Hello, it’s February! Now, I’ve never heard so many people wishing for a pathetic end to January as I have this year.

It’s safe to say it always feels like a long, cold month. But spring is here, a season of rebirth and hope.

I truly believe that hope is one of the most important things we can all hold on to in life. Hope gives us all a reason to press on. Mother Nature gives us all an annual lesson in hope by sending out the green buds of spring bulbs and ushering in a new season.

I love spring, it’s my favorite season of the year. Many of my clients say they’ve already ditched their New Year’s resolutions, but I believe that the new season is often a much better time to start fresh with any new goals or plans you want to try this year.

As a cosmetic doctor and skin specialist, I work with clients of all ages every day at Emerald Beauty Clinic and am passionate about educating them about the importance of proper cleaning and care.

Every day I see clogged pores, blackheads, age spots, dirt, and layers of dead skin cells on people’s faces. My job is to educate how and why we need to properly cleanse our skin every day.

I recently made one of my popular beauty videos about this. Now available on Emerald Beauty Clinic’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages.

So this week, I’m sharing my top tips for people of all ages and skin types to learn how important it is to know how clean you are.

Twice a day, every day

Research shows that even though humanity has never had so many beauty products and access to so much science, six out of 10 people still don’t wash their skin properly every day.

Did you also know that 8 out of 10 women who don’t wear makeup only cleanse their skin once a day, unaware that they’re carrying a day’s worth of sweat, dirt, oil, bacteria, pollutants, and dust mites on their skin?

So what do so many people do every day? They jump into bed with dirty skin and think, “I bet I washed it this morning!”

As all of my clients have heard me say, once a day is fine. All of our skin needs cleansing twice a day.

When we wake up in the morning, our skin secretes secretions and detoxifies the whole body through the skin, so what our skin needs every day is to thoroughly wash away the dirt from the night before.

Dirt may not be visibly visible to many, but trust us, we skin experts study it under magnifying glasses and in the lab.

It takes a few seconds to wash your face, and no one says they haven’t spent that time washing their face.

The same is true at night, except that it takes a whole day to wash your face.

Just like we brush our teeth twice a day, all skin, regardless of age, needs cleansing twice a day.

sink instead of shower

As a skin lover, I always cringe when someone tells me it’s faster to do my skincare routine in the shower.

I always gasp in horror and let them know it’s wrong. In fact, the shower is the worst place for both men and women to wash their face and neck.

The water pressure can be too harsh on the delicate skin of the face and neck, which is thinner than the skin on the rest of the body.

Therefore, after showering, always wash your face and neck in the sink using lukewarm water. This will also remove all your shower and hair products, while properly cleansing your pores and thoroughly cleansing the skin of your face, neck and décolletage.

What is the cleanser for you?

First of all, wipes are not the same as cleansers and are not as effective.

Because wipes have astringent properties, they can disrupt your skin’s pH balance, causing further dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles… Can you see why I hate wipes?!

Pictured here with my product of the week is my best-selling cleanser, Dermalogica Magnetic Glow Cleanser, €56. This not only cleanses the skin, but the advanced ingredients it contains work to improve the absorption of subsequent products. This is a game-changer in terms of skin and is definitely a must-have for everyone who wants to have a good cleanser on hand.

I create personalized skin care plans every day, and no two clients’ skin is the same, so no client’s program can be one or the other.

Prescribe cream cleansers for dry skin, probiotic gel cleansers for oily skin, soothing balm cleansers for sensitive skin, and glycolic cleansers for hyperpigmentation.

This is why we skin experts always say that if you don’t get professional expertise on what exactly your skin needs, you’re just wasting your hard-earned money. Buying an old cleanser won’t give you the same old results.

Double cleansing is a must

Double cleansing is essential to thoroughly cleanse your skin every morning and night. Initial cleansing should be done using a pre-cleanser, usually an oil or balm. For example, in my clinic, my clients use my Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse Oil (56 euros). This serves as the first step in your daily morning and afternoon cleansing routine.

Massaging the oil into your face and neck also removes dirt, bacteria, pollutants, heavy makeup, tinted moisturizers, and SPF. Use a cleanser after completely removing the pre-cleanse from your skin.

When you see or touch someone’s skin, you can immediately tell if they are double cleansing.

Removal is the key

Gone are the days when cotton wool would remove cleansers from your skin. I know that for decades, so many women have been doing this, sitting in front of the TV with a toiletry bag. In fact, cotton wool does not completely remove all cleansers and leaves invisible residue on the skin.

Every day, use a clean, new face cloth and pre-cleanse after your massage before applying the cleanser to your skin.

Honestly, we can’t overstate the importance of basic skin care: cleansing your skin morning and night every day.

I love skin and have been in the field for 25 years, and there isn’t a condition I haven’t addressed and gotten rid of.

We also know that more education is needed among the public about skin cancer.

Smart women know that the worst thing you can do for your skin is to go to us experts and have your skin diagnosed and buy a little bit of this or that.

If you need help or education regarding your skin, please contact Emerald Beauty Clinic. We would be happy to help you achieve the healthy, glowing, flawless, youthful skin you deserve.

Emer O’Callaghan is an Irish Beauty Therapist of the Year award-winning cosmetic doctor and skin specialist at Emerald Beauty Clinic (021 4365949). Award-winning Gold Standard Clinic from 2008 to 2026, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie – Follow us now on Facebook/Instagram/TikTok.

special offer

This month, book a Winter Dry Skin Dermalogica or Guinot Professional Facial and get a free eyebrow shape, heated hand treatment, samples and treats. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, please call Emerald Beauty Clinic on 021 4365949. There is free parking for guests.