Cleansing is the most basic step in skincare, and the one most people do on autopilot. A splash in the shower, a quick rub with whatever soap is nearby, a towel across the face. It works well enough, but a few small adjustments can make the difference between skin that feels tight and skin that feels comfortable. This is general information; if you have a skin condition, follow the advice of your dermatologist.
Start With Clean Hands
It sounds obvious, yet it is easy to skip. Wash your hands first so that you are not transferring the day’s grime onto your face. If you wear makeup or sunscreen, a cleanser alone may struggle to remove it. Many people use a gentle makeup remover, cleansing balm or oil first, then follow with their regular cleanser. This two-step approach is often called double cleansing.
Mind the Water Temperature
Hot water feels wonderful on a cool morning, but it can leave skin feeling stripped and tight. Lukewarm water is generally more comfortable for most people. Very cold water does not shrink pores, despite the popular belief, though a cool splash at the end can feel refreshing.
Use Your Fingertips, Not Force
Scrubbing does not clean better. Apply a small amount of cleanser to damp skin and massage it in gentle circles with your fingertips for thirty seconds to a minute. Pay a little attention to the areas that are easy to miss: along the hairline, under the jaw, around the nose and just below the lower lip. Then rinse thoroughly. Leftover cleanser can leave a filmy feeling.
Washcloths and cleansing brushes are optional. If you like them, keep them clean and use a light touch. A washcloth that sits damp in the shower for a week is not doing your skin any favors.
Choosing a Cleanser
The best cleanser is one that leaves your skin feeling clean but not tight. In general:
- Cream and milk cleansers are gentle and suit drier skin.
- Gel cleansers feel fresh and suit combination or oily skin.
- Foaming cleansers remove oil efficiently but can feel drying for some people.
- Micellar water is a convenient option for light days or travel.
Bar soap made for the body is often harsher than a facial cleanser, though gentle facial bars exist. If your skin feels squeaky after washing, your cleanser is probably too strong for you.
Pat, Do Not Rub
Use a clean, soft towel and pat your face rather than rubbing. Leave the skin slightly damp, then apply your moisturizer within a minute or so. Moisturizer applied to damp skin tends to feel more comfortable than moisturizer applied to fully dry skin. Change your face towel every few days.
For most people, cleansing twice a day, morning and evening, is plenty. The evening wash is the more important one, since it removes sunscreen, makeup, pollen and the day’s accumulation. If your skin is dry or sensitive, a simple rinse with water in the morning may be enough, followed by moisturizer and sunscreen. After a sweaty workout or a long afternoon of yard work during pollen season, an extra gentle wash is reasonable.
Washing your face well takes about two minutes and asks for nothing more than attention. Done slowly, it can even become a small moment of calm at the beginning and end of each day.