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Wash Your Face The Correct Way!

I like the feeling of that squeaky clean feeling after I wash my face. I enjoy hot water dripping over my face during long hot shower.  I've believed for a long time that a soap with no fragrance was better since it contained less chemical. As I got older, my skin got very dry and breaks out frequently.

After checking many articles by dermatologists and skin care professionals, I’ve found the most effective and safe way to wash my face for that youthful glow and rejuvenative effect. Here is what I learned.

TLDR: Be super gentle and do not over-cleanse.

1. Use a mild face cleanser. 

Avoid hand or body soap which are too harsh for your face and can strip off good natural oils. Choose a mild face cleanser that is fragrance-free and noncomedogenic. Noncomedogenic products are less likely to clog your pores and cause signs of acne. It is a bit tricky to find which products are non-comedogenic since there are no regulations to mention that on cosmetics. So avoid products that have comedogenic ingredients (like isopropyl myristate) high on the ingredients lists or look for products that claim to be both oil-free and noncomedogenic. 

If you need to remove makeup, a regular cleanser may not remove all your makeup. Try double cleansing, which involves using a cleansing oil first, then wash with your regular cleanser. Consider using noncomedogenic natural oils to remove makeup. Coconut oil is a great natural makeup remover. 

2.Don't scrub your face, use your fingertips to apply cleanser

Use your fingertips to gently apply the cleanser onto your face and massage in a circular motion for 30 secs to 1 minute. Don’t use a washcloth or mesh sponge. Don’t scrub. All of these can irritate your skin and make your skin more sensitive.

3. Rinse with lukewarm water

Hot water strips the healthy natural oils from your skin. Wash your face with lukewarm water. While it’s convenient to wash your face in shower, the water temperature for a typical shower is usually hotter than the ideal temperature for your face.

4. Pat dry with a soft towel

Lightly pat dry with a soft tower so that the skin is still damp when you apply moisturizer. Do not to rub: rubbing can irritate your skin. Do not air dry: air drying takes moisture away from your skin when water evaporates. 

5. Apply moisturizer 

The key to applying moisturizer is to do it while your skin is slightly damp!  This will allow the natural moisture in your skin to work with the product and prevent dryness and irritation.

Types of moisturize products to use:

  • If your daytime moisturizer doesn’t have SPF, apply a sunscreen on top.
  • If you use a toner, choose an alcohol-free toner and apply before your moisturizer. 

6. Don't wash your face too often. 

How often should you wash your face? Not as often as one might think. While frequent face washing is good hygienic practice, over-cleansing can be a problem. Wash your face at least once a day, but no more than twice. If you have dry skin, washing your face more than once a day will just dry it out even more. Have a quick wash with warm water only in the morning if possible. 

There is an exception. You need to wash your face after exercising to get rid of any sweat, dirt and oils that might clog your pores.

It's been a couple of weeks since I corrected the way that I wash my face and already I feel the difference. My face feels more hydrated and hasn't had any skin breakouts!


Resources:

Comedogenicity of current therapeutic products, cosmetics, and ingredients in the rabbit ear. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6229554

Face Washing 101, https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/face-washing-101

The best way to wash your face, according to dermatologists, https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/best-way-wash-your-face-according-dermatologists-ncna1147956