1. Choose the right facial cleanser
Choosing a facial cleanser isn't a random decision. Everyone has different skin types: oily, dry, or combination... You need to understand your skin type to select the appropriate facial cleanser from the options below:
- For dry skin: Opt for a moisturizing facial cleanser, with natural extracts and gentle formulas like aloe vera or turmeric...
- For oily skin: Look for a facial cleanser that removes excess oil, keeping the skin fresh, with ingredients like green tea extract or activated charcoal...
- For combination skin: A facial cleanser with neutral pH will suit your skin best.
2. Cleanse your hands before washing your face
We all know that washing our face is extremely important to keep our skin clean, remove dirt, and prevent acne. To enhance the effectiveness of cleansing, remember to clean your hands before washing your face. Ever wondered why you need to wash your hands before washing your face? Because dirty hands are a breeding ground for bacteria, which can invade the skin and cause redness and acne.
Many girls forget that before washing their face, they need to clean their hands properly. There are many bacteria on the skin and nails that can render your face wash useless. So, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands with specialized soap under running water before touching your beloved skin! You might already know this but tend to forget. The solution is to place a bottle of hand wash right next to the face wash to remind ourselves not to forget!
3. Makeup removal
To remove excess oil, makeup residue, dermatologists recommend women to remove makeup before washing their faces. During the makeup removal step, women can use specialized makeup removers or makeup removing oils suitable for their skin. Then, cleanse the face again with a gentle, safe facial cleanser.
If you wear makeup for work or going out, remember to remove makeup with toner or makeup remover cream before washing your face. This will help deeply cleanse, prevent acne, and achieve the best results when washing your face. Note: When removing makeup, gently swipe the cotton pad soaked with toner in the direction of the facial features. For example: Swipe down the nose following the bridge of the nose; swipe across the forehead, cheeks, and chin from the inside out, avoiding excessive pressure that could damage the skin.
4. Proper facial cleansing technique
Facial cleansing is the essential skincare step that remains steadfast after a long, exhausting day. Proper facial cleansing will help keep the skin healthy, youthful, and slow down the aging process. After following the instructions above, proceed with the following steps to wash your face:
- Step 1: Take an adequate amount of facial cleanser, add some water, and lather it up in the palms of your hands.
- Step 2: Apply the lathered facial cleanser evenly onto your face, using your fingertips to gently massage in circular motions from the inside outwards, following the facial contours and pores to easily remove dirt and excess oil. Note to massage upwards and gently press the lower cheek area to help firm and tidy up the face.
- Step 3: Use your hands to scoop warm water from the face basin and gently rinse off the facial cleanser.
- Note: Avoid splashing water forcefully onto your face or using your hands or a face towel to vigorously scrub. Then repeat the process with cold water. For larger pores, you can use a clean ice cube to massage, which will help tighten pores and make the skin brighter.
- Step 4: Use a clean, dry face towel to gently pat off the remaining water on the face.
5. Check the appropriate water temperature
Water that is too hot or too cold can damage our skin. Water that is too hot or too cold can cause irritation and break capillaries. Especially in winter, washing your face with water that is too hot can strip away essential moisture from the skin, causing it to become dry, itchy, and irritated. You should use warm water to wash your face for the most effective results. Therefore, checking the appropriate water temperature is quite important.
Have you noticed that people of the same age may have different skin conditions? Some may have smooth, radiant skin while others may have sagging and less elastic skin. This is because they wash their faces using the hot-cold principle. When washing your face, you should use lukewarm water to cleanse dirt and oil from the skin while avoiding drying it out or causing irritation. Especially in winter, you should not use warm water too much as it can cause dryness, flakiness, and peeling. After washing your face with warm water, you should rinse it with cold water to tighten the pores, prevent dirt and bacteria from entering, causing inflammation and acne. This will help your skin become smoother and more elastic.
6. Ensure clean washbasin and facial towels
Many people overlook this issue, and perhaps you do too. The washbasin and facial towels need to be kept clean, free from residue; facial towels should be washed and dried in the sun or in a well-ventilated area.
Many people have the habit of hanging damp facial towels in the bathroom, creating conditions for bacteria to thrive and cause harm. Additionally, you should use a clean facial towel to gently pat dry your skin after washing your face instead of vigorously rubbing it. It does not help clean the skin but instead can damage your facial skin.
7. Frequency of facial cleansing per day
Washing your face may seem like a simple task, but it's not as straightforward as you think. Overusing facial cleansing throughout the day can lead to risks such as dry skin, irritation from rubbing, and acne breakouts. Washing your face multiple times a day doesn't necessarily result in beautiful skin. Overdoing facial cleansing can strip away the natural oils on the skin, disrupting the moisture balance, making the skin prone to irritation, dryness, and acne...
You should wash your face twice a day: in the morning after waking up (when the skin has excess sebum) and at night before going to bed (when the face is full of dirt after a long day). However, for oily skin, especially in summer, the skin tends to become oily and dirty in the middle of the day. The advice for you is not to be too strict with the number of times you wash your face. You can wash it 3-4 times a day, but only 2 times should involve using facial cleanser.
8. Avoid harsh scrubbing to clean the skin
Cleansing the skin properly with facial cleanser helps remove dirt, oil from pores. When the skin is clean and pores are clear, the subsequent layers of skincare products can be effectively absorbed, maximizing their effectiveness and minimizing acne formation. One important tip for maintaining beautiful skin while washing your face is to avoid harsh scrubbing with the belief that it will clean more effectively.
Many people believe that vigorous massaging or scrubbing while washing the face will make it cleaner, removing all the dirt deep inside the pores. However, in reality, this is a completely misguided notion that can make the skin saggy, stimulate acne growth, and even damage the skin. Scrubbing seems like the perfect way to cleanse and remove dead skin, but for most acne-prone skin, this approach seems wrong. Use your fingers to gently massage the skin (softly and slowly, avoiding quick and harsh movements), avoiding contact with acne spots. Then, pat dry the skin - never rub the skin with a towel or bath towel.
9. Tips for Using Facial Cleansing Support Products
There are many products to assist you in the facial cleansing process, but the most common ones are sponge pads and facial cleansing brushes. When using these products, you need to consider the following:
- For sponge pads: Choose a soft type to avoid skin damage; avoid using them too often as they can strip away the skin's natural oils; after use, clean and air dry the sponge pads to prevent harmful bacteria.
- For facial cleansing brushes: They help deep clean, removing dead skin cells or residual dirt, but you should not expect these devices to instantly whiten or eliminate dark spots on your skin; it's a whole skincare process. Therefore, the advice for you is to use the device only 1-2 times per week is enough. Additionally, you should not use the cleansing brush when you have acne-prone skin to avoid scratching the acne-prone areas and making the skin drier and more prone to irritation.
10. Avoid Using Towel to Dry Your Face after Washing
According to experts, using a towel directly on the skin can strip away the skin's natural protective barrier. However, many beauty enthusiasts are unaware of this, leading to ineffective skincare despite their efforts. Rough, harsh towels can cause skin irritation and the development of wrinkles and bacteria. Therefore, after washing your face, it's best to use tissue or cotton pads to dry it, as this won't damage the skin. Especially when dealing with acne-prone skin, using tissue to blot away excess water makes it difficult for bacteria to harm the skin.
Your towel can accumulate bacteria throughout the day. These bacteria transfer to your skin, particularly to your pores. Yes, this means that no matter how many times you wash your face and cleanse your skin, when you use a towel to dry your face, your efforts are in vain. Therefore, remember not to use a towel to dry your face after washing it.