Many women are interested in the question of whether it is harmful to use regular soap in daily facial care. There is a lot of speculation about this, but should you believe everything they say?
Soap is basically lye. Which has the excellent property of quickly cleansing the skin, but at the same time drying it out. It is worth noting that it is better to cleanse the skin with soap before applying nourishing face masks.
Let's answer the question of how to properly wash with soap.
To do this, you just need to follow these steps:
- Rinse your face with water;
- We take a bar of soap in our hands and wash it tightly in our hands to get abundant foam;
- Put the soap aside and soap your face with your hands;
- Wash off;
- We wash the soap in our hands again until foam is obtained and put it aside;
- We wash our face a second time and wait 15-20 seconds;
- Wash and remove remaining moisture from the skin with a paper towel.
You might have a reasonable question: “ Why wash your face several times?” ".
This is because once is not enough to cleanse your face. Thus, first we wash off the layer of sebum, and then we carry out a complete cleansing of the skin.
Lathering boric soap
It is very important to know the properties of your skin in order to understand what type it is.
Washing with soap for dry skin
But those with dry skin should be careful when choosing a cleanser.
Soap will dry out the upper layers of the epidermis even more, since use increases the alkaline reaction, which is a favorable factor for the life of microbes. This is why the owner of dry skin who begins to wash her face with simple soap may develop pimples and blackheads.
Therefore, to cleanse your face, it is best to use special lotions, which you can easily buy in stores or prepare the composition yourself from natural ingredients.
At the moment there is a very wide choice of soap, the ideal option would be handmade or herbal based. Cream soap dries the skin less, as it is oilier.
Is it possible to wash your face with soap?
Hello, dear readers))))
Almost every day we have to have discussions with customers, clients and those simply curious about the topic of cleansing facial skin with soap and other cosmetics. There are those who are very “against” washing with soap and generally believe that soap and face are incompatible things. There are those who are in favor, because only after washing with soap does the face feel clean. There are those who have doubts. These are probably the majority, judging by the experience of correspondence in my store. There is simply more than enough information on the Internet on this topic, but, alas, it is very contradictory. As a rule, each sandpiper praises its own swamp. How could it be otherwise? )))
I propose to try to understand the physiology of our skin, understand the principle of its structure and, on this basis, draw some conclusions. We will not abuse scientific terms, but will express ourselves in simple and understandable language. I hope this publication will be useful to buyers of natural (and other) cosmetics. So:
The outermost layer of our skin is called the stratum corneum. It received this name due to the shape of its cells. These cells have no nuclei, there is a protein called keratin and nothing else. The stratum corneum protects our skin from external environmental influences and prevents water from freely evaporating into space, i.e. it saves the skin from dehydration.
The surface of the stratum corneum is covered with a water-lipid mantle or lipid (fat) layer. The lipid layer is a mixture of sebum, sweat and exfoliated particles of the stratum corneum. This is an essential thing not only for the health of our skin, but also for the health of the entire body, since the skin in humans, it also performs a barrier function.
The lipids (fats) of the protective layer are organized into stacked bilayers. These bilayers do not allow substances from the outside to penetrate the skin, but allow oxygen to pass through. In this remarkable way, our skin is protected on one side and breathes freely on the other. How not to admire once again the wisdom of the Creator?!
The composition of the lipid layer is unique to the human body - it exists only on the skin. The PiAsh of our lipid layer is in the range of 4.5-6.0. This is an important indicator, because a change in PiAsh down or up destroys the lipid layer. (Yes, not only an alkaline environment is harmful to the skin, but also a too acidic environment).
Any cosmetic products, or rather emulsifiers (or emulsifier-detergents) included in their composition, destroy the lipid layer. It turns out that by washing ourselves with soap, foams, cleansers, using creams and other cosmetics, we harm our skin?
Yes and no. But more YES than NO. YES, because any interference in natural processes usually affects our body in a negative way. NO, because we now live in an unnatural environment, surrounded by air saturated with exhaust gases and must somehow cleanse our skin of the chemical dirt that surrounds us everywhere. And heavy metal salts that settle on the face during the day can ruin the skin faster than any household mega-alkaline soap ((
You need to try to make sure that the advantages of washing are greater than the disadvantages.
Let's look at cleansers and their effect on the lipid layer (our protective film). I will write about creams and other skin care cosmetics next time (if such information is interesting to my readers).
Any substance applied to the skin is bound to have some effect on it. Sometimes minimal and unnoticeable. Sometimes destructive. Sometimes healing and beneficial.
There is a substance that we use every day several times and in large quantities. This is water))) Only the lazy don’t know that you need to drink water throughout the day. And drinking water must be clean. And when it comes to washing, many people simply don’t bother and wash their face with tap water. If the cleanest water flows from the tap, then that’s great. But as a rule, water in cities is dirty. With chlorine and other heavy impurities. This whole thing remains on our skin and permanently negatively affects its functions.
I believe that since facial contact with water is constant, it should at least not cause harm. That is, to be more or less clean. That is, you need to wash your face with filtered water. Or boiled. Or bottled. Or from a well. Or thawed. There is no need to wash your face with chlorine water from the rusty water pipes of a five-story building!
Let's move on...Water is not able to wash away from the skin of the face that mixture of grease and city dust, saturated with lead and other exhaust "joys", which we have at the end of the working day in the city. We resort to detergents. There are many options.
— Almost all synthetic “face washes” are not alkaline (unlike soap), but contain the odious SLS (a synthetic detergent that can penetrate quite deeply into the skin and crush the subcutaneous lipid layer). Only “very expensive” cosmetic companies produce cleansers without SLS and its analogues in action. But even more gentle and expensive emulsifiers (surfactants) in “washrooms” require very careful removal from the skin with water. An emulsifier that is poorly washed off and remains on the skin can do a lot of bad things (((( Synthetic emulsifiers have a very small molecular size, that is, they are able to penetrate the skin quite deeply... Emulsifiers are active substances, their task is to emulsify. WHAT will the undone surfactant emulsify, being on our face? And what good will come of it? That's right, nothing good. Therefore, the basic rule for using synthetic detergents is to rinse very thoroughly with clean water.
— A good product for washing dry and normal skin can be considered hydrophilic oil , consisting of vegetable oils, essential oils, extracts and polysorbate emulsifiers. Polysorbates are completely harmless surfactants (of natural origin, that is, not from petroleum products) of mild action. But the same rule applies here - the hydrophilic oil must be very thoroughly washed off from the skin, since the polysorbate remaining on the surface of the skin will certainly want to emulsify something - this will lead to the destruction of the subcutaneous lipid layer ((There is another nuance - the polysorbate in the hydrophilic oil should be chemically pure, that is, completely free from the solvent that is used in its production and should not exceed 20%. Not all companies that produce a line of hydrophilic oils for washing can afford solvent-free polysorbates. polysorbate oil, and especially from the manufacturer, it is better not to use such a product on the face.
— Soap is a classic of the genre. People have been washing their faces with soap for hundreds of years. If the soap is not synthetic, not based on mineral oils and emulsifiers, but natural (obtained from natural fats through the saponification reaction), then you don’t have to worry about the presence of strange and suspicious surfactants in it that will live their lives on our skin...
Yes, soap is a very aggressive surfactant detergent. But this is a natural detergent that does not penetrate into the deep layers of the skin and does not conduct underground activities in them.
…. By the way, any, even the most natural and natural, detergent (if it really washes and removes grease) is a detergent, otherwise it would not cope with its task.....
Yes, natural soap destroys the top lipid layer. But healthy skin is capable of restoring the water-lipid mantle in 30 minutes. Not very healthy skin will need about 3 hours.
The point is that you need to wash your face not with just any soap, but with well-greased soap and boiled in oils suitable for this purpose. Soap for washing necessarily contains a large percentage of superfat (from 7% to 15%) - caring oils that have not undergone a saponification reaction. These oils create a “temporary” breathable lipid thin film that protects the skin for the time it needs to repair itself. Mineral oils of industrial soap also create a film, but this film does NOT allow air to pass through and the skin suffocates((.
Here are a few rules for washing your face with soap (if you choose it):
1. use only natural and well-greased toilet soap
2.do not wash your face with soap unless necessary
3. do not wash your face with soap more than 2 times a day
4. do not wash your face with soap before going out into the city (the protective functions of the skin are reduced)
These recommendations are advisory in nature; everyone should choose a scheme that suits themselves and their skin. For some, one wash per day may be enough, and for others, a week (if a person lives in nature, away from highways)
Everyone draws conclusions for themselves. There is no perfect cleanser. Each has its pros and cons. But knowledge of the basic physiology of the skin and the principle of action of detergents on the skin will help, I am sure, to make an informed choice)))
Good luck and beauty to everyone))
Tar soap
This soap is based on birch tar. Which is a useful component for problematic skin prone to oily skin, allergic reactions, acne, complications of rosacea and eczema.
With regular use, tar soap will definitely have a positive effect. But everyone knows about its significant drawback - the smell.
This soap is best used at night or on days when you do not plan to go out.
Benefit
- Cleans well;
- Accelerates the maturation of acne;
- Evens out complexion and helps get rid of post-acne.
Varieties and features
Soap is a product that has been known for a long time. It is not surprising that today there are many types of this product. Finding something suitable will not be difficult if you focus primarily on your skin type, as well as the necessary effects of the soap that will solve your problems.
Moisturizing types
Suitable for anyone whose skin suffers from excessive dryness and flaking. These most often include cream soap, mousse, and other liquid types. Their feature is easy and soft application to the dermis, delicacy in cleansing, as well as additional nutrition. You should not abuse such products, so you can wash your face with them every morning every other day.
For problem skin
There are soap options that have antiseptic properties or contain various soothing and anti-inflammatory components. These can be either light natural extracts, which have a preventive and soothing effect, eliminating many inflammatory processes, or full-fledged medicinal components, thanks to which acne and pimples will completely disappear after such soap.
For combination skin
Any classic soap can do. The only problem is that washing your face with this product every day can harm your health. It is best to choose something softer like a baby or hypoallergenic product, which can provide sufficient cleansing of the upper layers of the dermis, and at the same time act very gently and delicately.
For oily type
dermis, an important quality is the cleansing ability of the product.
Sebum is quite resistant to ordinary soapy water, and clogged pores need deeper penetration and cleaning. It is better to choose one of the following options:
- Shungite soap,
which has a specific color. This product can often be seen in professional beauty salons and, fortunately, can be easily purchased for home care. This black soap is ideal for delicately cleansing facial skin, in some cases completely replacing soft peeling due to its high content of natural minerals; - Any classic scrub soap is also good for cleaning
. It may contain minerals and solid components that act as an abrasive, which can remove residual sebum, dirt, and also help remove dead epithelial cells; - Another problem of the oily type is frequent inflammation and acne. Dr. soap
can help get rid of them Teen, which has a pronounced antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. This option is also well suited for problem skin, since it does not have a deep irritating chemical effect.
For simple washing, any standard cleansing soap can be used. The main thing to remember is that thin and delicate facial skin does not like too frequent exposure to surfactants.
Laundry soap
This type of soap itself is the most alkaline, so it dries the skin very much; the effect can be compared to wiping the skin with pure alcohol.
Perhaps, in exceptional cases, such facial cleansing is necessary, but in daily care it is better to avoid such stress on the skin. For extensive acne rashes on the cheeks, chin and profuse acne on the back, the soap will give a good drying and antibacterial effect.
Benefit
- It is permissible to apply it spot on inflammation and acne (very dry skin).
Harm
- May cause irritation and dermatitis;
- Very aggressive to the skin;
- Provokes increased sebum production.
Contraindications
You should not use soap to wash your face if:
- skin is too sensitive;
- the dermatologist banned this procedure;
- microcracks, severe peeling, inflammation in the corners of the lips are observed;
- deep wrinkles on the face;
- numerous pimples;
- recently had a chemical peeling procedure or a visit to a solarium.
Before leaving home, do not wash your face with soap, as the protective properties of the skin are reduced. When you finish washing with soap, you can change the water temperature several times, stopping at cold.
how to get clear skin
Baby soap
It has a neutral Ph and foams well. This is a plus for people with sensitive skin.
Is it suitable for cleansing facial skin? It is impossible to give a definite answer, you need to observe individually.
Benefit
- Gentle cleansing;
- Foams well;
- Suitable for almost any skin type.
Harm
- May cause an allergic reaction.
How does the active ingredient in soap work?
The main component of soap is lye. It is able to remove dirt, sweat, germs, dissolve fat, and remove dead epidermal cells. All this occurs due to foaming when alkali interacts with water.
Our skin is never completely dry. The sebaceous glands faithfully perform their function, secreting fat. Sweat glands also keep up, producing sweat, with which the body gets rid of toxins. Grease and sweat mix with dust, which is always present in the air. A thin layer of mixture of all of the above is formed, teeming with microbes. If you do not remove it, irritation and inflammatory processes begin. Surface active substances that make soap foam when washing carry away particles of fat and dirt along with microbes. The ability of soap to dissolve fat speaks in its favor. For people with oily skin, this is exactly what is needed.
However, it is impossible to completely remove fat from the surface of the skin. Paradoxically, excessive dry skin leads to the formation of acne. The acidic environment resulting from sebum secretion protects it from microbes. An imbalance towards an alkaline environment leads to a decrease in protection against microbes. Hence the acne.
how to wash your face correctly
Borax soap
It should be noted that this type of soap is not suitable for regular use, as it dries the skin quite strongly. This is a kind of analogue of tar soap, only without that pungent tar smell.
It must be used once or twice a day. From personal recommendations, I can say that in my case it was used twice - in the morning and in the evening. It is good to use this soap for oily and combination skin, skin prone to itching, inflammation and rosacea.
Benefit
- Dries well;
- Removes makeup well;
- Helps speed up the disappearance of acne and post-acne spots.
Compound
When choosing a product for daily washing or washing your hands, you should also pay attention to what is included in its composition. It's no secret that in addition to the standard soap base with glycerin, cosmetics manufacturers also add various natural or chemical components. Some of them are necessary only to give the soap a pleasant smell or color, while others have much more useful qualities:
- The boric agent has a pronounced bactericidal property.
It is recommended for use in case of acne, inflammation, blackheads and other signs of skin damage. Gentle cleansing of the dermis and a soothing anti-inflammatory effect is provided by a small content of boric acid and mink fat; - Sulfur soap is also very useful for skin care.
Its use is especially advisable if you are worried about fungus or infectious lesions. Pay attention to the fact that the product contains at least 10% sulfur, otherwise its effectiveness will be in question; - Recently, natural homemade cosmetics have become popular
. In the case of soap, it is either alkaline or so-called laundry soap, which may contain soda. Their advantage is the minimal content of harmful components such as chemical surfactants, so washing will be softer and more gentle; - Coniferous remedy
also has not only a pleasant refreshing smell, but also an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect; - Ichthyol.
Has cleansing properties. Ideal for oily skin types, as it eliminates unpleasant shine and also significantly tightens pores; - Castor.
It has a positive nutritional effect on the skin, promotes the activation of natural regeneration processes. Regular use of this cleanser helps avoid problems with dryness; - Natural oat soap with the addition of milk is also good for nourishing and moisturizing
- Tourmaline soap
is a unique product that is popular among professional cosmetologists. Finding it is not so easy. The composition is based on a natural mineral that has a cleansing and regenerating effect on the skin. For problem types, a charcoal remedy is suitable - a milder analogue of tourmaline.
