I used to think my skin was indestructible. Like a hide. I could use a strong lactic acid peel, or a scrub, and my skin would emerge a little bright red, but ultimately return to its former glory. However, there were a few products that completely threw my skin out of whack several years back. What happened is that they destroyed the acid mantle of my skin, that is, the protective, self-regulating layer of the facial skin that remains at a Ph of 5.5. It is essential to keep this layer of skin healthy and balanced, and we tend to over-use products and over-treat the face in hopes we will obtain better skin down the line.
I'm here to tell you about one change you can make in your product arsenal that will ensure you take better care of your acid mantle: Micellar Cleanser.
I've used almost every cleanser on the market, from Chanel and La Mer to Cetaphil. The cleanser that is made to respect the acid mantle of the skin's stratum corneum is always going to be the best option. Creamy cleansers like Osea's Ocean Cleansing Milk is an extraordinarily luxurious and effective option for normal to dry skins, and their Ocean Cleansing Mudd is actually my preferred cleanser for oily skins. NB: As you will soon find out, I believe Osea has the most superior products on the market.
But hardly any of us take into account what water itself does to the skin to imbalance it on a daily basis. Water, depending on where you live, can be rife with heavy metals and harsh minerals that clog pores and strip the skin of its natural oils.
When I lived in Paris, I was living in the Marais, which has one of the most notoriously harsh water supplies of the area. I began using Bioderma's Micellar Water Cleansers as a result. Ever since then, my skin has been so healthy and just feels "alive" -- I never have that tight, dry feeling, and my skin always feels clean.
Micellar cleansers are "waterless," meaning that they are only used with a cotton pad, like a makeup remover. Not only do they remove all your makeup (including stubborn eye makeup!), they will dislodge all the impurities in your skin without disrupting the Ph of your skin. Hence, no need to use a toner afterwards! Micellar cleansers don't sting and do not irritate the skin at all. There are a ton of new ones available on the market, but all French ladies worth their skincare salt adore l'originel, Bioderma Créaline or Sensibio. The latter is for extremely sensitive skin; I use Créaline. Both are available on Amazon.
What do I like most about these cleansers? When I really want to deep clean my skin, it feels wonderful to massage in an actual cleanser into my damp skin while my pores are open in the shower. We underestimate how damaging on an incremental level, though, this shower-routine can be on a daily basis.
