Why Not Bar Soap?

It is interesting to me how many people in today’s world of beauty and wealth, still use bar soap for cleansing the skin on their face. Even after eight years of working in the skin care industry and sharing my knowledge with everyone I know and love, I still have a number of friends and family members who cannot seem to part ways with their beloved bar soap.

So I’ve decided to uncover the ugly truth about bar soap and it’s negative effects on the skin, once and for all! Bar soap may pose to be the most comforting and convenient way to cleanse your skin, but it is definitely the least favorable. Although you may have been using bar soap for years and have no skin issues to report of, it doesn’t mean that your skin is actually in good health. Let me give you some of the reasons why bar soap is the enemy:

1. Bar soap is extremely high in alkaline. Alkalinity = Dry and Dehydrated Skin.
2. Dryness and dehydration of the skin leads to sensitivity, fine lines and flakiness.
3. Excessive dryness and dehydration causes the skin to overcompensate for loss of moisture by producing too much sebum, which in turn, provokes the onset oiliness and breakout.
4. Moisturizing lotion or cream in conjunction with bar soap becomes useless. There is no way for your skin to achieve moisture balance when you continue to strip it with bar soap. It is a vicious cycle.
5. Fragrances and other harsh ingredients in bar soap will cause irritation to skin conditions such as eczema, acne and rosacea.
6. Due to it’s high content of comodegenic (pore-clogging) ingredients, bar soap will result in very congested skin.

There are some great alternatives to bar soap to consider. For instance, if what you desire is to experience that “squeaky clean” feeling after cleansing your face, then a gel or foam-based cleanser is perfect for you. These cleansers benefit all skin types, are pH-balanced and help your skin to retain moisture. Best of all, you will be able continue enjoying that good old “sudsy” cleanse that you are so used to having with your bar soap. When you are ready to jump on the beauty band wagon and finally make the switch to a facial cleanser, first determine what your skin type is, and then you can find the cleanser that is right for you. I am sure that after just a few times of using your new facial cleanser, you’ll drop that old bar soap like a hot potato and wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!

Your Personalized Beauty Prescription

Are you confused about what your skin type is? Beauty.com can help. After answering seven easy questions about your skin, you will receive a beauty prescription complete with a skin analysis and skincare product recommendations based on your determined skin type. You can customize your skin analysis to address all major skin concerns like allergies, texture, tone, eye area, age and ethnic background. You also have the option of requesting product recommendations that are strictly natural and organic-based or from one specific skincare line.

This is an awesome beauty tool that comes in very handy when making important skincare purchases online.

Start your Personalized Skin Care Analysis from Beauty.com here! No purchase is necessary!

Share your experience with me. I’d love to know what you think of this advantageous skincare and beauty tool!

Care Tips for Oily Skin Type

Oily skin is one of the most common skin types. The onset of oiliness usually appears during adolescence and can remain throughout adulthood. Oily skin will have a constant shine due to the overproduction of sebum, or oil in the epidermis. Enlarged pores, frequently clogged with dirt and oil, will normally lead to blackheads and result in a rough texture of the skin. If not properly cared for, oily skin will often suffer from acne breakouts. However, when the right skincare products are used on oily skin, the shine can be controlled and blemishes prevented. There is a surprising benefit to having oily skin and that is the prolonging of younger looking skin. Oily skin will generally look more supple than other skin types and age at a much slower pace. Hooray for (controlled) oily skin!

Type of products recommended for oily skin:

• Cleanser – Gel or clay-based.
• Toner – Alcohol-free with citrus extracts.
• Exfoliant – Facial scrub every other day with weekly skin peel.
• Treatment Masques – Clay absorbing masques are excellent once or twice a week. A hydrating masque is also recommended to help retain moisture.
• Moisturizer – Oil-free, lightweight lotion.

Please contact me for specific product recommendations.

Care Tips for Normal Skin Type

Normal skin has become the minority of skin types, although it is the most desired. Normal skin will have a healthy appearance, free of blemishes and blessed with small pores. Not usually suffering from excessive dryness or oiliness, normal skin is typically in a very balanced state. With a smooth texture and firm tone, normal skin will look plump, moist and vibrant. Although normal skin is the ideal skin type to have, it still requires a consistent skin care regimen. Regular cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturizing will keep this healthy skin glowing. Lucky you for having normal skin!

Types of products recommended for normal skin:

• Cleanser – Cream, gel or foam-based.
• Toner – Alcohol-free with any desired essential oil.
• Exfoliant – Facial scrub every other day with weekly skin peel.
• Treatment Masque – Hydrating masque as often as desired to keep skin well hydrated.
• Moisturizer – Non-comodegenic facial lotion or cream depending on preference.

Please contact me for specific product recommendations.

Care Tips for Sensitive Skin Type

Sensitive skin is characterized by a very fair complexion, accompanied by broken capillaries and vessels beneath the skin. This delicate condition makes this skin type much more vulnerable to the sun and other damaging environmental elements. Skincare products and cosmetics containing artificial coloring, fragrances, alcohol, and synthetically manufactured oils will cause an adverse reaction in sensitive skin. Over stimulation should be avoided as this could cause severe irritation to the skin. Sensitive skin will benefit most from organic and natural skin care products and must be gently cared for on a daily basis.

Types of products recommended for sensitive skin:

• Cleanser – Gel or cream-based, free of fragrances, artificial coloring and synthetic oils.
• Toner – Alcohol-free with lavender or chamomile extracts.
• Exfoliant – No facial scrubs! A skin consultation is recommended before using any type of exfoliating product on sensitive skin.
• Treatment Masque – Moisturizing, calming and hydrating masques with natural ingredients.
• Moisturizer – Facial lotion or cream, free of fragrances, artificial coloring and synthetic oils.

Please contact me for specific product recommendations.

Care Tips for Combination Skin Type

Combination skin is the majority of skin types. Typically, combination skin will have an oily “T-zone” area, consisting of the forehead, nose and chin. Meanwhile, skin on the cheeks, eyes and mouth are either normal or dry. Combination skin will occasionally suffer from blackheads or a blemish, but does not usually have a problem with acne. This combo skin type requires special attention to each type of skin. Trying to kill two birds with one stone will not always work in this case! A gel or foaming cleanser works best for combo skin as it will cater to both conditions of the skin without causing irritation. However, separate moisturizers must be used to create harmony in the skin. This may seem inconvenient, but dealing with a breakout would be more of a hassle.

Product recommendations for combination skin:

• Cleanser – Gel-based is best suited to accommodate the multiple conditions of combo skin.
• Toner – Alcohol-free with ylang-ylang extract.
• Exfoliant – Facial scrub every other day with weekly skin peel.
• Treatment Masque – Hydrating masque for entire face. Light moisturizing masque for dryer areas and clay-based masque for oilier areas.
• Moisturizer – Oil-free, lightweight facial lotion with added hydrating serum.

Please contact me for specific product recommendations.

Care Tips for Dry Skin Type

Dry skin is a skin type that is in need of oil moisture. Dry skin is not to be mistaken with dehydration, which is the need for water moisture. For the most part, dry skin is the result of aging. Over time, exposure to the sun and other damaging environmental conditions will contribute to the drying of skin. In addition, there can be years of not taking care of your skin with the proper skincare products as well as poor diet, smoking, drinking, etc. The appearance of dry skin is dull, sometimes patchy and lacking a firm tone. Severely dry skin will often result in a leathery texture. Rich, hydrating and creamy skincare products work best at moisturizing dry skin without causing the pores to become clogged.

Products recommended for dry skin:

• Cleanser – Cream-based is best, but a gel cleanser can also be used.
• Toner – Alcohol-free with calendula-infused oil, rosewater or lavender.
• Exfoliant – Facial scrub every other day with weekly glycolic, enzyme, retinol or other AHA peel.
• Treatment Masque – Vitamin C, multi-vitamin and hydrating masques are recommended several times a week.
• Moisturizer – Rich creamy texture.

Please contact me for specific product recommendations.