Cleansing the face without water or with water?

Some people swear by pure water for facial cleansing, while others prefer not to use any water at all. For some, a rich foam is a quality feature in facial cleansing, while for others, the pH value is the priority. But what is really sensible and what truly benefits our skin? Should we use water for facial cleansing, or is a waterless facial cleansing better? We have investigated the matter.

Is washing the face with just water enough?

Washing the face only with water would be ideal, but unfortunately, it is not sufficient. Water only rinses off superficial, loose dirt. However, dead skin cells and excess sebum accumulate on the skin's surface.

Even overnight and after evening cleansing, our skin continues to work, regenerates intensively, and produces residues on the skin. During the day, more stubborn dirt from environmental influences and deposits in the pores adds to this. Therefore, more than just water is needed for thorough cleansing.

Fortunately, there are facial cleansing products that clean our skin thoroughly and deeply, but also gently. This not only makes the skin clean on the surface but also cleans it deeply. At the same time, it optimally prepares the skin for subsequent care and keeps it moisturized even during cleansing. It is important that it matches the respective skin type.

Daily facial cleansing – should you cleanse only once a day or more often?

Cleansing the face only once a day is not enough – ideally, facial cleansing should be done in the morning and in the evening.

In the evening, the skin is freed from dirt particles accumulated during the day that have settled on the skin's surface like an invisible film. This only becomes truly visible on the towel or cotton pad. Additionally, an evening cleansing optimally prepares the skin for the valuable regeneration phase during sleep. Important metabolic processes for skin renewal take place here.

In the morning after waking up, the skin often feels greasy, and it becomes clear what the skin has accomplished overnight. Therefore, cleansing in the morning is important to let the skin breathe again and to prepare it for the day.

Water as a possible cause of dry skin.

The skin's natural lipid film is attacked by water, and water washes out the natural moisture regulator (NMF) from the skin. As a result, the natural skin barrier is weakened, the skin loses moisture, and it always dries out a bit when cleaned with water. Water that is too warm or even hot promotes this drying out even more. Therefore, you should rinse with lukewarm water at most.

The protective skin flakes on the skin's surface swell and promote moisture and lipid loss from the skin. Water can therefore actually be partly responsible for dry and sensitive skin.

Facial cleansing can also be done without water.

Not every skin type tolerates tap water equally well. Tap water has a high pH value of at least 7 and is therefore alkaline. In large cities, the pH value is often even higher. However, the natural pH value of healthy skin is between 5.0 and 5.5, in a slightly acidic environment. This allows the skin to be protected against microorganisms, such as germs and bacteria, and harmful environmental influences, and it can ideally protect itself from infections through its own acid mantle.

Tap water increases the natural pH level of the skin, making it more sensitive and permeable to external stressors. People with very sensitive, irritated, and already dry skin should therefore better cleanse their face without water.

To protect the skin's natural acid mantle, cleansing products that can be removed with a cotton pad or sponge and without water are recommended in this case.

What is the purpose of toner?

Toner is essential for facial cleansing. It clarifies the skin, provides important moisture, and quickly brings the skin back to its natural balance.

It not only helps to stabilize the natural acid mantle but also frees the skin from lime residues that are present in tap water. Lime is formed when the carbon dioxide dissolved in water combines with calcium and magnesium. And these mineral residues can burden the skin if they remain on the skin. They dry out the skin and can lead to irritation.

Good facial toners also boost the subsequent care products, as the skin is cleansed and more receptive to subsequent care products. Serums and creams can thus work more effectively.

Cleansing thoroughly, but gently – the pH value is crucial

Our skin health, meaning an intact, protective skin barrier, is crucially dependent on the pH value. Our skin is, in a healthy state, on average in a slightly acidic range between 5.0 and 5.5 pH. Depending on the skin type, this can vary up or down.

Here, gender, sebum production, the respective skin condition, and age play a crucial role. Men generally have a more acidic pH value than women. Oily, impure skin has a lower pH value than, for example, dry skin or skin prone to neurodermatitis. Therefore, skin-type appropriate cleansing is essential for maintaining an intact pH value and thus a healthy microbiome.

When cleansing with water, the pH value of the skin increases due to the higher pH value of the tap water, making it more permeable to germs and bacteria. With the right cleansing product, the skin can be supported in maintaining its natural pH value as best as possible even during cleansing. With a balancing toner, it can even return to its own balance even faster afterwards.

In the development team of SKINUANCE®, we have developed special, skin-type appropriate cleansing products for our Finest Aging® concept that perfectly meet these requirements and respect and individually promote the pH value.

• The SKINUANCE® DEEP CLEANSING FOAM is designed for oily and impure skin, combination skin, and mature skin with a tendency towards oily and impure skin, and has a pH value of 4.3 - 4.7.
• The SKINUANCE® MILD CLEANSING FOAM is optimal for dry and sensitive skin, combination skin, and mature skin with a tendency towards dryness and tightness. The pH value is between 4.8 - 5.1.
• And the SKINUANCE® BALANCING FACE TONIC is suitable for all skin types and brings the skin's natural pH value back into balance more quickly. It "pulls" down the elevated pH value caused by tap water with its slightly acidic pH value of 4.5 - 5.0, and the skin returns to its own equilibrium faster.