Cleansing seems like a no-brainer. After all, how hard can it be, right? Simply lather up, rub rub rub, then splash some water on your face and rinse clean. Turns out, there are plenty of mistakes you can make when cleansing your skin. Read on to learn the best way to cleanse your skin, and what cleansing no-no’s you should avoid:
Choose the Right Cleansers
Cleansing is one of the most disruptive things you can do to your skin. Using the wrong products or being too aggressive can leave your skin feeling raw, tender or irritated. Choose a pH-balanced cleanser with gentle, high quality ingredients. Well Within Beauty, a beauty and wellness brand that offers the best organic beauty products, makes a great cleanser that fits the bill perfectly. Free from harsh ingredients like parabens, sulfates, alcohol and artificial dyes, it contains the finest plant-based ingredients to nourish your skin as it cleanses.
A good cleanser should not contain overly harsh ingredients like scrubs and sulfates, which can over-cleanse your skin and strip it of its natural oils and moisture. After cleansing, your skin should feel clean, yet plump, bouncy and moisturized, not tight or squeaky clean. Tightness or squeakiness after cleansing is a sure sign that your cleanser may be too stripping or harsh for your skin.
Double Cleanse at Night
If you wear makeup, the best way to cleanse your skin at the end of the day is to double cleanse. Double cleansing is a method that is very popular in Japanese and Korean skincare. It involves first dissolving your makeup and sunscreen with an oil-based cleanser or natural makeup remover, then following up with a water-based second cleanser.
Double cleansing is a more gentle yet effective way of making sure your skin is rid of all traces of makeup, dirt, dust and excess oil. When buying a first cleanser, choose one that contains a skin-friendly oil like jojoba, sunflower or olive. Look for one that emulsifies with water, so it rinses off quickly and easily, and make sure it doesn’t sting your eyes.
Many people prefer to use wipes to remove their makeup, because of the convenience they offer. However, many (if not most) cleansing wipes are loaded with harsh ingredients that can be too stripping on your skin. Additionally, tugging and rubbing your skin with a cleansing wipe can damage or irritate your skin, especially the delicate skin around your eyes.
Water Temperature (and Quality) Matters
A common misconception is that washing your face with hot water can “open up your pores” while washing with cold water can “close them.” The truth is that your pores can’t open or close, as they don’t have muscles. In fact, washing your face in extreme temperatures can shock your skin and lead to excessive dryness or irritation. It’s best to wash your face with lukewarm water.
The quality of the water you use to wash your face could also affect the condition of your skin. If you live somewhere with hard water, consider investing in a water softener filter to make the water more gentle for your skin.
Cleansing the right way can do wonders for your skin. Try these tips consistently for at least a month, and you might soon notice your skin becoming clearer, feeling more balanced and less sensitive.
