How to cleanse the skin

Of the three major skin layers, the epidermis is the outermost. Its primary function is to keep the outside out—protect our inner workings from a profusion of mundane assailants including light, heat, bacteria, and pollution.

Only one-sixth of a sheet of paper in thickness, the stratum corneum is the uppermost layer of the epidermis and is responsible for the barrier properties of the skin. Envisage a brick wall. The bricks are skin cells (called corneocytes) that protect us, and the mortar holding those cells together are natural fats called skin lipids.

Crucial to moisture-retention in the skin, the hydrolipidic film coats the stratum corneum. It can be disturbed by environmental factors including cold weather, harsh air-conditioning, or over-cleansing, leading to dryness or irritation.

These glands produce sebum, a vital natural oil that feeds the hydrolipidic film, hydrating and protecting skin. Oily skin is caused by overactive sebaceous glands. In addition to a general predisposition for producing excess oil, these glands can be overstimulated by hormonal and environmental factors, or harsh cleansing products that strip the skin.

At its core, cleansing is a simple ritual: twice daily, dampen hands or face, apply cleanser, rinse off. Supplementing this morning and evening routine, we advocate for twice weekly deep cleansing in the form of exfoliation or a masque. A gentle but disciplined approach to cleansing helps purify the skin and maintain balance.

Oil-based Remove is formulated to remove makeup from the sensitive skin around the eyes. Apply it to a damp cotton pad and carefully swipe across the eye area, allow makeup to dissolve, then wipe clean. Alternatively, blend a few drops with your preferred Aesop cleanser to provide effortless makeup removal in one step. To remove makeup from the whole face with Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil, avoid emulsifying it before application. Ensuring that your hands and face are dry, rub one teaspoon of cleanser between palms, and massage over the face and neck, then rinse off. Gentle Facial Cleansing Milk and Purifying Facial Cream Cleanser also facilitate the removal of makeup. Though not oil-based, they contain emollient oils effective at dissolving makeup, in addition to mild surfactants that assist in lifting and rinsing it from skin. Apply to a damp cotton pad, wipe over the face and neck, and rinse thoroughly.

Containing mild abrasives, facial exfoliants act to polish skin, removing dead cells and revealing fresh skin that’s perfectly prepared for hydration. Apply either in place of or blended with your preferred Aesop cleanser to assist in skin’s renewal process, twice weekly. Deep cleansing masques help to clarify, draw impurities from the skin, and decongest the pores. Enhanced with nourishing botanical extracts, Aesop cleansing masques effect a thorough cleanse while simultaneously providing care for the individual needs of skin.

High measures of heat and humidity can cause skin to sweat and may increase sebum production, leaving the surface oily and congested. In such conditions, an invigorating gel cleanser will provide a thorough and refreshing cleanse. In cooler months, water loss from skin is increased, due to low humidity plus wind exposure. Skin can then present as dry and irritated, so we turn to milder oil, milk, and cream formulations, to gently cleanse without stripping skin of much-needed moisture.

For urban dwellers, we advocate the use of Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil or Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser. Each is particularly adept at removing daily buildup of grime and impurities, and designed to complement and enhance products from the wider Parsley Seed Skin Care range.

The skin is a complex organ, intimately connected to our internal wellbeing and the external environment. Skin may be affected by air quality, humidity, pollution, sleep and rest, health and medication, diet, hydration, genetics, or the passing of time, prompting the need to reevaluate skin care routines over time.