Face wash: Do’s and Don’ts

Washing your face is a no-brainer, right? Well, not exactly. A survey found that 80 percent of people make at least one or more common mistakes when cleansing their face, and more than one-half of us neglect to cleanse before bedtime.Meanwhile, over washing your face can be just as harmful as not doing it at all. When you’re washing your skin, you want to remove excess oil, dirt, pollution, and makeup without compromising the integrity of the skin barrier itself.

There are plenty of benefits to washing right. Removing grime and debris can help prevent acne breakouts. Ridding your skin of pollution buildup minimizes free radical damage caused by particulate matter in the air, which is associated with premature aging. What’s more, washing your face is key to removing dead cells that build up on skin and contribute to dullness — slough these off and you expose healthier, more radiant skin.

Do Choose the Right Cleanser for You

The right cleanser for you might be different than what your best 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 best 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.

There are also many different cleanser formulas that live somewhere in the middle “From milk to oils, balms to waters, each cleanser gives a different sensorial experience to match your personal preferences. Whichever product you choose, beware of over washing: If your face develops redness, peeling, or flaking, or feels tight or itchy, you might be over scrubbing your skin.

Don't Rinse Your Face with Hot Water

Using cool or lukewarm water remove your cleanser. Especially if you have sensitive skin or rosacea, hot water can lead to facial flushing and a flare.

Do Wash Your Face Twice a Day

Washing your face twice per day, in the morning and before bedtime. But going to bed with clean skin is a must. If you’re going to wash only once, wash in the evening to remove everything that has accumulated during the day so you sleep with a clean face on your pillow. And don’t forget to clean up after a sweaty workout. “If you work out, do your best to wash afterward as well.

Don’t Assume You Need to Use Toner or Astringent

Today's cleansers are much more effective than they were in the past, so toner or astringent is not always necessary to fully remove dirt and oil. It is recommended to use toner or astringent only if you feel your cleanser is not doing the job by itself.

Do Use Eye Makeup Remover to Remove Heavy Makeup

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 try “double cleansing,” which involves using an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to take makeup off. This is best used for heavy makeup, like what you’d wear to a wedding or other special event.

Pro tip: This product can be effective for removing any costume makeup, such as what you’d wear for Halloween, too.

Don’t Rub Your Skin the Wrong Way

For a gentle but thorough cleansing, your best tools are at your fingertips — in fact, they are your fingertips. Your fingers do a terrific job and can actually provide a light massage during your cleanse that can stimulate circulation and promote lymphatic drainage.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.

Do Use a Clean Towel That’s Only for Your Face

Cleansing involves more than just cleanser! Wash your hands thoroughly before you begin washing your face. And 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 only use on your face, he suggests. When drying your face, It is recommended to be gentle and pat your face dry, as opposed to rubbing it with a towel. 

Don’t Forget to Use 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, hydrates your skin with a light moisturizer. If you’re using acne medication or an anti-aging product like retinol, apply it after you put on your moisturizer, since the moisturizer acts as a buffer to help minimize potential irritation.