We are all used to being "squeaky clean" in today's society.  We've been taught that this is the ideal state to achieve.  But "squeaky clean" isn't always the ideal condition for healthy skin. 

The skin is our body's largest organ.  Because this organ is located on the outside of the body, it needs a defense system to protect itself from potentially harmful external influences.  The body creates this defense system in the form of sebum, or natural skin oils.  These oils form a protective barrier helping to shield from bacteria, the environment, chemicals, and toxins, as well as to help the skin maintain proper cell hydration.

Over-cleaning destroys this defense system and puts your skin in a compromised state, creating a situation where your skin is vulnerable to all the outside conditions.  Over-cleaning can also be a contributing factor for many negative skin conditions, and can result in premature aging and wrinkles.

The typical soaps and facial cleansers on the market today contain some form of Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate -- a strong type of detergent that mechanics use to scrub their garage floors.  If these chemicals are strong enough to clean automobile grease and oils, just think of what they are doing to your skin every time you wash!   

Instead of using harmful chemicals or detergents to clean your skin, try facial cleansers with all-natural ingredients or gentle castile-based soaps.  When removing makeup, women with oil-prone skin can use a small amount of cleanser or castile soap, followed by a light natural moisturizer, or a thin coat of lighter plant-based oils such as Grapeseed, Jojoba, Borage, or Sunflower oil to help restore the skin's protective barrier.  For drier skin types, use plant oil- based natural moisturizers or emollient-rich oils such as Olive, Rosehip Seed, Pumpkin Seed, or Evening Primrose for makeup removal as well as moisturizing.  As a cleanser, these oils will gently cleanse without stripping the natural oils from your skin, and as a moisturizer, they provide added moisture protection.