Face washing myths have been passed on from generation to generation, using household products, fancy remedies, and everything in-between. After a long day of work and working out, the last thing we even want to think about is standing over the bathroom sink embarking on an endless skin care routine. But washing our face is one of the most important pieces of taking care of our skin. The pandemic has taught many lessons and brought about higher awareness and appreciation for good hygiene. While it’s become clear that we’ve all been washing our hands wrong, perhaps it’s not such a big surprise to find out there are common pitfalls to avoid when washing our face too.
To set you up for skincare success, facial cleansers for your skin type should gently wash away dirt, dead skin cells and makeup, and help treat specific skin conditions.
Easy Steps for Washing Your Face Correctly
- For radiant and healthy-looking skin, after removing your makeup, apply cleanser to the face using gentle circles for approximately 20-30 seconds, then rinse with lukewarm water.
- Pat your face with a fresh cotton facecloth. Avoid rubbing or wiping.
- Optionally, apply a toner, especially for specific skin care concerns, such as acne or very dry skin.
Right after washing and lightly drying your face, apply serums and moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. The skin is much more permeable when moist, allowing products to absorb more effectively, getting the most out of every drop.
Key Ingredients to look for in a Face Wash
- Organic Moringa Oil. This Seed Oil contains powerful antioxidants and anti-aging properties to reduce and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to protect skin and lips from further damage.
- Apple Amino Acids. These are the building blocks of both peptides and proteins, and each has a specific role in skin care. Amino Acids maintain skin’s hydration, texture, resilience, and an overall supple, healthy appearance.
- Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic acid is a moisturizing agent that is incredibly effective while being very light on the skin. It doesn’t clog up pores and can be applied directly to your skin or mixed in with other serums and moisturizers to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier.
Poor face washing can exacerbate skin problems such as acne breakouts, skin inflammation and dry, flaky skin. By not taking a few minutes to remove the dirt and grime of the day, your skin is suffering. And no, we are not just talking about water. While women of years past have creatively come up with timesaving solutions, or dare we say, TikTok hacks, we’ve collected a list of the top 8 best practices when washing your face.
Tips for Washing Your Face Properly
1. Wash your face using warm water. While hot water feels good on the skin, it may irritate and dry out your skin. For those of us who like to wash our face in the shower, this one may hit close to home. In fact, dermatologists say that it’s not the best routine to embrace because we often shower in water that is too hot for the face. Switch up the steamy hot water for warm water to open the pores and release congested grime and oil, preserving the natural oils in the skin, safely.
2. Don’t wash your face too early in the evening. Yes, you deserve kudos for washing your face, but too early in the evening may negate the process all together. If you have dinner and wipe your face, or touch your face when watching a super scary movie, you are slowly removing your skincare. Switch up your routine and plan to wash right before bed, that way you get the most out of your skincare.
3. Use more than just a makeup wipe. The same applies to only using a makeup removing wipe. Removing makeup is an important first step but won’t truly clean the skin. Makeup wipes often contain chemical agents that when left on the skin can cause irritation and oil build up. Remember, makeup wipes simply remove makeup, they do not clean your face.
4. Always wash your face before bed. Oils, dirt and sweat can accumulate on your skin throughout the day, and then transfer to your pillow as well. It’s especially important to remove makeup before going to bed, to unclog pores and let your skin breathe!
5. Wash your hands before you wash your face. Before applying products onto your skin, make sure your hands are free of oils and dirt. We don’t want to contribute to the problem by adding dirt, oils, dinner, or whatever else may be still on our hands. Clean hands before you clean your face, and make sure that you have washed off all of the soap from your hands before you wash your face as it can be harsh on our face.
6. Always use a fresh, clean washcloth. A wet washcloth can be the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to thrive. Even when we let it dry overnight, it is still not clean. Use a fresh washcloth to ensure you’re taking bad bacteria off your face, not on!
7. Exfoliate, but not too often. Excessive scrubbing can irritate your skin and cause redness, damaging your skin barrier. Gently wash the face daily but exfoliate just once or twice a week to avoid over-drying and stripping the skin of natural oils.
8. Don’t wash your face with soap. Conventional soap can actually strip your face of natural oils, and disrupt the pH level, damaging the moisture barrier. Specialized facial products are designed to do more than just clean, they protect your skin’s pH balance and help your skin heal.