You might think that washing your face is a no-brainer, but you’d actually be surprised!
I’ve seen
many clients over the years who I could tell were breaking out and/or had dry
skin largely because they didn’t cleanse their faces properly.
Many people will avoid the periphery of their faces, like the hairline and jawline, because they don’t want to get their hair wet, or because they hate getting water all over themselves with the amount of rinsing necessary. Other times, they skip washing with cleanser altogether in favor of splashing their faces with plain water, especially in the morning. On the other end of the spectrum are those who use towelettes instead of cleanser, or two-in-one cleanser-scrubs, but rub at their faces so vigorously that they may as well just use sandpaper.
Many people will avoid the periphery of their faces, like the hairline and jawline, because they don’t want to get their hair wet, or because they hate getting water all over themselves with the amount of rinsing necessary. Other times, they skip washing with cleanser altogether in favor of splashing their faces with plain water, especially in the morning. On the other end of the spectrum are those who use towelettes instead of cleanser, or two-in-one cleanser-scrubs, but rub at their faces so vigorously that they may as well just use sandpaper.
Here are some basic instructions for the best cleansed face you can have. It’ll go a long way
to clearing up your skin, making it glow and even making it a little less dry (which is a big part of my method for clearing adult acne).
1. Choose a cleanser that doesn’t need a ton of rinsing to remove, yet also doesn’t make you feel like you’re dying for moisturizer after you rinse and dry off.
2. Wet hands first, then splash your face with water in order to prevent the schmutz on your face from scratching your skin (kind of like a pre-rinse when washing your car). One of my cleansers, however, has an exception to this, especially in the morning when you don't have makeup on, because it has pore purifiers and cleansing agents that actually start their job before water is added. This is particularly helpful for oily skin with inflamed breakouts!
3. Apply a small amount of cleanser to your palm, add a little water, rub hands together just a tiny bit to distribute, and then apply to the face using gentle circular motions with your entire hands (including your palms). Be thorough and wash up to the hairline. Using just the pads of your fingers may look nice on TV but it wastes time and doesn't allow cleanser to get everywhere that you need it to go, especially if you're using a non-foaming cleanser.
4. If it's the one time in the week that you're using an exfoliating scrub, wash your face with your regular cleanser first, rinse without drying off, and then use your scrub with gentle circular motions. If you're experiencing inflamed breakouts, scrub is very much a no-no! A once or twice weekly exfoliating mask with Salicylic Acid and fruit enzymes is a much better choice.
5. Rinse very well, using either tepid or slightly cool water. Never use very hot or very cold water! Cold water is just as dehydrating as hot! Pat your face dry and follow immediately with your hydrating toner (a must for every skin type!) and the rest of your skincare routine.
A word about splashing your face with just water:
First know that you really will have better skin if you wash with proper cleanser twice a day.
However, if you must go with water alone anyway, please attach a water filter to your sink. There’s often so much chlorine in our water, splashing with plain water can actually lead to tremendous dryness and dehydration. You can either use a water filter from the store, like Brita or Pur, or use a specialized filter that attaches to your plumbing. I also highly recommend getting one for your shower head, too, which you can find online.
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