- Double cleansing
- The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)
- Enzyme cleansing
- Brushing your way to beauty
- Pouch or <i>potli</i> cleansing
Double cleansing

That squeaky clean feeling you get after washing your face might not necessarily mean that your skin has gotten that clean actually. But to ensure that you do get every bit of dirt and grime out, wash your face twice – the first time with oil and the second, with your regular cleanser. “This works because our skin is made up of mainly oils. However the cells forming the skin are like water balloons enveloped in a fat layer. So the first cleansing with a facial oil ensures proper makeup removal, getting rid of all the dust and pollution that settles on our faces the whole day,” explains Dr. Apratim Goel, dermatologist and laser surgeon, Cutis Skin Studio, Mumbai. All you need is to take half a teaspoon of slightly warmed oil in your palms, and gently massage all over the skin especially the neck and eyes. Then wipe the face with a dry tissue or a damp warm towel. Next follow up with a face wash. We love the Lakmé Clean Up Nourishing Glow Face Wash.
The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)

This method uses only OILS to clean your skin. Despite how strange it sounds, it’s not counterproductive to do this. And no, we promise you won’t be competing with your frying pan. In fact, this method actually balances out your skin. The premise of this is that oil dissolves oil so this works to dissolve all the excess dirt and sebum without drying out your skin. It’s best to use natural oils. “Castor oil is a good option. It’s a natural purgative and an excellent cleanser. The only precaution is that it needs to be mixed with another lighter and more nourishing oil like argan oil or extra virgin olive oil. The proportion of oils should be castor oil: other oil = 70:30,” elaborates Apratim. Use a teaspoon of your oil mixture and massage into the skin. Then dip a towel in warm water and place over your face, leaving on for a couple of minutes. After that rinse out your towel and gently wipe your face. If your skin feels oily, just swipe a rose water infused cotton ball over it to remove any last traces of stickiness, and you’re good to go.
Enzyme cleansing

“We know that papaya, several berries and grapefruits are loaded with enzymes that are rich in papain and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). They help break the lipids on the skin into smaller particles and also help in exfoliation,” says Apratim. Fruit and enzyme cleansing means using the pulp of these fruits directly and washing face with warm water to add a glow.
Brushing your way to beauty

To get the most out of your cleansing routine, wet your face and apply a dollop of a gentle everyday cleanser like the Dove Beauty Moisture Face Wash. Before washing this off, take a face brush (pick one with gentle bristles) or a loofah and go over your face in circular motions to exfoliate as well as deep cleanse.
Pouch or <i>potli</i> cleansing

We’ve taken this leaf straight out of our grandmother’s books, and look how beautiful their skins are. Potlis are usually made of two to three layers of soft woven cloth with the active cleansing ingredients in between. Some options for ingredients include wheat flour, green tea, dried rose petals or even finely ground oat meal dipped in cucumber juice. “All you need to do is place your active ingredients in a double cloth layered pouch and gently massage on your skin. This lets the active ingredient in and at the same time you avoid over exfoliating the skin,” says Apratim.
Written by Faye Remedios on 12th May 2014