Spring (Facial) Cleaning

Spring is blooming in North America; let the cleaning begin! Why limit that freshness to your home? Here at The Ranch, we shed our winter skins and greet the new season face-on. We must cleanse before exfoliating away that dry skin that is no longer serving us.

A clean face is a happy face. With so many cleansers available globally, it can be hard to determine which one is best for you. According to Terese Linke, the Director of Education at Amala beauty, a natural cleanser, hypoallergenic, and free of synthetic fragrance, preservatives, alcohols, foaming agents, and harsh chemical exfoliators, is the best place to start.

Other factors to consider when shopping for cleansers include:

• Do you wear makeup? Are you looking for a cleanser that removes makeup?
• Is your skin more on the oily or dry side?
• Do you prefer a creamy or gel stye cleanser?
• Do you have sensitive skin?
• Do you have problematic or acne-prone skin?

When you can answer these questions, you are ready to select your cleanser. The Rancho La Puerta Core Essentials line has two excellent cleansers: the purifying Cleansing Gel and the refreshing Crème Cleanser.

The Cleansing Gel provides a squeaky-clean feeling with no residue, leaving your skin refreshed with minimal rinsing. Its herbal extracts and other ingredients are safe for daily use and provide gentle exfoliation to remove dull or dead skin cells and renew skin radiance. The purifying gel is an excellent choice for achieving a “fresh palate” for all skin types. Additional essential oils can be layered on top; it is especially beneficial for oily and congested skin types.

The Core Essentials’ Crème Cleanser is recommended for delicate, sensitive, or mature skin. The gentleness of its creamy texture prevents your skin from feeling dry or tight after cleansing.

In addition, there are three excellent cleansing products in the Amala line, Rancho La Puerta’s partner skincare brand. The Silkening Creamy Moisture Cleanse is a refining cleanser capable of dissolving impurities and lifting away makeup and dirt. The daily dose of plant-based alpha Hydroxy acids helps speed up cell turnover leaving skin free of debris. It is an excellent choice for removing pesky makeup, even mascara, without drying the skin, making it a good choice for dry skin types.

Those with normal to oily skin conditions, including men and teenagers, would likely have success with the Pore Clarifying Gel Cleanser. It is perfect for sensitive and acne-prone skin because it cleanses thoroughly without stripping or making the skin feel dry. In a clinical study, after two weeks, this cleanser was proven to sustain optimal moisture levels in the skin.

Last and certainly not least, the Nourishing Gentle Cleansing Balm is a soothing non-foaming balm that gently removes makeup while fortifying the skin’s protective barrier. It is another beautiful choice for sensitive or reactive skin.

Cleansers only work if you use them consistently and correctly. While figuring out how to wash your face may seem like common sense, you might be surprised by some common pitfalls. When applying a cleanser, use gentle circular motions with your fingertips. This is effective, safe, and saves more product than if you pumped it into your palm. Exerting extra pressure does not clean your skin more effectively than using soft strokes. Instead, it drags and moves the skin more than is necessary, potentially damaging your skin’s elasticity. Bring the product down to your neck and décolleté (where your neckline meets your chest) since your neck is an extension of your face and deserves the same careful attention. When you have finished washing your face, gently pat it dry. Avoid unnecessary rough towel rubbing, which can also affect skins’ elasticity and lead to signs of premature aging. Patting rather than rubbing leaves your skin slightly damp, which allows the serums and moisturizers to absorb more easily.

Happy cleansing!

A special thank you to Terese Link and Tara Grodjesk for your contributions to this article.