The Milky Way

Remember the days when your mum was always bugging you to wash your face? Or friends commenting about your dry skin? And the constant mantra we hear over and over again today about the need for cleansing, toning and moisturising? Well, turns out, mum was right and these three steps are incredibly important to keep your skin healthy. But a quick swipe of a face wipe or splashing your face with water in the shower won’t cut it. Then again, it is not rocket science that you’d want to cleanse your face after a day out in the world. The amount of dirt, pollutants, bacteria, dead skin cells and impurities that are sitting on the skin is not something we want. From makeup and sweat to particles in the environment, your skin inevitably faces many external aggressors. Daily facial cleansing removes every last trace of dirt, excess oil, pollution and unwanted skin cells off of your face. It is by far the first step of all skincare routines and is beneficial in a number of ways. If not cleansed properly, dirt and pollution accumulate at the surface of your skin and could potentially contribute to breakouts, dehydration and aging.

Now that we know the importance of cleansing, there are various types of cleansers out there from gel, cream, foam, oil, clay, to milk variations. Milk cleansers, however, are quite the popular choice these days as they are light and gentle and made from natural emulsion of fats and water. So what is a cleansing milk? Milk cleanser cleanses the skin, helps remove makeup, dirt and impurities without stripping it of natural oils so skin stays balanced, hydrated and protected. Milk cleansing is a much more gentle approach to cleansing and could do the skin a whole lot of good. Generally, milk can do wonders for the face, it hydrates dry skin, exfoliates mature skin, soothes irritated skin and lightens dark skin but don’t get us wrong, cleansing milk isn’t made with actual milk. 

Milky cleansers are not actually named for their ingredient labels, but rather for their textures, which look a lot like something you’d add to your coffee but as mentioned, they are not actual milk!. Typically milky cleansers will have a combination of oils and vitamin E together and with so many ingredients acting as stripping agents, milky cleansers help keep it calm and balanced. The difference between cleansing milk and other face cleansers is that cleansing milk does not contain harsh chemicals that can easily irritate certain skin types. Cleansing milk are often a popular choice, especially for those with dry and sensitive skin, as it has many soothing, replenishing and moisturising properties. Milk cleansers work by cleaning deep into your pores, thus removing grime and impurities although it is recommended that we double cleanse to first remove all the makeup, then again to allow it to get deeper into the pores.

Cleansing milk has a thinner and milky texture and is usually made with lightweight emollients and oils and sulfate-free. It is has moisturising properties and is not lathering and does not leave skin feeling tight or dry after washing. While it doesn't help with acne prone skin type or preventing breakouts, milk cleansers are great for those with normal to combination skin for a more gentle approach to cleansing. Think of cleansing milk as a soothing, relaxing but hard working lotion that packs a punch and thoroughly washing your face will ensure visible improvements day after day, cleanse after cleanse.

Putting it into practice

Cellular Cleansing Milk

200 ml | For Normal to Dry Skin Types

Cleanse. Tone. Moisturise. In that order. It is not something to be missed and as it suggests, cleansing is the very first step towards a healthy proper skincare regime. Not only does cleansing remove dirt, bacteria and impurities, it also help the skin maintain a proper level of hydration. Daily cleansing helps manage PH levels of the skin, thus enabling sufficient water and product retention. When we gallavant around the world every day, dirt is trapped on the skin. Excessive dirt build up on the surface can cause blockages of the follicle, trapping sebum, sweat, and dead skin cells. The lack of sebum on the skin’s surface allows bacteria to penetrate the follicle causing inflammation, resulting in acne. Now, we don’t want that do we? Proper skin cleansing clears pores of debris to prevent dirt buildup, allowing the sebum oil to reach the skin surface unimpeded thus decreasing the chances of a breakout.

Having said all that, how about washing your face with what feels like a gentle cloud? If the answer is yes, then a cleansing milk is for you. Cleansing milk, it does the face good and again, it doesn’t actually contain milk but more so like the baby shampoo of cleansers. Skincode Exclusive has just the right one for you – the Cellular Cleansing Milk, a rich-milky cleanser that gently removes makeup, debris and impurities, leaving skin feeling soft, clean and supple. The ingredients in the Skincode Exclusive Cellular Cleansing Milk works to mimic the skin’s dermis’ natural state, thereby keeping skin calm and balanced with ingredients the skin recognises and not irritating it with harsh foaming agents. Using this Cellular Cleansing Milk as your daily cleanser can benefit dry and mature skin as it locks in moisture. It also helps in maintaining proper pore size and prevents the production of excess oil, an essential factor to keeping skin looking radiant and healthy. If you truly care for your skin, milk cleansers are the way to go. Think of it as a warm soft blanket that cushions the skin. You won’t regret it. 

Application

Sounds easy but like all other skincare products, there are ways to the application process. Use the Cellular Cleansing Milk both in the morning and evening. Cleansing the face of all the impurities in the morning is beneficial due to the natural recovering and exfoliating process that occurs whilst you sleep. It helps to remove any toxins, dead skin cells and excess oils the skin may secrete overnight. An evening cleanse is not only for post-makeup purposes. It is incredibly important as it allows for the skin to repair itself from the ravages of the day but also to improve the overall skin health. Going to sleep without cleansing would deprive the skin of any nutrients that would allow it to regenerate. An evening cleanse allows the ingredients in the Cellular Cleansing Milk to penetrate and work their magic whilst you sleep. Pump a pea-sized amount into your hands and apply on forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck if need be. Massage the cleanser into your skin in circular motions with your clean fingers. Try leaving your cleanser on for a couple of minutes before removing it to gain all the benefits from its active ingredients and give your skin a deeper clean. Once done, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water or tissue off. Gently pat your face dry using a clean, soft disposable cotton or muslin. Be mindful of the temperature of the water as hot water doesn’t open pores and cold water won’t close them either. In fact, hot water can strip your skin of essential oils and switching water temperatures will only put skin into shock, so it’s best to rinse with water that is lukewarm. A double cleanse is recommended for ladies who wear heavy makeup as the first cleanse targets the removal of makeup and debris that act as a barrier and the second cleanse allows the product to work down deep to reach into pores and remove any surface grime that the first cleanse may have left behind. 

Follow with the Skincode Cellular Revitalising Toner, a hydrating and revitalising toner that have additional vitamins, antioxidants and ingredients such as peptides, so are not only hydrating the skin but also feeding it too. It does exactly what most modern toners do - remove residual impurities of course, conditions and balances the pH of the skin, and preps the skin for follow on treatments, thus leaving skin feeling fresh and revitalised.

Ingredients

As with most Skincode Exclusive’s product series, the Cellular Cleansing Milk is packed with Active Cellular Regenerating Complex (ACR), a key ingredient in the series which comprises of Syn®-Tacks, a blend of Tri-peptide and Tetra-peptide-7, which increases cellular communication and improves epidermal nourishment that reduces wrinkles, increases skin tonicity and firmness and thereby improves skin’s compactness. The Sodium Hyaluronate which is a super hydrating ingredient can hold one thousand times its weight in water. It works to regulate moisture balance of the skin and has a high capacity to retain moisture. It gives immediate smoothness to rough skin surfaces and significantly improves skin’s appearance thus reducing dryness, itching and burning of the skin. This ingredient offers an excellent environment for the growth of new cells and the healing of existing cells. It also contains Vitamin E that acts as a moisturiser to improve skin’s water binding ability. It improves the appearance of rough, dry and damaged skin and helps maintain the connective tissue and to slow down the skin aging process. It also prevents irritation due to sun exposure and supports the natural moisture balance of the skin with an overall regenerating effect. The Vitamin C in the Cellular Cleansing Milk is a strong antioxidant that promotes collagen synthesis and inactivates Tyrosinase, the enzyme involved in the release of the formation, which leads to skin darkening and uneven pigmentation marks. Lastly, the Cornflower Extract that is rich in polyphenols, specifically flavonoids and anthocyanins (flavonads-high anti oxidant properties) works as an anti-inflammatory, skin conditioning agent and astringent.