Cleansing And Toning Your Skin

1/2011

Cleansing your facial skin daily is the most important part of your basic skincare routine. Don't skip this,even if you're low on time. Cleansing your skin not only removes dirt and makeup, but it improves skin circulation, removes dead skin cells and prepares skin to receive moisturizer.

Here are the steps I recommend to my customers using Be Green Bath and Body products:

1. Remove eye makeup. Be Green Bath and Body's Facial Makeup Remover can help you do that.  Our Facial Makeup Remover is oil-based (organic olive and castor oils and grapeseed oil) but it won't leave your skin oily. It contains organic mandarin and lavender essential oils known for their skin healing and calming qualities. Place a small amount on a cotton ball or pad, close your eye, and gently rub across your eye to remove the makeup. Our forumula will remove mineral makeup and waterproof mascara. Remember to keep your eye closed! If you get cloudiness in your eye you may have gotten a bit of oil in your eye. Not to worry, it will clear momentarily. Facial Makeup Remover can also be used to remove foundation on your face. This product is great for contact lens wearers (I am one!) and people of all ages: my mom uses it, I use it and my 15 year old daughter uses it.

2. Remove facial makeup. Splash warm water (hot water will dry out your skin and cold water won't' remove the grime as well) on your face to wet it. Shake the Daily Facial Cleanser and pour a quarter sized amount into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to form a small amount of lather.  Using your finger tips, apply the cleanser to your skin using a gentle circular motion for 30 seconds.  Don't scrub too hard as this can irritate the skin. Rinse with plenty of warm water to remove the cleanser residue making sure to cover neck and hairline areas. Blot skin dry with a soft towel.  Daily Facial Cleanser works for all skin types and is especially great for those with sensitive skin or rosacea due to the gentle but effective ingredients. Be Green Bath and Body's facial cleanser will clean your skin without drying it out and the gentle exfoliants will remove dead skin cells revealing the new skin underneath. Organic castile soap for lather is combined with apricot kernel oil, organic jojoba oil, vegetable glycerin and organic honey for moisture. The reason we use a base of apricot kernel oil is because it is a light weight oil that is rich in essential fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acids. It penetrates the skin easily and is known for it's revitalizing and soothing qualities. It is appropriate for all skin times, especially inflammed skin. Other ingredients in the Daily Facial Cleanser are colloidal oatmeal, both soothing and calming, and the mild exfoliators of milk powder, fine sea salt and apricot kernel meal. As a bonus, kaolin clay effectively rids excess oil, detoxifies and slightly exfoliates skin.

3. Exfoliate using Be Green Bath and Body Cleansing Grains as often as you would like. Cleansing Grains are a mixture of organic herbs, clay, oatmeal and apricot kernel meal. They are mild and nourishing and can be used for any skin type. What's more they gently cleanse, remove dead skin cells and improve circulation. I use them about 3 times per week. I mix about 1/2 tsp of grains with 1/8 tsp of water (you can also use honey) in a tiny bowl to form a paste. Gently rub the paste onto your skin for 10 seconds or so and rinse off thoroughly with warm water then pat dry. When using cleansing grains, I usually let the grains dry on my face for about 5 minutes. You will feel the clay drying and your face feel a little tight. The clay is working to draw the toxins out of your skin. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry. Your skin will feel remarkably smooth! Dry skin may also feel tight. I recommend using the grains as a mask only 1 time per week if you have dry skin.

4. Apply Toner to your skin using the formula that most closely matches your skin type. Be Green Bath and Body's Toners are alcohol-free tonics made with a good amount of organic ingredients that will remove any remaining cleanser residue and oils. They leave your skin fresh and vibrant unlike most toners on the market that are loaded with alcohol that is drying and contain synthetic petrochemicals, fragrances and dyes. These are definitely not healthy for your skin! The real question, though, is do you need a toner? This question is the subject of much debate and one that you really have to answer for yourself. Honestly, if you have to skip one step this would be the one. Toners will not "close your pores" or "reduce the size of your pores". Personally, I love to use Toner. It assures me that I have removed all the dirt and grime and I haven't missed any spots during rinsing. I love the way my skin feels refreshed and smooth after I put it on and I love that the natural essential oils are doing their job balancing and soothing my skin. The smell of the essential oils is so calming so I never want to skip this step. Bottom line: try Toner for yourself and see how it makes your skin and mind feel then decide if you want to continue. 

If you do decide to use Toner (and I hope you do!), apply it after your skin is dry from cleansing. Shake the toner bottle to disperse the essential oils throughout the mixture. Squeeze a small amount onto a cotton ball and massage into your skin with a gentle motion. Follow with Facial Serum or Regenerative Night Cream.

All of Be Green Bath and Body's Toners contain alcohol free wild harvested witch hazel hydrosol and organic rose hydrosol.

Witch hazel hydrosol is a soothing and refreshing distilled water that comes from a blend of bark and leaves of the witch hazel shrub. It is antiseptic and possesses strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Rose hydrosol stimulates the skin, restores PH and controls and balances sebum production so it's helpful for all skin types.

Calming Carrot Seed Toner also contains glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture to the skin and carrot seed essential oil, containing carotene and vitamin A and known to treat dry and damaged skin by softening and rejuvenating it.

Healthy Skin Balancing Toner also contains glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture to the skin and essentials oils of palma rosa, lavender and benzoin. Palma rosa oil balances skin hydration levels and encourages cell regeneration. Lavender oil is anti inflammatory, anti viral and anti bacterial. It also helps balance the skin and encourage cell regeneration. Benzoin aids in healing chapped skin and, like lavender, is very calming.

Refreshing Rose Toner also contains cider vinegar to remove dull, dry skin and organic rose hip seed oil that is high in essential fatty acids, vitamins A, C and E. It has been shown to help prevent premature skin aging. Carrot seed essential oil contains carotene and vitamin A and is known to treat dry and damaged skin by softening and rejuvenating it. Geranium essential oil balances the skin and improves elasticity and myrrh oil balances skin hydration and tones the skin.

Ylang Ylang Soothing Toner also contains glycerin,a humectant that draws moisture to the skin and cider vinegar, a natural astringent that will kill bacteria and balance oil. Ylang ylang oil regulates sebum production, frankincense oil accelerates healing of inflammed skin and palma rosa oil balances skin hydration levels and encourages cell regeneration.

Now you've got clean skin! It's exfoliated and toned and ready for moisturizer!

"Nourish your skin safely” ™
Karen