Should you clean your face differently in summer than in winter?

It looks like summer is just around the corner and that means you can start planning your holiday destinations and… of course review your skincare routine. ‘In summer, depending on where we go, we may need to change products in our Skin Care routine, for example our moisturiser, depending on whether we are going to be in a place with more or less humidity,’ explains cosmetologist and technical director of Skin Generics and CEO of BeLab Services Daniel Jiménez. ‘The increased use of sunscreen in summer implies a more thorough facial cleansing to remove all traces of sunscreen in order to avoid the appearance of imperfections and congested pores’.

HIGHXTAR (H) – What should you change when cleansing your face in summer?

DANIEL JIMÉNEZ (D) – The most important thing is to double cleanse. This is something you should do in all seasons, especially if you wear make-up, but in summer it is especially essential. ‘Sunscreens and make-up have heavy elements that tend to stick to the pores and, if we don’t remove them properly, they can cause pimples or blackheads’, explains Jiménez, who maintains that ‘although with a traditional gel cleanser we can remove most of the dirt, these heavier textures need cleansers that have a greater capacity for dragging and this is achieved with oil textures’. In other words, if you were one of those who only used a cleanser or micellar water… now is the time to change your routine!

(H) – Is it the cleansing tonic?

(D) – This is a very common doubt, but no, your toner is not a cleansing product and is not the perfect ally for removing traces of make-up from your face with the help of a cotton pad. ‘If make-up is transferred onto the cotton pad, it means that we have not completely cleansed our face. The fact that we wipe the cotton pad with make-up over the face can contribute to the appearance of imperfections,’ analyses Daniel Jiménez. In fact, we should look at its name: ‘toner’. As the word suggests, its job is exclusively to tone. ‘A facial toner will be perfect after double cleansing to restore the skin’s pH and balance it, improving permeability for the serums or creams we apply afterwards.

(H) – Is micellar water only good?

(D) – As we said above, it’s not really enough. According to Jiménez, ‘micellar water contains micelles, a system of cosmetic molecules that attract dirt so that we can remove impurities effectively. It won’t be enough as a single cleanser because it doesn’t have the same dragging capacity as a cream, balm or oil make-up remover. However, micellar water can be a perfect ally as a second cleansing step. On the other hand… are you one of those who swipe on micellar water with the help of a disc and then don’t rinse your face? Some formulas are designed not to be removed, but there are few of them. Almost all of them contain saponins which, if not removed by rinsing with water, can compromise the skin’s balance’.

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