7 Basic Tips for Washing Your Face
Photo courtesy of ZALORA Community
We all think that washing our face is a no-brainer. It's something we all do every day, so we must be good at it, right?
But a study done by Olay showed that only one out of two women actually wash their face regularly. And while you may be among the half that does, you may not be using the right skincare products and makeup, rinsing well, or treating your skin with as much TLC it requires.
Beautiful skin begins with a clean face. Yet, many women don't wash their face correctly or properly -- then pile on loads of makeup to disguise blemishes or even out their skin tone. No amount of makeup, moisturisers, or anti-aging products will work if you don't have a clean palette to begin with.
(Although you could start by eating the right foods for your skin -- related article: 5 Best Foods for Your Skin)
So here are a few simple skincare tips you absolutely must heed:
SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser
1. Choose the Right Cleanser
The first step to attaining clear, radiant skin is selecting the right cleanser. Just water isn't going to cut it; you need something that will thoroughly remove the grime and excess oils from your skin daily.
Your cleanser should be gentle and non-foaming. Most soaps tend to dry out skin, so the face needs something much gentler and less drying.
The type of cleanser most suited for your skin depends on your skin type:
- Dry or sensitive skin: gentle, creamy cleanser
- Oily skin: gel wash that can help to dissolve oil, sunscreen, and makeup
- Normal skin: foaming lotion cleanser
- Sensitive skin: gentle, creamy cleanser without preservatives, fragrances, formaldehyde, or lanolin that may have an adverse effect on your skin.
When picking a cleanser, the gentler the better.
2. Wash It Right
Many women are also guilty of over-washing their face, but that can be just as damaging as not washing enough. They believe that skin should be squeaky clean, but then that would mean that the skin has been stripped of its protective barrier or natural oils. Clean skin is dewy and clear, not tight and dry.
3. Keep Water Lukewarm
After cleansing, rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the cleanser. Tepid or lukewarm water is ideal for removing your cleanser, as water that is too cold or hot will irritate skin and lead to broken capillaries.
Photo courtesy of ZALORA Community
4. Do a Post-Cleansing Rub
Your fingertips do a great job at a gentle but thorough cleansing. They can provide a simple massage while you cleanse, thus stimulating blood circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage.
While over-washing and over-exfoliating can irritate sensitive skin, worsening redness and inflammation, and aggravating breakouts, you can use facial sponges that help to cleanse more thoroughly without the abrasiveness of a washcloth or scrub. A facial sponge is particularly helpful for acne-prone, oily skin, which tends to get clogged.
5. Remove Eye Makeup the Right Way
If you have makeup on, you need to remove it completely before washing your face, otherwise the cleanser can't quite reach your skin. If your makeup is stubborn and there are still traces of it around your eyes after washing, you need to do more to dissolve your eye makeup.
Use a vegetable oil-based eye makeup remover or cleanser, as oil-based products can liquefy stubborn eye makeup without causing stress to the delicate skin around the eyes.
Photo courtesy of ZALORA Community
How To:
1. Dab cleanser on a damp cotton pad
2. Press it lightly on the eye area for a few seconds, then sweep the cotton pad over the eyelid and lashes downwards to prevent makeup from entering the eyes
3. Repeat as many times as you need, circling inwards to the nose bridge and down over the lashes
4. After opening your eyes, fold the cotton pad and swipe gently under the eye.
5. Finally, rinse off the makeup remover and remaining residue.
6. Practise Healthy Skincare Habits
Clean skin involves more than simply a good cleanser. Get into healthy skincare habits like washing your hands thoroughly before washing your face, and not drying your face with the communal hand towel hanging by the bathroom mirror. Bacteria can breed there and be transferred to your face.
When drying your face, be gentle and pat -- not rub -- your face dry with a soft, clean cloth that you use only on your face.
Photo courtesy of ZALORA Community
7. Sleep On It
It's best to wash your face in the morning right after you wake up and at night before you go to bed -- in the morning because of the sebum that builds up overnight, as well as the debris from night creams, and at night because you need to remove all traces of the day's grime (sebum, makeup, environmental pollutants) and because for night creams to work you need a clean surface.
What are some of your tips for cleansing your face? Share them in the Comments section below!
No comments:
Post a Comment