Face Washing Don’ts – How not to wash your face
Most people would claim that they know how to care for their skin or at the very least how to wash their faces correctly. You’d be surprised how many skin related ailments are caused by careless and improper face washing techniques: excessive dryness, flaky skin, discoloration, breakouts and redness are just a few bad things that can happen. Just lathering and rinsing is not all there is to it.
Read up on our don’ts below and your face will thank you for years to come.
DON’T…
USE THE WRONG CLEANSER
Many foaming washes and cleansing wipes can either be too harsh, cause your skin to become too dry or too oily. Choosing the right product for your skin type is a must, identify your skin type (read our blog post: https://www.conaturalintl.com/blogs/news/53719619-determine-your-skin-type) and select your cleanser or wash accordingly. Generally, any cleanser you use should at the very least rid your skin completely of grease, dirt and makeup. For oily, sensitive and dehydrated skin types, stick to a gel cleanser. For dry skin, opt for cleansing milk or lotion or a non-foaming creamy face wash.
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WASH YOUR FACE WITH DIRTY HANDS
When you think over all the bacteria and junk you’re probably collecting on your hands throughout the day, you definitely don’t wish for it to land up on your face and into your pores. Germs and bacteria are invisible to the naked eye so wash your hands prior to washing your face even if they look clean.
USE WATER THAT’S NOT THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE
Using water that is too hot will cause veins to come up and become visible on your skin’s surface. It will also instantly dry out your skin causing your glands to instantly produce an excess of oils to make up for the moisture deficit.
Using water that is too cold will shut your pores up along with the impurities inside them so that they’re unable to be removed by your cleanser.
The right way: use lukewarm water to wash your skin first as it will lightly open up your pores just enough to cleanse them through. Follow up with a splash of cold water that will close your pores back up.
MISS RINSING OUT ANY CLEANSER
It’s imperative to remove all the applied cleanser thoroughly from your face when rinsing it off. Areas like the sides of your nose, your neck and hair tend to get ignored: remaining cleanser can irritate and excessively dry out your skin.
KEEP USING THE SAME PRODUCTS CONSISTENTLY
Like your wardrobe, it’s important to switch out your cleansing products with the changing seasons. A hydrating cleanser during the dry season and a gel based cleanser for the humid, hot summer months should help keep your cleansing weather appropriate. Also, similar to viruses that become more immune to antibiotics with time and dosage, your skin needs to keep switching up to keep up its defenses.
APPLY CLEANSER IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
The pores on your skin are generally pointing downwards so applying product upwards, in the opposite direction will help it reach deep into the pores. Use cleanser on the tips of your fingers and apply in circular, upward motions.
WAIT TOO LONG AFTER WAKING UP TO WASH YOUR FACE
Washing your face as soon as you wake ensures that you’ve removed excess oils from your face that have surfaced over the night. Doing this also takes care of impurities that have landed onto your face or have been transferred from your sheets or your pillowcase in a timely fashion.
SCRUB YOUR FACE WITH YOUR TOWEL
Resist the urge to hurry and scrub your face dry with your towel. The aggressive push and pull will not just compromise your skin’s protective outer barrier but also cause fine lines and wrinkles. Pat dry gently with a dedicated face towel to dry your skin.
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RINSE OFF TOO QUICKLY
Most cleansers don’t instantly dissolve all grease and makeup, so by rinsing off immediately after applying your cleanser, you don’t allow it to do its work effectively. Allow your cleanser to sit on your face or keep lathering or rubbing on (in gentle circular motions) for at least one minute before rinsing off with water.
OVER EXFOLIATE
Exfoliating too often means that you’re wearing away the skins protective hydro-lipid barrier before it even has a chance at defending your skin from the elements. Exfoliating too often also causes broken blood vessels and a patchy skin tone. Deeply scrub or use motorised cleansing brushes just once a week. Gently exfoliate just enough to remove dead skin and thoroughly remove impurities from all the nooks and crannies in your face.
Exfoliating with anything that has a rough texture and large beads can cause microscopic wounds on your skin’s surface. Scrubbing too vigorously will create enough push and pull in your skin to prematurely cause fine lines and wrinkles. Scrub gently and in circular motions and with a gentle scrubbing. If you have very sensitive skin, just stick to gently exfoliating wipes.
FORGET TO TONE AND MOISTURISE AFTER WASHING!
Cleansing your face is just one of the steps it takes to care for your skin correctly. It’s imperative to use toner immediately after. It’s convenient to keep a spritzer bottle of rose water or witch hazel close to your sink so you don’t lose time rushing to where the toner is. Applying moisturiser after help to rehydrate and replenish your skin’s natural outer layers. Moisturiser is also best absorbed and most effective when the skin is damp right after washing.