Proper cleansing does far more than refresh your skin; it’s a foundational step in maintaining a healthy, radiant complexion. Effectively removing grime, excess oil, and debris helps reduce the likelihood of acne breakouts, while clearing away pollution buildup limits free radical damage caused by airborne particles, one of the key contributors to premature ageing.
Cleansing also plays an essential role in lifting away dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface, often leaving skin looking dull and lacklustre. By gently removing this layer, you reveal smoother, brighter, and more revitalised skin underneath. Ultimately, a well-balanced cleansing routine isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential for everyone seeking clearer, healthier-looking skin.
1. Do Choose the Right Cleanser for You
The best cleanser for you might be different from what your friend is using. If you have dry or sensitive skin, stick to hydrating, nonfoaming cleansers, because the lathering agents used in foaming cleansers tend to be more drying on the skin.
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, a foaming or salicylic acid–based cleanser may be a good fit for you. Foaming cleansers are better suited for people with oily skin who need a deeper clean, and salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid that helps effectively remove oil from the skin.
Many different cleanser formulas live somewhere in the middle, from milks to oils, balms to waters. Each cleanser gives a different sensorial experience to match your personal preferences. Whichever product you choose, beware of overwashing. If your face develops redness, peeling, or flaking, or feels tight or itchy, you might be overscrubbing your skin.
2. Don’t Rinse Your Face With Hot Water
Washing your face with hot water can suck the moisture out of your skin, leaving it dry and possibly irritated. Using cool or lukewarm water to remove your cleanser, and hot water can lead to facial flushing and a flare, especially if you have sensitive skin or rosacea.
Cold water is suitable for all skin types and can tighten the skin by stimulating blood flow and improving circulation. For acne-prone skin, cold water regulates sebum [or skin oil] production, which can in turn minimize pore size and prevent breakouts. Those with sensitive skin also benefit from washing their face with cold water because hot water will dry out their skin by stripping the oil levels needed to retain moisture.
3. Do Wash Your Face Twice a Day
Washing your face twice per day, in the morning and before bedtime, either way, going to bed with clean skin is a must. If you’re going to wash only once, a wash in the evening to remove everything that has accumulated during the day, so you sleep with a clean face on your pillow. Don’t forget to clean up after a sweaty workout. If you work out, do your best to wash afterward as well.
4. Don’t Assume You Need to Use Toner or Astringent
Cleansers today are much more effective than they were in the past, so toner or astringent is not always necessary to fully remove dirt and oil.
5. Do Use a Dedicated Makeup Remover
It’s important to fully remove makeup before you go to bed. This can minimize the risk of developing skin irritation from the makeup itself. If you wear light makeup, your regular face cleanser may be enough to remove it, he says. But you can also use an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to take off makeup. Micellar water contains micelle molecules that bind to both water and oil to effectively wash away dirt and makeup.
This is best used for heavy makeup, such as what you’d wear to a wedding or other special event. For the eye area, use a vegetable oil–based cleanser or eye makeup remover. These oil-based products liquefy stubborn liner and makeup without rubbing or tugging on the delicate skin around the eyes. Optionally, you can follow this up with a second cleanse using a conventional water-based cleanser.
6. Don’t Rub Your Skin the Wrong Way
For a gentle but thorough cleansing, your best tools are at your fingertips. Not only are they gentler and less likely to irritate your skin than washcloths or sponges, it’s a great opportunity to practice self-care by giving yourself a light facial massage. For an extra-deep clean, sonic cleansing can more effectively remove water from the skin. In fact, compared with manual cleansing, sonic-assisted cleansing more effectively removes particulate matter pollution from the skin.
7. Do Use a Clean Towel That’s Only for Your Face
Cleansing involves more than just your face! Wash your hands thoroughly before you begin washing your face. Also, make sure you resist the urge to dry your face with the family hand towel that’s been hanging over the rack for several days. Bacteria can breed on the towel and be transferred to your clean, dewy face. Use a soft, clean cloth that you use only on your face. Gently pat your skin dry with a towel, and avoid rubbing or tugging on your skin. You can also consider air-drying, especially if you have sensitive, acne-prone, or dry skin.
8. Don’t Skip Moisturizer After Cleansing
While you do want to give your face a good cleaning, you don’t want to overly strip the skin of essential oils or cause dryness. After washing, he recommends locking in hydration with a light moisturizer. If you’re using acne medication or an anti-aging product like retinol, apply that product after you put on your moisturizer, since the moisturizer acts as a buffer to help minimize potential irritation.
9. Do Double Cleanse
This is a gentle way to help ensure that you have thoroughly removed all makeup, dirt, and impurities from your skin, without stripping or irritating the skin barrier. Starting with a nourishing cleansing oil, rinsing, and then washing again with your regular face wash. Face-washing sessions should last no longer than two minutes, as too much scrubbing, rinsing, and cleansing may disrupt healthy sebum production and dry out your skin, causing irritation or inflammation. Anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes is optimal washing time. And if you do have dry skin, ensure you’re using a gentle cleanser to avoid stripping your skin of necessary oils.
10. Don’t Exfoliate Every Day
Exfoliation is a key part of any healthy face-washing regimen, but it’s possible to overdo it. Exfoliating too often can strip oil levels from your skin and create unwarranted sensitivity, and when our skin is under constant stress like this, it can actually cause the opposite desired effect and lead to inflammation, wrinkles, and accelerated aging.
And while facial cleansing brushes are great to stimulate blood flow to the skin and give an extra-deep clean, she cautions that it’s best to limit their use to once or twice a week. Using facial cleansing brushes too often will over-exfoliate the skin and can cause irritation, redness, and even damage the skin barrier. An optimal exfoliation frequency depends on your skin type and whether you’re using an exfoliating tool or a chemical exfoliator.
Talk to your dermatologist to figure out how often you should be exfoliating. The right skin-care routine for your face is really important. Overwashing can be just as damaging as neglecting to care for your skin. These 10 tips should help your skin feel healthy and look great. Washing regularly is important, and avoid hot water, and don’t scrub your face for more than a few minutes, as you may remove the outer protective layer of your skin.
Moisturize regularly, and don’t be afraid to use your fingers. Remember that everyone’s skin is different, so each skin-care routine will be different as well. Find what works for you, and find the products that best suit your skin type. You can speak to a dermatologist if you aren’t sure.
