also support the acid mantle and strengthen the barrier function. Avoid cleansers with Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, and look for oil cleansers because they will balance either oily OR dry skin.