You dutifully wash your face each and every night, but you might not even be doing it right. It’s always a bit disheartening to find out that you thought you were doing things correctly, only to find out that there’s a better way. Believe me, you are not alone. Skincare experts across the world are cautioning women to pay careful attention to their face washing routines to be sure they are getting the absolute most out of it. Here are some common face washing mistakes you might be making.
Washing your face doesn’t mean you need to strip off the skin and leave it burning and red. Experts say that the top face washing mistake that women make is choosing the wrong product. You want something gentle that will get the job done with one application, but that isn’t so harsh that it feels bad afterward or makes your skin look bad. Talk to your dermatologist about a product that is right for your skin type.
It’s not going to do much good to wash your face if you’re using hands that have bacteria, dirt and germs all over them. Before cleansing your facial skin, be sure to wash your hands well with warm water and soap to get rid of that icky junk on your fingers. You’ll be so glad you did!
Likewise, if you use a washcloth to clean your face, make sure you grab a fresh one each time. Using the same washcloth more than once isn’t a good idea. All the grime and icky stuff you washed off your face last time is still lurking on the cloth and washing with it again means you’ll just be transferring all that stuff back onto your skin.
Sometimes, more is not better, and that’s definitely the case when you cleanse your face. Once or twice per day is perfectly adequate to keep your face clean. Any more than that and you run the risk of stripping your skin of the oils it needs to stay healthy and hydrated. Over washing can also lead to redness and irritation that I know you don’t want to deal with. Once in the morning and once at night is probably all you need.
The cleanser you choose is good for your skin, helping keep it stay clean and fresh, but you have to be sure you wash it off when you’re done cleansing. Leaving the residue on your skin can clog pores, leading to breakouts and irritation. You should be able to tell that the cleanser is gone simply by feeling your skin. If it still feels slick, you probably haven’t gotten rid of all the product.
You’ve probably heard that really hot water is necessary for getting rid of germs on your face, or that cold water closes pores so they don’t get clogged. The truth, from the expert’s mouth, is that you should always wash your face with lukewarm water. Too hot and you damage your skin. Too cold and you run the risk of not getting all the cleanser off your face.
You might avoid putting anything on your face right after you wash it so it stays clean. Good idea! Except when it comes to moisturizer. The best time to apply face cream is when you skin is still damp from washing. That optimizes the absorption of the product so it can do its best work.
Are you making any of these face washing mistakes? I hope you are able to change your routine for the better now. Do you have any other tips?