FACIAL CLEANSING

Cleansing your face washes away dirt, dead skin cells, makeup, and anything else that might clog your pores or cause a general dullness. And, depending on the type of cleanser you use, it could also help treat specific skin conditions, like acne.

But it’s not only how you wash your face that makes the difference, but also when, how often, and what type of face wash you use. To make sure you’re putting your scrubbing to good use, here are some easy ways to make sure you’re cleansing properly—and to make your cleansing routine even more effective. Learn them now so you’ll know how to wash your face the *right* way every time.

1. WASH YOUR FACE EVERY NIGHT

Washing your face at night is a hard-and-fast rule when it comes to caring for your skin, and it holds true even if you don’t wear makeup. During the day, natural oils and sweat accumulate on the skin. We are exposed to the environment, which means that dirt and pollution build up on our outer skin layer. Not removing all of this dirt and gunk at the end of the day can cause skin irritation, inflammation, and acne breakouts.

2. WASH YOUR FACE IN THE MORNING

You might think cleansing your skin before bed is all you need to wake up fresh-faced, but another rinse in the morning is a good idea. Plus, if you’re putting on products like treatments, serums, moisturizers or night creams on before bed, you’ll want to wash those off in the morning before putting on your daytime products. So even if you wash your face at night and your pillowcases often, an A.M. cleanse is best practice.

Just keep in mind that you may need to use a different cleanser in the morning than the one you use at night. If you have particularly dry or sensitive skin, for instance, you may just want to use micellar water or a super gentle cleanser in the morning. And if you’re using a salicylic acid-containing cleanser to help manage your acne, you may find that it’s too harsh or drying to use twice a day.

3. USE THE RIGHT WATER TEMPERATURE

Using hot water in the shower or to wash your face might feel really nice, but it can actually be damaging to the delicate skin on your face.

Extreme temperatures, such as hot, steamy showers or hot water, can cause dilation of blood vessels and breakage of delicate tissues. Further, the hot water naturally strips skin of the necessary oil barrier that helps maintain skin integrity. This means your skin will dry out faster and become more itchy and flaky over time.

This is especially an issue for those with dry or sensitive skin to be aware of because their skin is already more vulnerable to drying out or reacting badly to extremes. Also, heat can be a trigger for rosacea, a skin condition that causes redness and acne-like bumps. So, it’s important to use lukewarm water to wash your face instead.

4. USE THE RIGHT CLEANSER SUITABLE FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

When looking for a facial cleanser, you'll want to consider things like your skin type (if your skin is generally oily, dry, normal, or combination), if you have sensitive skin, if you're acne-prone, and if you have any other skin conditions (like rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis).

If your skin tends to be dry or sensitive, a gentle or creamy cleanser would work for you. But those with oily skin are usually able to tolerate gel or foamy cleansers more easily. And for those with normal skin, a basic water-based cleanser would be great. You can also try using something like a cleansing oil or balm, which tend to be more moisturizing than traditional cleansers and are able to cut through thicker makeup and sunscreens.

But if you have no idea where to start or how to figure out your skin type, it’s worth checking in with a dermatologist to help figure out what will work for you.

5. TRY NOT TO SCRUB OR LATHER TOO AGGRESSIVELY.I

t’s tempting to feel like cleansing for a longer amount of time or with more ferocity will wash your face more thoroughly. But not quite. In reality, the length of time you spend lathering does not correlate to how well you cleansed your face.

Instead, try to aim for at least 20 to 30 seconds, or until the product lathers up on your face. But doing more than that could be too much for your skin. Washing too aggressively or for too long—especially if your cleanser contains any exfoliating ingredients—can quickly lead to red, irritated, angry skin.

To properly wash your face, professional dermatologists recommend wetting your face with lukewarm—again, not hot—water and using your fingertips to apply cleanser in a circular motion. “Make sure to wash the T-zone and U-zone (around the jawline), as these are areas people tend to ignore. Once you’ve built up a nice lather, rinse, and carefully pat dry with a soft, clean towel.

6. HAVE A SEPARATE PRODUCT JUST FOR EXFOLIATING

It may seem like using a scrubby exfoliant is an easy way to knock out two skin-care steps in one. But the truth is that, unless you’re trying to manage acne with something like a salicylic acid-containing cleanser, you probably don’t want to be using an exfoliant every day—and there are almost certainly better cleansers out there that will be kinder to your skin.

Both chemical exfoliants (like salicylic acid and glycolic acid) and physical exfoliants (like scrubs and motorized brushes) can be very effective at removing dead skin cells, dirt, and other gunk that can clog pores. Exfoliating can help remove dead cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin to improve skin radiance.

7. USE YOUR MOISTURIZER QUICKLY AFTER CLEANSING.

The timing of your skin-care steps—especially moisturizing—can make a big difference in how effective they are. Most moisturizers contain both humectant ingredients (which draw water into the skin) and occlusive ingredients (which help seal that hydration into the skin). So, applying your moisturizer while your skin is still a bit damp from cleansing—not fully wet—helps keep even more of that moisture in.

If you wait even a few minutes, the surface cells dehydrate and are actually harder to moisturize. Of course, that might be a little bit difficult if you have a few other steps in between cleansing and moisturizing. But if you can swing it, you’ll give your skin an extra boost of hydration.

And, remember that you should always be wearing a daily sunscreen with broad spectrum protection and at least SPF 30. If your daytime moisturizer doesn’t have that, apply a sunscreen on top.