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1. How do you clean your face correctly and how often should we do it during the day?
It is important to choose the right products for your skin type, e.g. dry, oily, combination, etc. It is also important to ensure you remove all traces of make-up before you go to sleep at night. How you clean your face is really personal preference and there are lots of cleansers available on the market. Cleansers are designed to relax the pores and sweep away make-up and impurities to reveal brighter and cleaner skin. Both No7 and Botanics offer a variety of cleansers, including wipe-off, wash-off, cleansing wipes, etc. Using a toner is a good idea as this ensures that all last traces of dirt or make-up are removed. Be sure to follow your cleansing and toning regime with moisturizer. We usually recommend cleaning your face twice a day, morning and night, but this depends on the sensitivity of your skin and your skin type.
2. Is it possible to “over-clean” the skin? Can it cause any negative effects?
It is possible to over-clean, as you strip away the natural oils in your skin, which can contribute to long-term dryness. Twice a day is usually ideal, unless you have sensitive skin.
3. What components are correct for skin cleansing?
Boots formulators ensure that our products are balanced to be as mild as possible for the skin and we respect pH levels and skin types. All of our No7 range of products are hypoallergenic and have been tried and tested on even the most sensitive of skins.
4. How often should you use an exfoliant?
How often really depends on the state of your skin and the harshness of the exfoliant. The milder the exfoliant and the less sensitive the skin, the more regularly you can use them. If your exfoliant contains the large, round, beaded granules and your skin isn’t too sensitive, then it is fine to use it 3 or 4 times a week. If you use a more intense exfoliator such as the No7 Total Renewal Microdermabrasion, you should only use it once or twice a week at the most.
5. How does a clay mask work on the skin? Can something that stays on the skin such a short time really have the claimed or desired effect?
There are many types of masks used in cosmetics. The clay mask type works on the principle of absorption of oil onto the surface of the microscopic particles. The more free-flowing the oil, the more absorption takes place. Because of their size and chemical nature, the clay particles have the potential to absorb large amounts of oily material present in the sebum on the skin surface and at the opening of the follicles, from where the sebum flows onto the surface. Even with the short exposure time typical for use of a facial clay mask (15 to 20 minutes), the majority of the available oil will be removed from the surface but there will be some oil within the follicle and the sebaceous gland as it continues to develop sebum. The effect (shine-free skin surface) should persist quite some time, especially as a fine deposit of clay will remain on the skin surface to absorb any oil that begins to appear directly after use. The effect is not permanent and there is no cosmetic procedure that reduces sebum output to zero. In all individuals, the oil will start to flow again within 2 to 4 hours.
6. How should you choose your skin cream?
All skin care choices should be by skin need. On a basic level, this is about identifying your skin type (such as dry, oily, sensitive, pigmented, etc.) and selecting products that are tailored to your particular type. Also, ask yourself if there’s a particular problem you are looking to solve-is it fine lines, wrinkles and/or dark spots? The final factor that influences your choice is expectation and experience-do you want a cover-up/quick fix or are you prepared to go in for a full regime with tailored cleansing, moisturizing and intensive treats? If you need more help with choosing the right cream for you, come and visit our beauty advisors in store who will give you targeted advice specific to your needs.