Cleaning your face is more than just washing it with soap and water. Your facial skin is different from the skin on the rest of your body, so it requires different care. Your facial skin is also the skin that people care about the most, so why not take good care of it?
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Part 1 of 2: Keeping Your Face Clean Every Day
Step 1. Find out your skin type
Is your skin dry, oily or normal? Here's what you should find out so you can make sure you have the right facial product. There are many different types, so it can get confusing at times.
- If your skin is normal, your skin has a balance of moisture, oil and resistance. This is what you will get by keeping it clean.
- If you have oily skin, your face may look shiny, moist or oily after a few hours of washing your face.
- If your skin is dry, it will often look flaky.
- If you have sensitive skin, your skin will often feel tight or itchy and you will have an allergic reaction when exposed to certain chemicals.
- Many people have combination skin, where one part of your face is oily while the other is dry.
Step 2. Use a simple facial cleanser twice a day
Wash your face once in the morning and once in the evening. Everyone's skin is different and requires different care. You may have to try several different facial cleansers to see which one is best for you. What you should look for in a facial cleanser is something that can get rid of dirt and germs and excess oil, but not the healthy oils on your face.
- Choose a facial cleanser based on your skin type, how often you use cosmetics, and how often you exercise. For example, if your skin is oily, you need a cleanser that has a lower pH level, which will be more effective at removing the oil. If you have sensitive skin, stay away from cleansers that are full of chemicals.
- Avoid using regular soap, which is too harsh on your face and can strip away its natural oils.
- It is better to rinse your face with warm or cold water. Hot water will strip the healthy natural oils from your skin.
- You need to wash your face after exercising to get rid of all the sweat, dirt and oil that may be clogged in your facial pores.
Step 3. Pat your face dry with a clean towel
Don't dry your face by rubbing it, pat it gently. Facial skin is sensitive. Make sure the towels are clean, otherwise you will spread bacteria to your face.
Step 4. Use a facial toner
Although not necessary, facial toners can be very helpful for people with oily, acne-prone skin or clogged pores. Facial toners help remove excess oil and dead skin cells left behind after cleansing your face. This is a great way to add active ingredients like retinoids, anti-oxidants and exfoliating creams to your skin.
- Apply facial toner after cleansing with a clean cotton pad on the forehead, nose and chin (the so-called “T area”). Apply the cotton in gentle circular motions, avoiding the eye area.
- Find the right facial freshener for your skin type. Certain formulas can help exfoliate acne-prone faces; others contain anti-inflammatory ingredients for sensitive skin.
- Many dermatologists advise against using an alcohol-based facial cleanser, as it will make the skin too dry even for oily skin.
Step 5. Treat the skin around your eyes gently
Do not rub your eyes, or use cosmetic cleansers that are harsh on your eyes. This part is very sensitive. So, for the same reason, don't splash your face with cold water in the morning.
Step 6. Don't touch your face
Touching your face can spread bacteria that will inflame your pores. If you must touch your face to apply cosmetics or face cream, wash your hands first to make sure they are clean of oil.
Also, try to avoid leaning your face on objects that make sebum or dead skin cells stick, such as phones. Sebum is a light, oily substance secreted by the skin's glands that softens the skin and hair
Step 7. Use cosmetics that are suitable for your skin type
If you can, try buying cosmetics that say "non comedogenic" or "non acnegenic" on the label, as they are designed to help prevent breakouts, inflammation and won't clog your pores.
- Make sure you don't wear old cosmetics. Skin care products, just like food, have an expiration date. Using it past the date will only result in bad things and not the other way around.
- Try using mineral or water based cosmetics instead of oil based ones as that will make your skin look oily and dull.
Step 8. Drink plenty of water
Drink at least 8 glasses of water. Staying hydrated and making sure your body has plenty of water means that your body will be able to function better, including keeping your skin healthy and clean.
Step 9. Follow a healthy diet
A healthy diet includes eating vegetables and fruit, and avoiding sugar and fast food.
- Try low-fat dairy products. Low-fat yogurt contains vitamin A, something our skin needs. Vitamin A also contains acidophilus, a "living" bacteria that helps maintain gut health, which can promote healthy skin.
- Eat foods that contain anti-oxidants such as blackberries, strawberries and prunes.
- Try foods that provide the essential fatty acids needed for healthy skin such as salmon, walnuts and flaxseeds. Essential fatty acids promote the health of cell membranes, which in turn promotes healthy skin.
Part 2 of 2: Keeping Your Face Clean in the Long Run
Step 1. Do facial treatment
You can go to a beautician and have someone else take care of your face, or you can try one of the at-home treatments. Remember to wear a type that suits your skin type. If you have oily skin, try a treatment for oily skin.
A good home face mask is a mixture of milk and honey. After mixing these ingredients, apply it on your face for 30 minutes, then wash your face with warm water
Step 2. Gently exfoliate your skin
exfoliating your skin Exfoliating your skin will remove dead skin cells on your face, which can make your skin look dull and rough. Exfoliate once a week, or once a month. Don't do it more than once a week, as doing so will strip the essential oils from your skin.
- A good exfoliating scrub can increase circulation to your face which will give your face a healthy glow and blush.
- All you need for a dead skin cell exfoliating scrub is an exfoliating agent like salt or sugar, an adhesive like honey or water, and a moisturizer that contains vitamin E oil, aloe vera oil or even olive oil. If you have oily skin, you can use a mashed banana or avocado as a moisturizer.
Step 3. Get rid of acne
While it can be satisfying to pick and squeeze a pimple with your fingernail, it's a very wrong way to deal with it! Wash your hands well before treating acne to avoid infection.
- Avoid touching your face or trying to squeeze your pimples or you will irritate them. Popping pimples can cause scars if you're not careful.
- Use a damp, cool cloth or tea bag on the infected area for three to five minutes throughout the day. This will help reduce irritation.
- Use an intensive treatment containing 1 or 2 percent salicylic acid, which is usually not as irritating as benzoyl peroxide.
- Applying Visine with a cotton swab on the infected area can reduce redness.
Tips
Never rub your skin. Gently pat and wipe
Warning
- Be careful not to wash your face too often in winter, although it can be tempting to take a long hot shower. Washing your face too often will make your skin dry faster.
- Allergies to products used in facial product mixes can cause various reactions. If you do have a reaction to a product, stop using it and use another product.
- If you have sensitive skin, try applying a mixture of milk and honey on a small area of your skin before applying it all over your face.
