Shocking Skincare Facts You Didn’t Know

5 Shocking Skincare Facts You Didn’t Know

Let’s begin by busting the biggest skincare myth of all… You don’t need a ten-step skincare routine to achieve a gorgeous, glowing complexion. In fact, double cleansing is the best thing you can do for your skin and it’s such a simple step to incorporate.

Hear us out. We’re not saying you can’t indulge in a multi-layered ritual. If that’s what you love, by all means serum cocktail until your heart's content. What we are saying is that your beauty shelf doesn’t have to look like a chemistry lab to achieve clearer, smoother, more radiant skin. 

But what if we’re not cleansing properly? In our #DirtySkincareReport we asked almost 3,000 of you about your not-so-pretty cleansing habits. Turns out there are five shocking skincare facts that most of you aren’t aware of. So, we’re here to help fill in the gaps and give you easy-to-action tips and tricks that are sure to transform your skin. You know what to do…

1. Double Cleansing is the best thing you can do for your skin

While 89% of you are cleansing your skin everyday, only 54% of you said you double cleanse, so yes! We're repeating ourselves and louder this time for the people in the back. Double cleansing is the most important step in your skincare routine and the best thing you can do for your skin.

Enter DuoCleanse, a first-of-its-kind, two-step cleansing system that takes all the effort out of double cleansing. Each bottle contains a nourishing Gentle Cleanser to remove all makeup, and an active-packed second cleanse to target and treat your skincare concerns. With three variations to choose from, it’s never been easier to customise your cleanse. 

Double cleansing removes makeup, sunscreen, and deep cleans pores for a squeaky-clean base that maximises the benefits of your other skincare products. It is also the best way to keep blemishes at bay and keep your skin looking clear and calm. 

Want to dive deeper? Read our Ultimate Guide to Double Cleansing here. 

2. You should use a cleanser that suits your skin type 

There’s a lot of fluff out there about cleansers not mattering much because they’re not on your skin for long (more on that later). Fact is, using the right kind of cleanser for your skin type and concerns can do more than just wash away your makeup. It can help hydrate, brighten and rebalance your skin.

For example, oilier complexions crave clarifying cleansers that rebalance sebum production and unclog pores. In contrast, dry skin needs a hydrating formula that’ll replenish moisture rather than stripping away natural oils.

A hefty 56% of you admitted you weren’t sure which cleanser you should be using based on your skin type. Thankfully, with DuoCleanse, it’s super simple to find the perfect formula.

Cleanse & Brighten

POWERED BY: Vitamin C

PERFECT FOR: Normal, oily, and sensitive skin

Cleanse & Clarify

POWERED BY: 2% Salicylic Acid
PERFECT FOR: Oily, congested, or blemish-prone skin

Cleanse & Exfoliate

POWERED BY: AHAs (Lactic and Citric Acid) and under 1% BHA (Salicylic Acid)

PERFECT FOR: Balanced, oily, combination, or dry skin

Learn more about how to pick the perfect cleanser for your skin type here.

3. Cleanse your skin for 30-60 seconds 

How long you spend washing your face depends on what kind of cleanser you’re using. Most of you (53%) said you spend 10-20 seconds cleansing your skin, but for all-round formulas, like our Gentle Cleanser, 30-60 seconds is the sweet spot. This allows you to target all areas of your face and gives the cleanser time to break down makeup, SPF, and other impurities.

By contrast, targeted formulas like the Brightening, Clarifying, and Exfoliating Cleansers should be applied to skin for around 30 seconds to avoid overstimulating your skin and causing irritation. However, once you’ve massaged these formulas into your skin, you can leave them to settle for 1-2 minutes before rinsing to let the active ingredients get to work.

When it comes to cleansing, remember it’s a ritual, not a race! 

4. Dirty Makeup Brushes = Breakouts 

Be honest, when was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? The Dirty Report revealed your trusty tools aren’t getting the attention they need with a whopping 63% of you admitting you wash brushes and sponges irregularly. 

Look, there’s no judgement here! We know it’s a chore and all-too-easy to push to the side when life gets busy. Nevertheless it is super important to keep your makeup brushes bacteria free if you want to avoid breakouts and blackheads. Think about it, the last thing you want to be sweeping over squeaky clean skin is a grubby makeup brush! 

So, how often should you wash your makeup brushes? You can read our complete tutorial here, but we’ve popped the key facts below:

• Foundation and concealer brushes: Once a week
• Eye makeup brushes: Every other week
• Other brushes that you don’t use daily: Once a month

5. Seriously, Stop Squeezing Your Spots! 

We know how bothersome breakouts can be, especially when they erupt before a big event, but picking and popping isn’t going to help your skin, and here’s why:

• Scarring: Squeezing spots can damage skin tissue, leading to permanent scarring. No thank you!
• Hyperpigmentation: Picking at blemishes can interrupt your skin’s natural healing process and leave behind those pesky dark spots that take forever to fade.
• Bacteria: Popping a pimple can actually spread the bacteria around your skin and cause further breakouts.

The best way to keep blemishes under control? You guessed it – double cleansing! For spot-prone skin, we recommend using DuoCleanse Cleanse & Clarify. It boasts a breakout busting concentration of Salicylic Acid (2%) to help unclog pores and regulate oil production. Plus, it’s been clinically proven to reduce blemishes, blackheads, and congestion.*

*Clinically tested by a panel of 19 subjects with blemish and acne-prone skin, over a period of 28 days under dermatological control.

Want to find out more about DuoCleanse? Or do you need help finding your perfect formula? We’re here to help! Our makeup and skincare experts are happy to assist you via Instagram @sculptedbyaimee or Facebook DM. Or, email us at hello@sculptedbyaimee.com if you have any questions.

Lots of love,

Aimee & Team x

Read the full #DirtySkincareReport here.