Washing Your Face: Simple Rules for Glowing Skin

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Washing your face seems like a no-brainer, right? You splash on some water, lather up with soap, and rinse. But are you sure you’re doing it the right way? According to a survey, 80 percent of women make common mistakes when cleansing their face.

Think of washing your face as more than just a routine task. It’s a crucial step in your skin-care regimen that can significantly impact the health and appearance of your skin. So, let’s dive into the dos and don’ts of proper face washing to ensure your skin glows.

Understanding the Benefits of Washing Your Face Correctly

Washing your face the right way offers numerous benefits. 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,”.

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.

10 Simple Rules for Washing Your Face

Here are 10 important tips from dermatologists to ensure you are washing your face the right way:

1. 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. Lathering agents 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. 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.
   • 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.
   • Use cool or lukewarm water to remove your cleanser. 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 your skin by stripping the oil levels needed to retain moisture.
3. Wash Your Face Twice a Day: Washing your face twice per day, in the morning and before bedtime.
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • A toner or astringent is recommended only if you feel your cleanser is not doing the job by itself.
5. 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.
   • 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.
   • For heavy makeup, such as what you’d wear to a wedding or other special event. It’s also effective for removing any costume makeup, such as what you’d wear for Halloween.
   • 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.
   • Remove eye makeup cautiously by patting the eye area vertically instead of rubbing. Too much pressure or rubbing in the delicate area can lead to low-grade inflammation, which translates to hyperpigmentation over time.
6. Don’t Rub Your Skin the Wrong Way: For a gentle but thorough cleansing, your best tools are at your fingertips.
   • Fingertips are gentler and less likely to irritate your skin than washcloths or sponges.
   • Sonic cleansing can more effectively remove water from the skin. Compared with manual cleansing, sonic-assisted cleansing more effectively removes particulate matter pollution from the skin.
7. Use a Clean Towel That’s Only for Your Face: Wash your hands thoroughly before you begin washing your face.
   • 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.
   • Consider air-drying, especially if you have sensitive, acne-prone, or dry skin.
8. Don’t Skip Moisturizer After Cleansing: You don’t want to overly strip the skin of essential oils or cause dryness.
   • After washing, lock 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 (but Keep It Brief): Double cleansing 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.
   • Start 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. Too much scrubbing, rinsing, and cleansing may disrupt healthy sebum production and dry out your skin, causing irritation or inflammation.
   • Optimal washing time: Anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes.
   • 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: Exfoliating too often can strip oil levels from your skin and create unwarranted sensitivity.
    • 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.
    • Limit the use of facial cleansing brushes to once or twice a week. Using facial cleansing brushes too often will over-exfoliate the skin and can cause irritation [and] redness, and even damage the skin barrier.
    • 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 Takeaway

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. Avoid hot water, and don’t scrub your face for more that 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.

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.