The Importance of

Cleansing and Exfoliating:

CLEANSING

Cleansing the skin helps remove excess oil, make up, dirt and dead skin cells. This refreshes the skin and allows your complexion a chance to breathe.

While it seems easy enough to just wet your face and slop some Cetaphil on and then rinse it off, you need to put a little more effort in than that. In aesthetics, we recommend what we call a “double cleanse.” Double cleansing isn’t just the act of washing your face twice–this step is what makes a difference in the health and appearance of your skin. The first cleanse helps remove make-up, oil and SPF while the second cleanse helps take care of the stuff you might not see with the naked eye. Double cleansing tackles both the surface and deep down impurities ultimately allowing the skin to absorb and benefit from the skincare you apply after, especially anti-aging products which need to penetrate deeper to be effective.

Click HERE to follow along with Jenna discussing how to properly cleanse and exfoliate.

Recommended Cleansers:

ZO GENTLE CLEANSER:  This is suitable for all skin types. This cleanser breaks down makeup, dirt, and oil without stripping the skin, which leaves the skin feeling hydrated and soothed. Some of the key ingredients are oat amino acids that support skin barrier functions and prevent dryness and botanical extracts that provide antioxidant benefits.

ZO EXFOLIATING CLEANSER: This cleanser helps to keep pores clear and minimize the frequency of breakouts. It is a purifying gel that provides both physical and chemical exfoliation. This cleanser is geared towards oily and acne prone skin. Key ingredients in this cleanser are jojoba esters that gently exfoliate skin cells that clog pores, salicylic acid that penetrates deep into pores to clear debris, and Vitamin E beads that provide nourishing antioxidant benefits.

ELTA FOAMING CLEANSER: This cleanser uses gentle enzymes and amino acids to loosen impurities on the skin and in the pores. It is safe for all skin types and helps reduce inflammation. The key ingredient is bromelain which is found in pineapples and has anti-inflammatory properties, and the foaming feature leaves the skin silky smooth. Purchase by clicking here.

EXFOLIATION

After skin is cleansed, it is very important to exfoliate. Exfoliation is a natural part of your skin’s renewal cycle as dead skin cells are constantly shedding, but as we age this natural function slows down and becomes compromised. Without exfoliation our skin can look dull, our pores can become congested and cause breakouts. This, combined with hormonal changes for a decade or longer of perimenopause can have your skin looking like it did in junior high if you don’t stay on top of exfoliation. Additionally, many people report their skin always being “dry” and some even apply oil daily when in reality the skin most likely isn’t dry but is simply under-exfoliated.

There are 3 types of exfoliants: physical, chemical and hybrid (both). Physical exfoliants contain derived particles such as jojoba beads that buff away dead skin cells, while chemical exfoliants use acids such as lactic acid, salicylic acid and glycolic acid to loosen dead skin cells which allow them to slough off. Without exfoliating the skin can appear dull which emphasizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and even cause acne breakouts.

Recommended Exfoliating Products:

ZO Exfoliating Polish (All Skin Types): Gently removes dead skin cells to reveal smoother softer skin. Physically exfoliates using magnesium oxide crystals to improve skin radiance, and vitamin C works deeper to minimize the appearance of future dark spots. Use this at least 3 times per week during/after cleansing. (Skin feels smooth like your teeth after getting a dental cleaning).

Complexion Renewal Pads (All Skin Types): Helps to brighten skin and clarify pores. These pads use glycolic and salicylic acid to decongest skin and botanical extracts to provide antioxidant benefits. The pads offer non-abrasive smoothing benefits.

Oil Control Pads (For Oily or Acne-Prone Skin): Triple acid toner that reduces the formation of acne and normalizes oil and the appearance of pore size. The key ingredients are salicylic acid to help chemically exfoliate dead skin while mandelic and glycolic acid help with redness and post acne marks.

If you’re looking for a simple, fail-proof way to improve your nightly cleansing/exfoliating regimen, we recommend following the ZO Skin Health Getting Skin Ready routine. Getting Skin Ready (GSR) is a skin care protocol that is composed of cleansing, exfoliating and toning to achieve healthy skin and is designed for all skin types. This protocol helps the rest of your products work more effectively and leaves your skin feeling refreshed. We offer convenient 30-day supplies of products in the GSR protocol which are a great way to test out the products as well as keep on hand for airplane travel.