Face washing is an easy task, but there are different levels. Some people have multi-step face washing rituals, while others simply splash water on their face and call it a day. Caring for your skin involves understanding what type of cleanser is best for your skin. It also means that you have to know how often to watch your face.
To be clear, face washing is an integral component to your skin care regimen. Failure to cleanse regularly can lead to several issues, including blemishes, excess oily production, and breakouts. If you don’t wash your face, pores will clog and your risk of developing acne increases exponentially. Additionally, not washing your face can prevent the skin from absorbing other products that you apply to your face.
According to a 2017 survey of 1,000 adult men and women, more than half of the people said that they did not wash their face before bedtime. The conductors of the survey also noted that nearly 80% of Americans make at least one skin washing mistake. You see, face washing not only benefits how your skin looks, but also how it feels. Read on to learn about how often you should wash your face, and how to cleanse it correctly.
Why Is It Important To Wash Your Face?
If you want your skin to appear healthy and young, you need to wash your face. Facial skin is always exposed to the environment, so it easily collects dirt, oil, and other debris. If you don’t remove those substances, facial skin becomes irritated and you can develop other skin problems. Without washing your face, the skin appears dirtier, drier, greasier, and older-looking, according to dermatologists.
How Often Should You Wash Your Face?
This is the big question of this entire article! Generally speaking, most dermatologists agree that you should wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before bed. Washing your face in the morning removes any impurities that may settle on your skin overnight. It also helps whatever moisturizers you apply to go on with ease. Similarly, washing your face at night helps remove all of the grime and skin care products you applied earlier in the day. Then your skin is refreshed before your head hits the pillow.
Although those are the recommendations for face washing, you don’t have to wash your face that often if you have sensitive skin or certain skin conditions. In fact, dermatologists can often prescribe a regimen that best suits your skin’s needs. If you have dry or sensitive skin, rinse your face with warm water in the morning and cleanse it once at night to remove dirt. If you have an active flare-up of rosacea or eczema, you may only need one face wash at night to reduce irritation. Again, everyone’s needs are different, but the general recommendation is two face washes per day.
The Right Way To Wash Your Face
First of all, consider your skin type and wash accordingly. After that, identify what your daily activities are, your makeup habits, and the types of products you use. If you wear makeup, you may require a makeup remover or balm prior to washing your skin. Once you have all of that information locked down, follow the steps below:
- Rinse your face with lukewarm water.
- Apply a gentle facial cleanser to your fingertips and massage it into your face in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Relax your face and don’t be too vigorous. Additionally, pay extra attention to your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and jawline.
- Rinse your face with lukewarm water and then pat dry with a clean towel.
Most cleansers are formulated to mimic the pH of the sky, so as not to dry out the skin or compromise the skin barrier. A lot of people just use regular body wash or hand soap to wash their face. Those soaps can easily strip the skin of moisture and cause irritation. For that reason, use a cleanser that is specifically designed for facial skin, but choose one that fits your skin type. If you have dry or sensitive skin, consider a gentle or creamy cleanser. If you have oily skin, you may benefit from a gel or foam cleanser. People with dull skin may require an alpha hydroxy acid or glycolic-based cleanser to remove dead skin cells and give your skin a healthier glow.
