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    HomeSkincare Guide by CORPHARM

    Skincare Guide by CORPHARM

    "Healthy skin comes from the right routine, not more products."

    Most skin problems — acne, oiliness, dryness, sensitivity, dullness, and pigmentation — are caused by irritation, barrier damage, and incorrect daily habits over time, not “dirty skin.”

    This guide helps you understand your skin, choose products correctly, and avoid common skincare mistakes. At CORPHARM, we follow a science-led, gentle approach that supports the skin barrier and improves results with consistent daily care.

    Use this guide to find clear answers, build a routine that suits your skin, and make smarter skincare decisions — step by step.

    FACE WASH & CLEANSING

    How do I choose the right face wash for my skin type?

    To choose the right face wash, first understand how your skin behaves naturally—oily, dry, combination, or sensitive. A good cleanser should remove dirt, oil, and sunscreen without leaving the skin tight or irritated. If your skin feels very dry after washing, the cleanser is too harsh.

    Choosing the right face wash is one of the most important but most misunderstood steps in skincare. It decides how healthy or damaged your skin barrier becomes over time.

    Step 1: Understand your skin’s natural behavior
    Observe your skin over a few days:

    • Dry/Dehydrated: Feels tight or uncomfortable after washing.
    • Oily: Becomes shiny within 2–3 hours.
    • Combination: Only forehead, nose, and chin get oily.
    • Sensitive: Stings or turns red easily.

    Step 2: Know what a good cleanser should feel like
    A good cleanser should remove sweat, dirt, and sunscreen while leaving skin feeling comfortable. Tight skin after washing usually means your natural protective oils were stripped.

    Step 3: Match cleanser style to your skin

    • Oily/Acne-prone: Needs a cleanser that cleans well but is still gentle.
    • Dry/Dehydrated: Needs a non-stripping, barrier-friendly formula.
    • Sensitive: Needs simple, gentle formulas with minimal irritation risk.

    Step 4: Why pH and barrier matter
    Your skin’s natural pH is slightly acidic. Harsh or high-pH cleansers damage the barrier, making oiliness, dryness, and acne harder to control.

    Honest conclusion: The right face wash is the one that cleans well without disturbing your skin. If your skin feels comfortable after 2–4 weeks, you’ve chosen correctly.

    Which is better: gentle cleanser or foaming face wash?

    A gentle cleanser is usually the better long-term choice for most skin types. Foaming itself is not bad, but many strong foaming cleansers strip the skin’s natural protective oils, leading to dryness, sensitivity, and rebound oiliness.

    Many people believe: “More foam = more cleaning power = better skin.” This is not how skin works.

    What “foaming” actually means:
    Foam comes from surfactants (cleansing agents). Some are very strong and remove your protective skin lipids, while others clean effectively but are much gentler and skin-friendly. The strength of the cleanser matters more than the foam.

    Why harsh foaming cleansers cause problems:
    If a cleanser makes your skin feel "squeaky clean" or tight, it is usually over-cleansing. This weakens your skin barrier and triggers more oil production or sensitivity later.

    What a gentle cleanser actually does:
    A gentle cleanser removes dirt, sweat, and sunscreen without removing all your natural protective oils. It leaves skin feeling calm and normal, not tight.

    Which should you choose?
    Oily, dry, and sensitive skin types almost always do better long-term with a gentle, balanced cleanser. Judge by skin comfort, not by how dramatic the foam looks.

    How many times a day should I wash my face?

    For most people, washing the face twice a day—once in the morning and once at night—is ideal. This removes oil, sweat, and dirt without damaging the skin barrier. Very dry or sensitive skin types may do better with only one gentle cleanse daily.

    This sounds like a simple question, but it’s one of the biggest causes of skin barrier damage.

    Why night cleansing is essential:
    During the day, your skin collects oil, sweat, pollution, and sunscreen. If you don’t wash this off at night, pores clog more easily and breakouts become more likely.

    Do you really need to cleanse in the morning?
    Usually, yes. Overnight, your skin produces oil and collects bacteria from pillowcases. A gentle morning cleanse refreshes the skin and prepares it for skincare and sunscreen.

    When once a day might be enough:
    If your skin is extremely dry or sensitive and you haven't used heavy products, you might cleanse only at night. However, using a strong cleanser 3–4 times a day is a fast way to damage your barrier.

    Signs you are over-washing:
    Tight or itchy skin, rebound oiliness, or burning with basic products are key warning signs.

    Can using the wrong face wash damage my skin barrier?

    Yes, using the wrong face wash can slowly damage your skin barrier. Harsh or high-pH cleansers remove not only dirt but also your skin’s natural protective lipids, leading to irritation and rebound oiliness.

    Your skin barrier is the most important part of your skin. It decides how much moisture you lose and how easily you get irritated.

    How the wrong face wash causes damage:
    Many cleansers remove oil very aggressively to create a “squeaky clean” feeling. When you repeatedly use a harsh cleanser, it removes your protective lipids and disturbs your natural pH. This damage often shows up weeks later as sudden sensitivity, flaking, or dullness.

    The Oily Skin Trap:
    People with oily skin often use the harshest cleansers to “dry out” the skin. This damages the barrier and makes the skin produce even more oil to protect itself.

    Signs of damage:

    • Skin feels tight or itchy after washing.
    • Skin becomes oily very quickly after washing.
    • Burning or stinging when applying simple products.

    What does “pH-balanced face cleanser” actually mean?

    A pH-balanced face cleanser matches the skin’s natural slightly acidic pH (around 5.5). This protects the acid mantle, which keeps harmful bacteria out and moisture in.

    pH is a scale that tells us how acidic or alkaline something is. Your skin naturally stays at a slightly acidic pH, roughly around 5 to 5.5. This protective acidic layer is called the "acid mantle."

    What happens when you use a high-pH cleanser?
    Many traditional soaps have a high (alkaline) pH. These immediately disrupt your skin’s acid mantle. If you repeat this twice a day, your skin never fully recovers. Over time, this leads to chronic dryness, sensitivity, and slower healing of marks.

    What a pH-balanced cleanser does differently:
    It cleans the skin without disturbing the acid mantle. This allows the barrier to stay strong, healthy, and stable. If your cleanser respects your skin’s pH, everything else in your routine works better.