How to Achieve Deep Facial Cleansing

Understand the importance of washing your face. This is the step where you remove oil, sunscreen, and dirt that accumulates on your skin daily. Additionally, having a clean face helps keep your pores unclogged, reducing the risk of breakouts. Finally, washing your face prepares your skin to absorb skincare products more effectively.

• Washing your face should be done at least twice a day, even if you're not planning to follow through with a full skincare routine.

Pull your hair back and tie it neatly. Wash your hands thoroughly and remove any makeup from your skin.

• Use a regular makeup remover to cleanse the cosmetics from your face.

Use a store-bought facial cleanser. Facial cleansers come in a wide range of prices, from a few dozen to several hundred thousand VND. However, beauty experts recommend not spending too much on facial cleansers, as finding one that suits your skin is the most important factor.

• Generally, gel and foam cleansers are better suited for oily or combination skin, while cream-based cleansers work better for normal or dry skin, as they help moisturize the skin.
• If you have some acne, you should use a cleanser containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid helps unclog pores and prevents further skin damage. An effective option is Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Cream or Power-Foam, which are both available in cream or foam forms.

Make your own facial cleanser at home. You can also create your own facial cleanser using some common ingredients. Here are a few options:

• Mix 3 tablespoons of fresh apple juice, 6 tablespoons of full cream milk, and 2 tablespoons of honey. If you want the mixture to be slightly warm, you can heat the honey in the microwave for about 10 seconds before combining it with the other ingredients.
• Grind 1/2 tablespoon of oats using a food processor until it becomes a fine powder. Then, add 1 tablespoon of almonds and grind them into powder as well. Finally, stir in 1/4 teaspoon of honey and 1/4 teaspoon of soy milk.

Wash your face with the chosen product or homemade mixture. First, wet your face with warm water. Then, massage a small amount of your cleanser onto your face using circular motions, starting from the inside and moving outward.

• Finally, rinse your face with warm water and pat your skin dry with a towel. Avoid using excessive force, as it could cause redness and irritation.

Use acne treatment products. Apply your purchased or homemade acne treatment. Salicylic acid is a popular acne treatment due to its ability to cleanse pores and remove dead skin cells, which helps reduce acne. Benzoyl peroxide is another common acne treatment, known for killing acne-causing bacteria and soothing inflammation caused by bacteria.

• Recommended acne treatments include Malin+Goetz Acne Treatment with active sulfur and salicylic acid, and Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10 with 10% benzoyl peroxide solution.
• You can also use natural treatments such as tea tree oil or toothpaste on the affected areas. Tea tree oil is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory oil that is ideal for sensitive skin, as it doesn’t dry out or cause redness like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
• However, dermatologists advise using acne treatments in moderation to avoid overuse, which could lead to redness, dryness, and peeling. Make sure to use a pea-sized amount of the product.

Understand the benefits of exfoliation. This process helps you remove dead skin cells that clog pores and cause acne. Additionally, exfoliation brightens your skin, leaving it glowing, in contrast to dull skin that hasn't been exfoliated.

• Exfoliating regularly and correctly can also make you look younger, as the fresh skin layer replaces the old, dead skin cells.

Choose an exfoliating product. There are many skincare products available that help exfoliate the skin. Look for products specifically designed for exfoliation or those labeled as "scrubs". If you have oily or acne-prone skin, consider using a scrub containing salicylic acid.

• You can also opt for products with gentle exfoliants like jojoba beads, rice bran, or raw cornmeal. These ingredients are very effective at exfoliating. Some products contain harsher exfoliants like apricot pits or crushed seashells. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to avoid these harsher scrubs as they may cause irritation.

Make your own exfoliating product. There are plenty of ways to create your own exfoliating mixtures at home. Here are a few options:

• Mix 1 mashed banana, 1/4 cup of white sugar, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon of vitamin E. Sugar works as an exfoliant because of its small grainy texture.
• Blend 6 strawberries with 1/4 cup of milk. The enzymes in strawberries help dissolve dead skin cells, and milk soothes the skin after exfoliating.
• Combine 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of olive oil, along with 1 packet of pure oats. Add a little water to turn the oats into a paste. Then mix the olive oil and honey into the oats. The oats will exfoliate, while the olive oil and honey will moisturize the skin.

Apply the exfoliating product. Always be gentle. Massage the mixture onto your skin using circular motions. Avoid applying too much pressure, as this may cause redness and irritation. Once finished, rinse your face with warm water and gently pat it dry with a towel.

Exfoliate your lips. Use a lip scrub product made specifically for this purpose. Alternatively, you can exfoliate your lips at home by gently rubbing a damp toothbrush in circular motions or by mixing sugar with any oil of your choice to create a thick scrub.

• Be sure to apply lip balm afterward to hydrate your lips. You can even make your own lip balm at home.

Understand the benefits of steaming your face. Steaming helps deeply cleanse pores, as the sweat released during the process removes dirt, including blackheads and whiteheads. Additionally, the steam hydrates both the inner and outer layers of your skin, reducing pore size.

Boil water. Steaming is most effective with hot water, so bring some water to a boil. Then, pour the hot water into a large bowl or the sink in your bathroom. Allow it to cool slightly to avoid burning your skin.

• If using a bowl, ensure it is heat-resistant.

Steam your face. Lean over the bowl for 2-5 minutes. To ensure the steam directs towards your skin and helps open the pores, cover your head with a towel to trap the heat.

Add extra ingredients. To enhance the steam's effectiveness, cut open a green tea bag and add the tea to the water. Additionally, you can add a few drops of essential oils like lavender.

Understand the importance of applying a face mask. Face masks help cleanse your pores and remove dirt from your skin. You can use a hydrating mask to moisturize your skin.

Choose the right face mask. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, opt for clay or sulfur masks to remove impurities, such as Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask. For dry skin, use a moisturizing mask, like the Nügg Hydrating Face Mask.

Make your own face mask. If you prefer not to buy a face mask, you can create one at home. Blend 1/2 teaspoon of butter, 1/2 teaspoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of yogurt, 1/8 teaspoon of Brewer's Yeast, and 1/2 teaspoon of cranberry and apple juice or kombucha tea until smooth. Here are some options for different skin types:

• For normal or dry skin: Mix 1/3 cup of cocoa powder, 1/2 cup of honey, 3 tablespoons of cream, and 3 tablespoons of oatmeal.
• For normal or oily skin: Blend 1/2 cup of mashed raspberries, 1/2 cup of oatmeal, and 1/4 cup of honey.

Apply the face mask. Spread the mask mixture evenly on your skin, avoiding the eyes and mouth area. Allow the mask to dry for about 10-15 minutes, but don't let it dry out completely or become flaky. Rinse off the mask with warm water and a soft cloth.

• If your face starts feeling hot while waiting for the mask to dry, you should wash it off immediately as your skin may be reacting.
• When rinsing the mask, do not scrub harshly. Let the warm water soften and loosen the mask from your skin.

Understand the importance of moisturizing. Moisturizing is a crucial step in any skincare routine. Moisturizers provide hydration to the skin, making it look healthy, smooth, and glowing.

• Moisturizing also has long-term benefits. When your skin receives adequate hydration, it will reach its optimal condition, meaning that skin cells will regenerate faster, forming fresh, healthy skin. It also has anti-aging effects over time. Studies show that people who use moisturizers have fewer wrinkles compared to those who allow their skin to dry out.

Choose the right moisturizer. It's important to pick a moisturizer that suits your skin type. If you have oily skin, opt for a lotion or gel-based moisturizer instead of a cream. For dry skin, go for a cream-based moisturizer as it contains more oils. The more oil in the product, the better it absorbs into the skin to hydrate the tissue. If you have combination skin, try using a non-acidic lotion such as Cetaphil, Aveeno, Neutrogena, or Lubriderm.

• Avoid using a too-light moisturizer after a deep skincare routine. Your skin has just been deeply cleansed and will need replenishing moisture. Without it, your skin might produce excess oil and clog pores, leading to breakouts.

Choose a moisturizer with sunscreen. Sunlight damages skin cells, and one of the key secrets to keeping your skin youthful is using a moisturizer with built-in sun protection as part of your daily skincare routine.

• Choose a moisturizer with an SPF between 15 and 30. Recent studies show that a higher SPF doesn’t necessarily make it more effective, and these products may not have as high of an SPF as advertised.
• You can opt for Neutrogena's Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 or Clinique's Superdefense Daily Dense Moisturizer with SPF 25 for a good balance of hydration and sun protection.

Apply the moisturizer. Gently massage the moisturizer into your face using your fingertips, paying attention to any dry spots and hard-to-reach areas.

• Remember to also apply moisturizer to your neck – it’s an area that needs care too!