The Triple Helixian
The Ideal Skin Care Routine in Detail
How Do Toners Work, What Do They Do, and Are They Necessary?
The traditional function of a toner is to help remove any residual cleanser and makeup. By dispensing the toner onto a cotton pad and sweeping it over the skin, it also helps restore some much needed hydration. Remember the swelling and shrinking of the corneoctyes that was discussed in the last section? What about the graph … Continue reading
Cleansers: A Guide on How to Choose a Cleanser
If you actually read through all FOUR previous sections and understood them, bravo to you! I’d imagine most people would skip RIGHT to the relevant part: how to choose a cleanser. Let’s not get in their way! There are several general aspects that need to be considered when choosing a cleanser: While I generally don’t … Continue reading
Cleansers: Long-Term Effects
As the previous post inferred, using harsh cleansers on a regular basis will lead to dry skin. While that doesn’t sound TOO horrible, it does have further implications, which will be addressed in this post. Dryness from Over-Cleansing and/or Using Harsh Cleansers As stated before, dry skin is in essence the result of not having … Continue reading
Cleansers: Short-Term Effects
Okay, we’ve familiarized ourselves with the different types of surfactants commonly used in cleansers. But how do they actually affect the skin? Let’s find out. Now, cleansers are typically in contact with the skin anywhere from 15-60 seconds, or longer if a “specialized” cleanser is used; such as a hydroxy acid-, benzoyl peroxide-, or sodium sulfacetamide-based one. During this … Continue reading
Cleansers: Types of Surfactants
As discussed in the previous section about the types of cleansers and how they are characterized, true soaps exclusively use one family of surfactants: alkyl carboxylates, which are basically (alkali) salts of fatty acids. While the most common one is sodium stearate, there are many out there. In order to know which ingredient is a … Continue reading
Cleansers: Types and Composition
Cleansers can be divided into two main categories: bar or solid cleansers and liquid cleansers. Within each category are several subcategories of cleansers. This article will briefly discuss each subcategory and what characteristics define them. Keep in mind that both categories of cleansers employ the same types of ingredients to do their bidding: emollients and … Continue reading
Cleansers: Overview
The concept of cleaning the skin with soap and water has existed for thousands of years ago. But for those thousands of years, the choices have always been the same. It wasn’t until the early 90’s that the choices in cleansing options multiplied. These days, there are shelves upon shelves of cleansers available for purchase … Continue reading
A Token of Appreciation with Products from Smashbox, Eve Pearl, Sephora, and More! (CLOSED)
Words cannot express how thankful I am for all of your patience and loyalty. To show my appreciation, I’m giving away a ton of products that would otherwise just be sitting on my shelf. I might as well pass on potential loves, right? *Note that some of these products have been swatched and/or used, while … Continue reading
Introduction to the Ideal Skin Care Routine Series
It’s finally here. After months (okay, years) of delays and setbacks, the Ideal Skin Care Routine Series has arrived. Well, at least the first few parts. Over the next several months (possibly a year or longer), you will witness the publication of perhaps the most accessible and centralized compilation of basic skin care information available on … Continue reading
The Triple Helixian 