Daily Cleansing For Acne

Daily cleansing is always vital - even if you do not wear make-up - as dirt and oils can clog your pores, causing blackheads and spots. The right cleanser will leave your skin feeling fresh and clean but not tight and dry. Make sure your cleanser is acid balanced (i.e. to the same pH as the skin, which is acidic with a pH of around 5.5). Acidity and alkalinity are measured on a scale from 1-14 called the pH scale; 7 is neutral and the lower the number, the more acidic.

Soap itself is very alkaline and washes away the skin's natural oils which are essential. Even if you have oily skin, removing all the oils will simply stimulate your skin to produce more. And if you live in a hard water area, it will dry out your skin further.

Cleansers which are not water-soluble need harsh alcohol based toners to remove them from the skin and are probably clogging your pores and/or stripping them of natural oils. Choose a cleanser which rinses off easily with water and leaves some of the skin's oils so that it does not feel tight so you should not need a toner.