November 19, 2020
Deep facial cleansing – our tips
by Sophia Wildfeuer
- What cleanses your skin deep down to the pores?
- Which products can you use for facial cleansing?
- Cleansing oil for facial cleansing: The Oil Cleansing Method
- Cleansing gel for facial cleansing: gentle and thorough
- How do you cleanse your face properly?
1. What cleanses your skin deep down to the pores?
The basis of skin care: cleansing. There are an incredible number of different products that promise exactly that. From foam and cloth to gel or cream and oil. It's not easy to find the right option for your own skin in this confusing array of offers and possibilities. That's why I want to give you a crash course on facial cleansing today. Because:
Cleaning is not the same as cleaning
Many cleansing products strip your skin of its natural protective film and essential fats. You can imagine it like this: They break down your skin's protective barrier, allowing moisture and nutrients to escape. Your skin needs time to recover from the cleansing, i.e. to repair the swollen skin's protective barrier. In the meantime, it is easily attacked and can react with redness and, in the long term, even blemishes, as pollutants and bacteria can easily penetrate the permeable barrier. A feeling of tightness in your skin is a good indication that your choice of cleansing is depriving your skin of its moisture. A good cleansing should not cause any of this, but rather remove dirt from the skin quickly and easily, but thoroughly, while also providing it with sufficient moisture. But let's go back a step: What exactly is the problem with some cleansing products?
2. Which products can I use for facial cleansing?
In principle, aggressive ingredients are not recommended, as they can easily irritate and overwhelm the skin. This usually results in the exact opposite of what the product actually promises. This is especially true for cleaning products: be careful with the INCI list (the list of ingredients). If you take a little time to look at what is hidden behind all the foreign words and gibberish, you can judge much better whether the product is actually as good for the skin as it seems. Our motto: help for self-help. After all, you should understand what you are using to care for yourself and your skin every day. We have set up a separate page in our shop for our ingredients. In this register, you can easily find out what your JUNGLÜCK products are made of and where you can find information about the individual ingredients.
Now, this option is often not available when you are standing in front of the shelf in a drugstore or looking for skin care products online. In general, however, I advise against spontaneous purchases of cosmetic products, as it is better for your skin and the environment to check the INCI list first. There are a few “red flags” that should set off alarm bells.
Product trap – pore-deep cleansing or damaging effect?
And these are examples of some of the INCIs that might be found in cleaning products that you should avoid putting on your skin:
Paraffins
Examples: Ceresin, Isoparaffin, Ozokerite
Paraffins form a film on the skin that essentially shields it from the outside world. Sounds good at first, doesn't it? The catch, however, is that paraffins can seal the skin over a longer period of time. Sebum can then no longer drain away and the skin can no longer breathe. This creates a wonderful environment for impurities and dryness. In addition, the skin can become dependent on paraffins due to the atrophied natural protection.
Sulfates & aggressive surfactants
Examples: Ether sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, PEG-4 laurate, sodium laureth sulfate
Surfactants, such as sulfates, are exactly the substances that make your washing gel, shampoo or shower gel foam. The foamy, light consistency gives you the feeling that the product spreads easily and your skin is wonderfully clean. The downside of surfactants: They swell up the skin barrier. This washes important skin fats and moisture out of the skin. In the long run, this can lead to generally more permeable skin and pollutants, bacteria and other environmental influences penetrate our body more quickly. But not all surfactants are the same. There are also the "good" sugar surfactants, which we use in our cleansing oil, for example. They are particularly mild and leave our skin intact. You can find out more about surfactants in our surfactant guide Part 1 and Part 2
Alcohols
Examples: Ethanol, Alcohol denat, Methanol
“Bad” alcohols, like those listed above, dry out our skin. This can cause dry skin to become even drier and oily skin to become even oilier, as it needs to produce more sebum to compensate after drying out. The emphasis here is on the “bad” alcohols. There are also “good” dihydric alcohols that actually care for the skin. These include, for example, pentylene glycol, which we use in our aloe vera gel and spray, as it has a wonderful moisturizing effect. You can find a detailed article on alcohols and a list of “good” and “bad” alcohols in this article .
You can perhaps use these keywords as a rough guide.
By the way, not only when looking for the perfect cleansing product for your skin, but ideally for all your care products.
3. Cleansing oil for facial cleansing: The Oil Cleansing Method
When developing the product, we deliberately chose an oil as our first cleansing product. It is super gentle on the skin, but cleans thoroughly, right down to the pores, without damaging the skin's protective barrier. That's why it's suitable for every skin type - yes, even oily and blemished skin! Facial cleansing for oily, blemished skin needs to be particularly gentle and gentle, even if you might prefer to scrub and dry it out. Unfortunately, this only makes things worse, because the skin's protective barrier can't do its job if it's constantly being swollen by aggressive cleaning products.
What to do to clean pores? Cleansing oil!
“Similia similibus solvuntur!” This means: Like dissolves like.
In chemistry, this principle generally describes the dissolving behavior of substances. On the one hand, substances that are themselves based on water dissolve well in water-containing (hydrophilic, polar) solvents. In contrast, fat-loving (lipophilic, non-polar) substances prefer to combine with oily solvents. Many make-up products, sun creams with SPF and also dirt from our environment contain fat-loving, oily components. This is why our lipophilic cleansing oil manages to break down or loosen these components and quickly and easily remove them together as an emulsion. Bacteria that settle on our skin over the course of the day and can cause blemishes or infections are also effectively removed. The brief massage of the skin stimulates blood circulation and thus stimulates collagen and cell activity.
Cleansing oil: What’s inside?
The basis of our cleansing oil is neutral oil (caprylic/capric triglyceride), a mixture of medium-chain fatty acids from natural plant oils. It has very good dispersing properties. This means that you can apply it easily and it is particularly gentle on our skin. Because without aggressive scrubbing with your hands, there is no unnecessary irritation.
Sesame oil is considered the oldest cooking oil in the world and the lecithin it contains allows it to penetrate the skin layers well. This allows stressed cells to recover quickly and effectively, remain more vital and age more slowly. It builds up a stable protective shell that can shield dry skin from harmful external influences and thus prevent moisture loss.
Castor seed oil was already used in ancient Egypt and the Orient to treat wounds due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It can stimulate the body's own collagen production and thus contribute to firm, soft skin.
Squalane is 15 percent of our body's own sebum and therefore has the natural function of protecting the skin from drying out and continuously maintaining the hydrolipid film. This means that this oil helps to keep moisture in the cells and also prevents the oxidation of the skin's own fats. This makes the skin appear plump and well nourished. Since we find this oil naturally in our bodies, it is considered to be highly compatible for every skin type. It is also considered to be a door opener for other important active ingredients, as it uses them as a transport medium into deeper layers of the skin. The extensive effect of squalane means that the skin can be effectively supplied with natural nutrients and rebalanced.
In addition to these oils, our cleansing oil also contains passionflower seed oil, argan and jojoba oil . This oil complex has a high vitamin content, particularly vitamin E. In our environment, for example through UV radiation or fine dust, our skin is exposed to free radicals every day, which damage and stress it in the long term. Tocopherol (vitamin E) helps to intercept radicals through its antioxidant effect and is therefore considered a guardian angel for our cells. The release of harmful toxins offers our skin the opportunity to detoxify itself fundamentally and to shine again with purity. The oils we use also contain a high proportion of linoleic acid. This fatty acid is stored in the upper layers of the skin and also covers our skin like a protective blanket. Resilience is strengthened in the long term and premature skin aging can be counteracted.
In addition to these two substances, jojoba oil also contains provitamin A (beta-carotene), which stimulates the body's metabolism and thus promotes cell and tissue development. The natural oil combines with the skin's natural sebum without closing the pores and thus removes unnecessary dirt. It therefore has a cleansing, disinfecting effect without losing moisture. It spreads quickly within the skin and makes it supple without leaving it greasy.
Natural sugar surfactants also help to effectively and gently remove makeup and dirt from a long day. Your skin is so well cared for and clean and feels that way too. Sugar surfactants are a great alternative to the surfactants that should be avoided, as they do not swell the skin and leave the protective barrier and moisture balance intact.
Our cleansing oil
The right basis for every care routine and deep facial cleansing.
Effective cleansing and care for every skin type
The combination of different oils means that their advantages are effectively combined and a complete, holistic effect is created for our skin. This means that our cleansing oil can respond to different skin needs individually and is suitable for all skin types. Dry skin is additionally cared for and supplied with important nutrients. Conversely, if the skin is too oily, the excess oil is removed and re-greasing is avoided. Thanks to its balanced mixture, the cleansing oil is also suitable for sensitive skin types and its soothing components prevent skin irritation.
4. Cleansing gel for facial cleansing: gentle and thorough
If the oil cleansing method is not for you, the cleansing gel is definitely the right companion for facial cleansing. Unlike the cleansing oil, it is completely oil-free. The plant-based surfactants gently cleanse the skin, gently freeing the pores of deposits and dead skin cells, while the organic chamomile extract it contains has a calming effect and smells pleasantly natural. The licorice root extract it also contains protects your skin thanks to its antioxidant effect. The cleansing gel smoothes your skin, improves its moisture levels and reduces visible dryness, even when washing.
JUNGLÜCK cleansing gel
Cleanses your skin gently and oil-free with plant-based surfactants.
5. Cleansing milk for facial cleansing: gentle and nourishing
The creamy milk is perfect for very dry, mature and sensitive skin. Thanks to the combination of organic apricot kernel oil, organic almond oil, organic aloe vera and 1% betaine, your skin is cared for while it is being cleaned. After use, the cleansing milk leaves your skin feeling soft. The skin does not feel tight, but is kept supple by a thin film of protective fats and lipids. Dry skin in particular will get its money's worth in this first step of the skin care routine.
Application of the cleansing milk
We recommend using our cotton pads to apply the cleansing milk.
To remove make-up, you can put 3-5 pumps of the cleansing milk onto a cotton pad and gently remove make-up from your eyes and face. Keep your eyes closed and do not apply too much pressure. Then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. If you still find traces of make-up on your face after the first cleansing, you can repeat the process.
For daily cleansing, you can also apply 3-5 pumps of the cleansing milk to dry skin, massage in gently and then gently remove the residue with the cotton pad.
Alternatively, you can also wash off the cleansing milk with lukewarm water.
5. How do you cleanse your face properly?
With the cleansing oil you can easily cleanse your face of the day's dirt and dust. You can even gently remove make-up and waterproof mascara with it.
If you don’t wear makeup:
Distribute a small amount of the cleansing oil (a few drops are enough) in slightly moistened hands, apply to dry skin and massage into the skin using circular movements for about 30-40 seconds.
Then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and dab gently with a clean, dry cloth.
If you wear makeup:
Apply a small amount of cleansing oil (a few drops are enough) to dry skin and massage into the skin using circular movements for about 30-40 seconds.
Only then moisten your hands to emulsify the oil, creating a gentle cleansing milk.
You can remove eye makeup with gentle movements from top to bottom, but avoid direct eye contact.
Then wash your face thoroughly with lukewarm water and gently pat dry with a clean, dry cloth.
Our cleansing oil does not leave an oily film on the skin. This is ensured by the emulsifier polyglyceryl-4 oleate. It combines the oil with the washing water. Hence the milky texture. If you want to know how it does this, then read our article on surfactants.
The second step of cleansing: Clarifying with facial toner
After cleansing your face, you can already provide your skin with the first active ingredients. With our Calendula facial toner You soothe sensitive skin, moisturize it and prepare it for subsequent care. Perfect for sensitive and dry skin, but also for all other skin types.
Especially for impure skin we have the Zinc facial toner It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating effects. It can soothe the skin, relieve inflammation (also known as pimples) and reduce the formation of new blemishes.
Gentle cleansing – happy skin
I hope that I have been able to explain to you the importance of proper facial cleansing. The first step to healthy skin is cleansing. Our skin is exposed to stress all day long. These are environmental influences such as wind and weather, but also toxins, bacteria, viruses and free radicals. Not to mention the constant touching of our own face, substances that rub against the skin and everything else that comes into contact with the face in everyday life. But our emotional stress also affects the skin, because skin and psyche are closely intertwined. Your care routine does not have to overwhelm it with aggressive cosmetic products. Likewise, we should not overdo it with towels, facial brushes and other “beauty tools”. Instead, opt for a mild washing ritual in the evening and treat your face to a gentle massage with cleansing oil. This promotes blood circulation, cleanses deep into the pores and nourishes at the same time. And all without stress. Because let's be honest: we all have enough of that, don't we?