Most people think that washing face is a just a routine task but in reality there’s a lot more to it than soap and water, says Dr. Doris Day, NYC dermatologist and author of Forget the Facelift. When there are available so many advanced, gentle cleansers that don’t strip the skin, choosing the right one which allows to absorb moisturizing and anti-aging properties more effectively becomes a key factor.
Avoid These Mistakes to Clean Your Face
Obviously, an old-school splash and scrub won’t work. Learn here the new guidelines for getting cleanest and freshest face.
Wash and Done
It’s more of a 2-step action. To quote Montclair, New Jersey, dermatologist Dr. Jeanine Downie: “Remove your makeup prior to you wash your face. Many cleansers can’t take off concealer or foundation thoroughly, particularly around the eyes and nose. Apply an oil-based cream, an emollient wipe, or a cleansing oil to dissolve stubborn sunscreen and makeup.”
Follow with lukewarm water and a pea-size amount of cleanser (opt for the ingredients cocamidopropyl betaine or caprylic triglyceride, which are sulfate-free surfactants) on your fingers or a clean, damp washcloth and cleanse your face.
Wash Twice per Day
Whereas the jury is still out on how often to cleanse face (every morning and every night or just once at night), but all dermatologist coincides that over-cleansing can result into irritation and deficiency of moisture. The percept is to use common sense: Always clean your face after a workout to avoid breakouts, and cleanse excessively oily skin morning and night. For real dry or sensitive skin, do wash once daily in the morning or night.
Close Your Skin Pores
Sorry, friends, but you can skip procedures such as massaging your face to increase circulation or splashing your face with cold water to “close” your facial pores. According to Downie: “Pores don’t open and close. On the other hand, excessive hot or cold can aggravate problems such as rosacea and redness.
Nevertheless, mild steam helps unstiffen hardened oil in pores; therefore it’s not a bad idea to cleanse in the shower. And Downie further says “While it feels nice, massage doesn’t do much. Exercise is what boosts your circulation.”
Use Cleanser According to Skin Type
Irrespective of your skin type, ensure the ingredients list doesn’t contain fragrance, which can be irritating; parabens (possibly toxic stablizer); or harsh soap (it’s drying). “If a cleanser fits that bill, the formula itself (cream, lotion, foaming, etc.) is more a matter of personal preference,” says NYC dermatologist Dr. Brad Katchen. However, if you have dry skin, you can use cleansers with added moisturizers, such as glycerin or shea butter. On the other hand, people with oily skin may use a foaming wash that leaves skin feeling super-clean.
Scrub to Exfoliate and Smooth
Try a salicylic- or glycolic-acid cleanser, you will find it gentler and more effective than grainy scrubs. Moreover, both have anti-aging properties and will help avert breakouts. Swap with your usual wash (start with two times per week), and adjust depending on how your skin is responding and looking.
Use Toner
Dermatologists claim that alcohol-based toners remove natural oils from your skin, which is not good. However gentle toners soothe the skin and balance pH levels, but with the right cleanser, you don’t actually require this step. But if you like the feeling, well then select gentle, alcohol-free types.
Brush Your Skin to a Healthy Glow
A skin-cleaning brush on the one hand gets rid of oil, dirt, and dead skin better than your hands, and on the other hand it’s less aggressive than most exfoliating cleansers or scrubs. But make sure to not use it every night, particularly if you’re also applying ingredients such as retinoids or acids. Too much exfoliation can lead to inflammation.
To sum up: Use skin brush, but use sparingly. To make sure that your brush is bacteria-free, rinse and air-dry after use. And if you are a clean freak, replace the brush head after every 2-3 months.
Use your high-priced products such as retinol or antioxidants as leave-on products instead of washing them down the drain. They give best results when they stay concentrated on the skin.
Avoid above mistakes and follow the above rules to clean your face properly.