8 Tips for Washing Your Face Properly

Wash Your Face Twice a Day

Washing your face before bed is a no-brainer: probably everyone understands how important it is to remove dirt, grime, sweat, skin oils and makeup residue from the outer skin layer in order to let the skin breathe and prevent irritation, inflammation, and breakouts. However, it is just as important to wash your face in the morning because while you’re sleeping, your skin still produces sebum, and bacteria from your pillowcase and saliva are easily transferred to your face.

...But Don’t Wash It Too Often

Frequent washing strips your skin of natural oils, leaving it dry and unprotected. To keep your skin clean in between washings, you can use wet wipes. However, there are exceptions. For example, you should always wash your face after a workout or excessive sweating, especially if you have oily skin, in order to prevent breakouts.

Pick the Right Cleanser

Your regular soap bar just won’t do because it will disrupt the natural pH balance of your skin. If you want your skin to be healthy, you need to pick the right cleanser for your skin type. Fortunately, cosmetic brands offer an impressive selection of facial cleansers, including, but not limited to, gels, foaming cleansers, cream cleansers, mild soaps specifically designed for facial cleansing, and more.

If you have normal skin, you can use almost any type of cleanser, just make sure that it doesn’t make your skin feel dry or tight. If you have dry skin, opt for a cream cleanser that will keep it from losing moisture. If you have oily or combination skin, use a light cleanser with antibacterial ingredients that will remove excess oil and prevent acne breakouts. Finally, if your skin tends to be very sensitive, choose a mild, hypoallergenic cleanser, preferably an unscented one.

Remove Makeup First

If you’re wearing makeup, you need to remove it before washing your face, especially around your eyes. Makeup cleansers aren’t just a marketing trick intended to make you buy more skincare products. Their are specifically designed to remove even waterproof makeup from the surface of your skin, and your cleanser will take care of the rest. If you’re not a big fan of commercial makeup removers, you can use plain coconut oil as a natural alternative.

Wash Your Hands

Touching your face with dirty hands is an easy way to get your skin infected. Always wash your hands before washing your face in order to protect your skin from bacteria.

Make Sure That the Water Temperature Is Comfortable

Some people use hot water because it “opens up their pores”. However, hot water doesn’t contribute to deeper cleansing, it only irritates the skin and makes it dehydrated. To keep your skin healthy, you need to wash it with lukewarm or cool water.

Be Gentle

Rubbing your face vigorously won’t do it any good. To clean your skin properly, massage it gently in circular motions for at least 60 seconds, rinse off the cleanser, and pat your face dry with a soft towel. If you need deep cleansing, you can use a facial brush or apply a scrub, but you shouldn’t exfoliate more often than once a week.

Remember That Your Towel Should Be Clean

What a lot of people do wrong is wipe their freshly-cleaned face with a wet or dirty towel. Why wash your face at all if you rub bacteria back onto it right after? Use a fresh, clean towel every time you wash your face, no matter how much laundry you need to get done. And, of course, you should never wipe your face with your shower towel.