How to wash your face properly
When it comes to skincare, we usually think of face masks, serums, and moisturizers. You don’t even question if you know how to wash your face properly because how hard can it be, right?
It’s like washing your hands, you don’t question how to do it. If you are the type of person who barely touches the water with no actual scrubbing… yea, you are doing it wrong.
It doesn’t matter if you moisturize your face and apply half a dozen products if you still have a layer of dirt on it right? Not washing your face properly can lead to breakouts, dull, textures skin. So let’s get started!
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Are you using the right face wash?
Before you continue reading, I want to ask you a few questions. Do you know if your face is appropriate for your skin type? Do you know what type of skin you have? If you don’t, I will send you a little at home test I did to find out mine, just click here.
The first step in knowing how to wash your face properly is using the proper facewash for your skin. Using the wrong one can result in a dull and uneven complexion.
Now you know your skin type. Now you are probably wondering which type of cleanser you should get. You have heard of oil cleansers, cream cleanser, foam cleansers but did you know not all of these are meant for YOUR face. Let me explain.
Normal, dry and sensitive skin
Cream Cleanser: If your face is on the normal or dry and sensitive side, look for a cream cleanser. These cleansers can also come in the form of milk or lotion and are thick, creamy, or silky.
If you use waterproof makeup, then this won’t be enough to get rid of all the makeup you have on. You will need to double cleanse. More on that later.
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Normal, oily, combination skin
Gel Cleanser: If your skin is normal, oily, combination, or sensitive to redness and acne, then a gel cleanser is perfect for you according to Paula’s choice. These are meant to decongest your pores, removing excess oil, and kill acne causing bacteria.
If your skin is oily or combination skin, you have large pores, so you want to make sure they are clean to avoid acne. This cleanser helps remove light makeup so you will probably have to double cleanse as well.
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Foam Cleanser: If you like to feel some foam to feel like your face is actually getting clean, for those with oily or combination skin can also use a foam cleanser. These cleansers start off as a cream or gel and ends up foamy.
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Clay Cleanser: If your skin is oily or combination then you have another option! You can also use a clay cleanser. No, you can’t use your clay from arts and crafts. The reason clay works great for oily or combination skin types is because it pulls all the excess oil and toxins from your face.
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Dry and Sensitive skin
Micellar Cleanser: Now, if your skin is on the other side of the spectrum and is dry and sensitive, you will benefit from a micellar cleanser. This cleanser is actually pretty cool because you don’t need to rinse off with water.
This cleanser works by suspending its tiny oil molecules in soft water. So what it does is attract oil, dirt, and makeup to clean your face according to Dermstore.
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All skin types
Oil Cleanser: I am sure you have probably heard of oil cleansers and this actually works for most skin types. No, this won’t break your skin out if you have oily skin. The oil actually helps remove pore-clogging debris.
Using an oil cleanser is perfect to double cleanse your face if you wear makeup. It is always a good idea to follow with another type of cleanser to really clean your skin. The oil cleanser just helps remove the makeup on the surface.
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Wash your face every night
Let’s start with the night before. NEVER, EVER, EVER go to sleep with a face full of makeup. Nighttime is made for your skin to be able to restore and repair itself. It can’t do that with a layer of makeup.
If you don’t change your pillowcase then all that makeup will be on your pillow the next day when you go to sleep with a clean face. It will be like you didn’t even wash it!
If you want to go the extra step, then I would suggest changing your pillowcase a few times a week to make sure your face is laying on a clean surface all those hours while you sleep.
Think about all the debris that falls on your pillow throughout the day. If you don’t wash your hair every day (honestly you shouldn’t, not washing your hair can give you the hair of you’ve always wanted,) then you are also putting all that dirt and germs to your pillow and then to your face.
Just think about how many times you touched your hair with your dirty hands or how many times you leaned it against the wall, while in an uber, or perhaps laid on the floor. All that nastiness is going to your pillow and to your face. Ewww!
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Wash your face every morning
You might be thinking you don’t need to wash your face in the morning because you washed it last night. Just think about what I just said above.
All those germs from your hair are going to your pillow, to your face. If that is not enough of a reason, you should wash off your nighttime skincare products for your morning skincare application.
Double cleanse if you are wearing makeup
I mentioned this right at the beginning, but in case you are just skimming I am mentioning it again. Use an oil cleanser, micellar water, or makeup wipe to clean off your makeup.
Make sure to follow up with the cleanser best suited for your skin type. The second cleansing is essential to really get in there and clean your skin to avoid breakouts. Not properly washing your face will not allow your other products to do their job.
Don’t scrub too long or hard
You might think that if you scrub a little harder you will clean your face better. That is not the case. If you are scrubbing too hard you can create more harm than good. Especially be careful around your eyes since that is the most sensitive are.
You also don’t want to scrub for too long. By scrubbing for too long you can be stripping your face natural oil. If you scrub too little, then you might not be cleaning your face at all.
According to Dr. Jessica Krant a board-certified New York City-based dermatologist over washing, scrubbing, and exfoliating can lead to irritation and breakouts.
There is some debate on how long you should wash your face. Most experts recommend washing your face in a circular motion between 30-60 seconds to wash your face properly. I have a homework assignment: I want you to time yourself next time you wash your face to see how long you actually wash it, and I bet it’s less than 30 seconds.
Use warm to cool water to properly wash your face
You also want to be careful when it comes to the temperature. If you want to wash your face properly then don’t expose your face to extreme temperatures. Stick to warm or cool water. If you like to shower with hot water avoid your face until you are out of the shower. The hot water will dehydrate and irritate your face.
Don’t reuse your wash cloth
This may also seem excessive, but it is really important to not reuse the same washcloth. Reusing the same washcloth more than 2 times at most can bring bacteria to your face causing acne.
When you do dry your face make sure to pat dry only. If you are rubbing your face you are pulling your skin which will eventually cause sagging skin. When you do dry your face make sure to leave in a little moisture, this will help the next step in your skincare routine.
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Moisturize after washing your face
After you dry your squeaky clean beautiful face you want to apply moisturizer before it is completely dry. The reason is because the water helps seal in the moisturizer. According to Byrdie, the longer you keep your face bare, the more time dry air has to pull the moisture right out of it.
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So what happens next? You now understand how to properly wash your face, but what happens now? If you are not sure how to start a skincare routine or want a more simple one, then check out my simplified skincare post!
Let me know if you have been washing your face wrong all these years or if you were using the wrong cleanser! Okay beautiful, go change your pillowcase!