Cleansing 101: Why The First Step Of Your Skin Care Routine Is The Most Important

A clean canvas is a dream canvas.

We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our cleansers. Often shafted to the back of the cupboard or left sopping wet in the bottom of the shower (eek!), these skin saviours can often be taken for granted. So, in 2021 we’re taking a stand against the rhetoric that they’re not that important because you wash them off.

News flash friends: without properly cleansed skin, no product you apply on top will do half of what it’s capable of. And, when we talk about cleansing, we’re talking about The Full Monty. A first cleanse to remove makeup, a second cleanse to remove dirt and sebum and a toner to balance the skin and maintain hydration levels. Sound excessive? Here’s why being ‘thorough’ isn’t.

So where does one begin, you ask?

Clarins have a new range of expert Cleansers and Toning Lotions. And when we say range, we mean range. With seven (!) new cleansers and three new toners, the offering is one of the most comprehensive we’ve ever seen. 

Designed to accommodate all skin types, the expert Cleansers and Toning Lotions contain alpine herbs to help calm, soothe and purify the skin. The heavy hitters on the ingredients list include Yellow Gentian, which helps to fight free radical damage and premature ageing, Lemon Balm, which is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory and Soapwort which is a soothing and protective alternative to traditional soaps. Put simply, they’re pretty special.

With something for everyone, the cleansers also come in four formulas — with the Micellar Water, Milk or Oil variations ideal for the first cleanse. For the second cleanse, we recommend opting for the Mousse (which is suitable for all skin types) or the Foaming Cleansers. The nifty thing about the Foaming Cleansers is that they are actually designed to match a Toning Lotion based on your individual skin type and are even colour coded for easy shopping. They really did think of everything!

As we mentioned briefly before, starting (and maintaining) a thorough cleansing routine is instrumental in achieving great skin. Kicking it off with a first cleanse using either the Velvet Cleansing Milk, Total Cleansing Oil or Cleansing Micellar Water (depending on preference) will ensure any makeup or SPF is properly removed from the surface of the skin.

This step is non-negotiable as it will allow your second cleanse (using the skin type specific Foaming or Mousse cleansers) to penetrate properly into your pores, removing all the nasty stuff like built up oil, sebum and dirt. Step three is a simple swipe of your Toning Lotion of choice and your skin is ready for the rest of your routine. 

Any chef will tell you that quality ingredients make the meal — and when it comes to skin care, it’s often the same methodology. In 2021, for the first time, the alpine herbs that Clarins hero in their Cleansers and Toning Lotions are harvested from both their own land, Le Domaine Clarins, and nearby agricultural partners. 

Intrigued? Domaine Clarins is a unique, protected site of 80,000 hectares nestled 1,400 metres above sea level in the heart of the Alps. It’s this treasure trove of purity (no air or soil pollution) that allows Clarins to cultivate their plants and grow with the seasons, ensuring their formulas are second to none. 

Having their own site also ensures they can meet their environmental goals, with production at Domaine Clarins having optimal traceability, controlled, ethical production and no mechanical equipment likely to disrupt the land. And, we as consumers, want to know where our product ingredients are sourced.

But their environmental commitment doesn’t stop there… With the release of their new range, the brand has introduced their Return, Recycle Initiative which sees customers receive a trial size new Clarins Cleanser or Toning Lotion when they bring in any full-sized empty Cleanser or Toner container to a Clarins location.* These bottles are then responsibly recycled to ensure minimal environmental impact. >Insert applause here<.

We couldn’t tell you all of this (epic) skinformation without letting you know if the product is actually worth it. So, we took one for the team and have spent previous weeks trialling the Velvet Cleansing Milk and Hydrating Toning Lotion. The result? Calm, purified and balanced skin that has never looked better.

This is pretty unsurprising, though, as the products are thoughtfully formulated with three key pillars in mind: gentle cleansing, preservation of the skin microbiota and anti-pollution capabilities. And while, yes, we are only one of over 3.8 billion women in the world (#kweens) — the seemingly endless combinations of Cleansers and Toning Lotions means the range is suitable for all women, all skin types and all kinds of makeup.

10/10 would recommend.

*Limited time only, while stocks last. One trial size item per customer. Locations: Myer Sydney City, Myer Melbourne, Myer Brisbane City, Myer Perth, Myer Adelaide, David Jones Elizabeth Street, David Jones Bourke Street, David Jones Queen Street, David Jones Adelaide, David Jones Perth.