How to Properly Wash Your Face

Most of us assume that cleansing our face is a task so basic it can be accomplished even when you’re completely exhausted. Don’t get me wrong, of course, it can. But it turns out that there’s a lot more to it than soap and water. That’s why I am sharing tips and steps on how to properly wash your face on the blog today.

Washing your face may seem simple, but there’s actually an art to it. The most important thing is to make sure your face is clean, toned, and moisturized before you put on makeup or get into bed, since your skin rejuvenates naturally when you sleep.

I love to wash my face. I love that clean feeling and when I wash my face, I use water and sometimes I even use one of those cleansing gadgets like a Clarisonic. I tend to use that maybe once a week, my skin can be sensitive and I prefer to not irritate it. These are also some products I love here, here & here. I also add a face mask to the mix each week, here are 6 life-changing face masks.

All said, washing your face correctly may still not prevent breakouts or other skin conditions. Hormones and other reasons can cause those still to come to surface. Trust me, I’m battling hormones lately (hello 30!) and just when I think it’s settled, they pop up again! I’m planning on switching birth controls (goodbye IUD!) and hope this helps my face among other concerns.

Anyways, this post is all about How To Properly Wash Your Face, so let’s go! Don’t forget to check out my post on Best Foods for Your Skin Type!

Common Questions

What temperature should the water be?

The temperature should really be tepid. You don’t want it to be too hot or too cold. Extreme water temperatures tend to dry out the skin, especially in the winter. You want to keep it as mild as you can. This also applies to when you shower, don’t have a hot, hot shower, you will still dry out your skin.

When should you exfoliate?

Exfoliation is the key to having great skin. Spring, summer and fall, you should be doing it twice a week. In winter, just once a week. Use a circular motion, when you are exfoliation you’re applying more pressure than when you just cleanse. Try to use an exfoliant that is both a physical exfoliant, so it has some sort of a scrub, plus something that has enzymes and lactic acid. The dual method of exfoliation is really amazing for the skin. You can resurface the skin and also slough off the dead skin cells and really wash them away. Yay! I do have to say, while typing this out, I had visions of Ethan Hawke’s character in Gattaca. Right?

What’s the biggest difference between washing your face with dry skin versus breakout prone skin?

It depends on the type of skin that you have. If your skin breaks out, washing your face twice a day is really important. If your skin is very dry, you’re not really going to want to wash your face in the morning because it is just going to dry out your skin more. Splashing water on your face is perfectly fine for super dry skin. For dry skin, I would wash my face in an upward, circular motion because it will bring more nutrients and circulation to the skin. If you have skin that tends to break out, I would wash my face in a downward motion, with downward circles. It will help your skin take away all of the waste.

What’s the next step to take after you are done cleansing, what product should be applied first?

I love applying a serum. Serums are great because you can really customize them for your skin type and especially moving into warmer weather, you want something really concentrated that delivers great nutrients to the skin without it feeling like the skin is suffocating. I’m a big fan of serum and then a SPF for during the day. At night, I usually follow with a toner, retinol, serum and than either a face oil or moisturizer. Also an eye cream, don’t forget that!

How do you wash your face? Do you use water? A gadget?

Tips

Remove Makeup, Then Wash Face
Remove your makeup before you wash your face. Many cleansers can’t take off makeup completely, especially around the eyes and nose. Use an oil-based cream, an emollient wipe, or a cleansing oil to dissolve stubborn sunscreen and makeup. Follow with lukewarm water and a dime-size amount of cleanser on your fingers or a clean, damp washcloth.

Wash Once to Twice a Day
While the jury is still out on how often to cleanse (every a.m. and p.m. or just once at night), over-washing can lead to irritation and a lack of moisture. The rule is to use common sense. Always wash your face after a workout to prevent breakouts and wash excessively oily skin morning and night. For very dry or sensitive skin, stick to cleansing once daily in the evening.

Buying a Cleanser
No matter what kind of skin you have, make sure the products ingredients list doesn’t contain fragrance, which can be irritating; parabens or a harsh soap. If a cleanser fits that bill, the formula itself is more a matter of personal preference. People with dry skin may prefer formulas with added moisturizers, like glycerin or shea butter.

Exfoliation
A salicylic- or glycolic-acid cleanser is gentler and more effective than grainy scrubs. They both offer anti-aging benefits and help prevent breakouts. Alternate with your regular wash (start with three times a week), and adjust depending on how your skin is looking and feeling. I use an AHA once a week and a BHA every couple of days. Remember don’t follow with a Retinol on those days.

Use a Toner
An alcohol-based toner strips off natural oils. Gentle toners calm the skin and balance pH levels. You don’t have to use a toner if you have a great cleanser, but I do like to add it into my routine.

Brush Your Skin to a Healthy Glow
A brush (Clarisonic etc.) removes oil, dirt, and dead skin better than your hands can, and it’s less aggressive than most exfoliating cleansers or scrubs. But it’s not something you have to use every night, especially if you’re also applying ingredients like retinoids or acids. Too much exfoliation can cause inflammation. Basically: Use, but use sparingly. To keep your brush bacteria-free, rinse and air-dry after use. Replace the brush head every three months or else you are growing bacteria! Yuck.

You Don’t Need to Spend a Fortune
Save money for your pricier ingredients, like retinol or antioxidants. These are leave-on products you don’t want to wash down the drain. They’re are most effective when they stay concentrated on the skin.

Steps on How to Properly Wash Your Face

Step 1:
Remove makeup. Wash your face with lukewarm water and a cleanser. Warm water helps lift the dirt out of your skin, but hot water can be too drying. Cream cleansers are more hydrating, but if you wear a lot of makeup, you might want to use a gel cleanser. After washing, dab your face with a towel—don’t rub. It will stretch your skin and lead to wrinkles.

Step 2:
Take a cotton ball and dip it in toner and swipe it around your face. Focus on your problem areas. If you have an oily t-zone, toner is a huge help.

Step 3:
Serum is like a trendy green juice for your skin. You don’t need to spend a ton of money, there are a few great drugstore ones. Use one or two pumps for your entire face. This is also a great way to address any specific issues you have with your skin, because they make serums for everything: anti-aging, moisturizing, redness, etc.

Step 4:
You can also mix your serum in with your moisturizer, which cuts down on a step. For night, pick a heavier moisturizer, but for day, make sure you choose one with SPF if you’re not going to apply sunscreen on your own. I like this one by SkinCeuticals, it also is tinted and SPF 50.

Step 5:
The last step—don’t forget your eye cream! The under eye area is the thinnest part of your skin, so it’s desperate for moisture. Massage or pat a pea-sized amount of eye cream under your eyes about half an inch under your brow bone. If you’re putting on makeup afterwards, wait a few minutes so the cream can sink in.

That’s it! Anyone have any additional tips or tricks to share?