Cleansing—The Proper Way

Cleansing—The Proper Way

Hopefully, you all wash your face morning and night. With your favorite cleanser, you foam it up, massage on your face, wash it off, and dry with a towel. No brainer, right? Washing your face should be the easiest part of your skincare routine; however, you couldn’t possibly imagine that there is actually a “proper” way to wash your face—well, there is. This everyday activity we do can actually improve skin condition and protect our skin, depending on how it’s done.

Here are some tips to keep in mind while washing your face to maintain clear, healthy skin:

HAIR BEFORE FACE: It’s better to wash your face after shampooing and conditioning your hair. If you wash your face before washing your hair, shampoo and conditioner residues can remain along the hairlines, creating skin troubles. It’s suggested that you wash your face after washing your hair to make sure no hair product residues remain so you can maintain a clear skin.

LUKEWARM WATER OVER HOT: Warm water helps lift the dirt out of your pores and loosen up make up residue on your skin, but hot water can be too drying. Make sure to use lukewarm water instead of hot water, and finish off with a splash of cold water to tighten pores.

PAT DRY: When drying your face, do not rub your face with a towel. Gently pat towel against your face to dry, making sure the corners of your nose and around the ears are also dry. Being gentle when drying your face will help to prevent premature wrinkles and help your skin stay tight. Always use a clean, dry towel.

GAUZE OVER TOWEL: Most people dry their face with a towel after washing. But it’s actually better to use gauze to dry your face. No matter how good the quality of a towel is, it starts to get rough after a couple runs in the washing machine. But gauze actually gets softer the more you wash it, so it treats your skin more gently. It’s also much better for drying areas like inside your ears, back of your neck, etc.

OLIVE OIL: If you have sensitive skin and are concerned about the irritation that your facial cleanser may bring, apply some olive oil on your face and let it sit for a couple of minutes before you wash your face. The olive oil will protect your skin from any unwanted irritations from the soap.

SPECIAL CARE IN THE SUMMER: Pay more attention to washing your face during the summer. As sweat and oil becomes a more frequent guest on your skin, you need to give extra care while washing your face. Foam up your facial soap to a decent amount, then first wash your forehead and nose and wherever lots of oil production occurs. You can wash your cheeks afterwards. Try to wash your face more throughout the day during summer as well.

Did you get all that? Good. Now here is an example procedure of washing your face that you can choose to follow:

SUGGESTED PROCEDURE:

    • Wash your hands first before washing your face to make sure no dirt and germs on your hands get on your face.
    • Lather up a good amount of foam with your facial cleanser. This is so that you won’t have to rub your face with it, but simply and gently spread the foam on your face.
    • Pay special attention to your nose, around your lips, and chin. These areas are where there may be extra sebum production. Massage in circles multiple times.
    • Don’t forget the outline of your face! It’s easy to miss that area because we focus so much on the middle surface, but it’s just as important!
    • If you use eyebrow pencil, make sure to properly cleanse that area to prevent pimples.
    • Splash warm water to wash your face. Make sure to wash the outline of your face, your hairline, etc. Don’t leave any soap residues on your face to avoid skin troubles.
    • Check in the mirror to see if there are any soap residues.
    • When drying your face, don’t just mush or rub your face with the towel. Gently press the towel (or gauze) on to your face to dry, as if you’re patting down. This will help to prevent premature wrinkles and help your skin stay young and fresh.


No more of that “Splash-and- Go” anymore. Start treating your skin with more care, even when it comes to washing it. You’ll definitely appreciate it in the long run.

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