Cleaning your face – are you doing it right?
In an age of millions of facial skincare products, YouTube tutorials, and personal grooming advice flying at you from every direction, it’s hard to know whether your face cleaning routine is the right one for you.
Arguably, we spend the most time in our personal caretaking regimes on our faces, so getting the balance right is important to most!
Every skincare routine is different depending on skin type, sensitivities, desired effect, and generally how much effort you’re willing to put in.
Whether you’re a simple water-rinser or a devoted ritualist, here are some of the best face cleaning tips to get the best of your skin.
Use lukewarm water
As tempting as a scolding, steamy wash might be, using hot water to clean your face can do more harm than good, potentially damaging blood vessels and tissue, causing irritation and dryness.
Lukewarm water is the nice middle ground between subjecting your face to an arctic blast of icy water or pouring lava-level temperatures on it.
Lay off the rough stuff
A harder, rougher scrub does not necessarily equal a cleaner face. Washing your face should take around 30 seconds and be done using your fingertips in a circular motion with the help of a good cleanser. There’s no need to vigorously scrub until you’re out of breath or have sore arms!
While exfoliating is great for removing built up oils, dirt, and dead skin, it should be limited to 1-2 times per week at a maximum, or as needed for your skin type. Exfoliating every day will only make your skin angry, red, and irritated.
If you wear makeup, remove it first
Contrary to popular belief, removing your makeup and cleaning your face are two separate activities. Using a makeup removing cream or wipe doesn’t simultaneously wash your skin, but instead prepares it for proper cleaning.
Use an oil-based makeup remover or micellar water to remove your makeup, then wash your face so the cleanser can do its job in safely removing the rest!
Use products designed for your skin
If your skin is a sensitive Sally, it can become abundantly clear when you’re using products that don’t suit your skin type. Using the wrong type of facial product can lead to all types of complications from acne to eczema.
It’s a great idea to see a skincare specialist to determine your exact skin type and choose the right combination of products the first time around instead of a lengthy and pricey trial and error process!
You might need more than one wash
Face cleaning is generally entrenched in your morning routine because it’s when you do all your other personal grooming. But if your face is prone to oiliness or dirt build-up, it’s important to squeeze an extra few minutes into your evening schedule to repeat your face cleaning routine after a full day of oils, dirt, and other particles making their way onto your skin. You might also need an extra rinse after certain activities such as exercising.
Add a nightly cleanse to your daily routine to keep your skin happy and healthy.
