Island Echo welcomes Sally Sykes, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and founder of Cala Medical Aesthetics in Newport, as a new regular skincare columnist.
With an NHS nursing background and specialist aesthetics training, Sally will share practical advice on skincare, skin health and treatments. In her first column, she explains why a good skincare routine starts with cleansing.
Walk down a skincare aisle or scroll through social media, and you could be forgiven for thinking you need a chemistry degree to wash your face. Serums, acids, peptides, retinol… where do you start?
In this column, I’ll help make skincare easier to understand, explaining what different products do, how to build a routine and which ingredients might help with your individual concerns.
When we think about skincare, serums and moisturisers often get the attention. But a good routine starts with something simpler: cleansing.
Throughout the day, sweat, excess oil, dirt, make-up and sunscreen collect on the skin’s surface. Gentle cleansing helps remove them, leaving your skin feeling fresh and ready for the next steps in your routine.
So, what should you look for in a cleanser? The most important thing is to choose a gentle formula that suits your skin. If your skin feels uncomfortably tight, dry or irritated afterwards, your cleanser may be too harsh.
A foam, gel, or water-based cleanser in the morning is ideal to refresh the skin. In the evening, take care to remove the day’s sunscreen and make-up. This is where you may have heard the term double cleansing.
A double cleanse involves using two cleansers, one after the other. An oil-based cleanser or balm can help lift make-up, sunscreen and excess oil. You then follow with a gentle cream, gel or foaming cleanser to remove any remaining residue.
But does everyone need to do it every day? Not necessarily. If you wear heavier make-up or water-resistant sunscreen, a double cleanse can be useful. On other days, one thorough, gentle cleanse may be enough. The right approach depends on your skin and the products you use.
Cleansing should leave your skin comfortable, not squeaky clean. Use lukewarm water, massage gently with your fingertips and avoid harsh scrubbing. Follow with moisturiser, and remember your sunscreen in the morning.
So, what are the benefits? Properly cleansed skin may allow serums, moisturisers, and treatments to penetrate deeper into the skin more effectively. When impurities or product build-up are left behind, they can sit between the skin and your skincare, reducing absorption and ultimately wasting your active ingredients. Also, well-cleansed skin often appears smoother and more even over time, with a reduced likelihood of congestion or breakouts.
The best routine is one that suits your skin and that you can stick to consistently. At Cala, I use Cortex DermaLab skin analysis to help assess your skin and guide personalised product recommendations. Book a complimentary consultation if you’d like to learn more.
