Want to learn the best techniques to make your face look bright, healthy and fresh? Washing your face every day is an easy way to beautify your facial skin. However, you must do this treatment properly so that the skin does not become dry or inflamed. Learn the right facial washing technique according to your skin type, whether it's acne-prone, dry and sensitive, or somewhere in between.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Washing Your Face Daily
Step 1. Wet your face with warm water
Tie your hair back and wet your skin with plenty of warm water. The use of hot or cold water has an abrasive effect on the skin. On the other hand, warm water is gentle enough and won't cause irritation.
- You can splash water on your face with your hands, or you can wet a towel and use it to wet your skin.
- Wetting your skin before using a cleaning product will make it easier for the soap to spread over your skin. That way, you don't have to use too many cleaning products.
Step 2. Use the cleaning product of your choice
Use a cleaning product that matches your skin type, about the size of a coin. Apply the cleanser to your face in a circular motion. Make sure the entire face is exposed to a small amount of cleanser. Continue to massage the cleanser in circular motions for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Do not use hand or body soap as a facial cleanser. Facial skin is more sensitive than the rest of the skin on the body, so harsher soaps can make it dry and irritated.
- If you wear makeup, you may also need to use a special make-up remover, especially around the eyes. Unsalted coconut oil is a great makeup remover.
Step 3. Gently exfoliate the skin
Exfoliation is the process of gently scrubbing the skin to remove dirt and dead skin cells. An exfoliating treatment every few days will prevent clogged pores while helping to brighten and refresh the skin. Use a facial scrub or washcloth to scrub your skin in circular motions, especially in areas that tend to be dry or oily.
- Exfoliating your skin too often or too harshly can cause irritation. Just exfoliate your skin a few times a week and make sure you don't scrub too hard. Meanwhile, when you don't need to exfoliate, just skip this step when washing your face.
- You can make your own facial scrub using a few home ingredients. Try mixing 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon of water or milk.
Step 4. Wash then dry your face
Use warm water to wash your face. Make sure all the remaining cleaning products or scrubs are removed. After that, use a towel to pat your face dry. Avoid drying your face by rubbing a towel because it can trigger wrinkles and irritate the skin.
Step 5. Use toner to get a smooth skin look
Using a toner is a great optional step to try if you want to achieve smooth looking skin while minimizing the appearance of pores. Apply the toner with a cotton ball, especially in areas with large pores.
- There are many toner products on the market that contain alcohol, which can dry out your skin. Look for an alcohol-free toner, especially if your skin peels easily.
- Natural toner can also give effect as good as toner on the market. A 1:1 mixture of lemon juice and water is a great home toner option. Aloe vera, witch hazel, and rose water are also great uses.
Step 6. Finish with moisturizer
Choose a moisturizer that is formulated for facial skin. Take a coin-sized amount of moisturizer and spread it all over your face. Moisturizers are able to help protect the skin from outside influences so that it keeps it young and keeps it bright.
- If you wash your face right before bed, try using a thicker moisturizer to rejuvenate your skin at night.
- If you plan to go out, use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more to protect your face from the sun.
Method 2 of 3: Washing Acne-Prone Faces
Step 1. Wash your face twice a day
Washing your face once in the morning and evening is good for those who are prone to breakouts. Washing your face in the morning will refresh your face while cleaning up any bacteria that may have grown overnight. Meanwhile, washing your face at night is great for removing sweat, dust, and makeup from your skin. However, washing your face more than twice a day can make your skin dry and irritated.
- Many people with acne think that the more often you wash your face, the better it will be for your skin, but that's not the case. Facial skin is very fragile, and washing your face too often can actually make it damaged and weak.
- If you want to refresh your skin between washings, it's a good idea to splash lukewarm water without using soap or other chemicals.
Step 2. Use a special cleansing product for acne-prone skin
Commercial facial cleansers often contain ingredients that can make acne worse. Chemicals, alcohol, and oils can irritate your skin or clog its pores, which is not what you want when trying to treat acne. For that, choose a cleaning product that is specially formulated for acne-prone skin.
- Not all acne-prone skin is also oily. Many people with dry skin have acne. Make sure to choose a facial cleanser that suits your skin type and doesn't make it too dry.
- If the acne on your skin is quite severe, you may need to use a cleanser that contains active ingredients that kill pore-clogging bacteria and acne triggers. Talk to your doctor for a prescription, or look for over-the-counter cleaning products that contain salicylic acid, sodium sulfacetamide, or benzoyl peroxide.
Step 3. Don't rub your face
Many people with acne use the wrong treatment technique by rubbing their skin vigorously to open the pores. This method can actually cause small wounds on the skin that can become inflamed and aggravate acne. While dealing with acne, treat your skin gently. Exfoliate very gently and never harshly rub the skin.
- Instead of using a facial scrub, try using a soft washcloth to scrub your skin in a circular motion.
- Never use a scrub brush on acne-prone skin.
Step 4. Avoid using hot water
Hot water can cause the skin to become red and inflamed. So, you should use water with a cooler temperature when washing your face. You may also want to avoid steam treatments for acne, as heat can make acne worse.
Step 5. Gently pat the face
For acne prone skin, avoid exfoliating the skin due to using a rough towel in the drying stage. Buy a soft face towel and use it to pat the skin dry after cleansing. Be sure to wash these towels frequently to avoid getting bacteria on your face when drying.
Step 6. Finish with an oil-free moisturizer
If your skin is prone to breakouts, the pores may get clogged easily. There are many people who have experienced the benefits of using an oil-free moisturizer to protect their acne-prone skin. If you decide to use a moisturizer that contains oil, do a test on a small area of the skin and wait a few days to see the effect before starting to apply it on your face.
- Aloe vera can soothe irritated skin and is great as a light, oil-free moisturizer.
- If your skin is very oily, you can use no moisturizer at all, or just apply it to areas of your skin that tend to be dry.
Method 3 of 3: Dry Skin Wash
Step 1. Wash your face once a day
If your skin is quite dry, washing your face more than once a day will only make the condition worse. Washing your face at night is very important to remove makeup, dust, and sweat from your skin before going to bed. Meanwhile, in the morning, simply splash lukewarm water or wipe a warm washcloth to refresh your face without washing it thoroughly. Always finish by applying a moisturizer to prevent your skin from peeling.
Step 2. Use a mild soap or oil as a cleanser
Dry skin will get drier when washed. So, you should carefully consider the cleaning product. Look for a very mild cleanser for dry skin, or try using oil as a cleanser.
- To use oil, simply wet your face and apply any oil you like (almond, olive, jojoba, coconut, etc.). After that, use a washcloth to rub your face in a circular motion and wash off the remaining oil with warm water.
- If you want to use a commercial cleaning product, look for one that doesn't contain sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate. Sulphate compounds are harsh cleaning agents that will further dry out the skin.
Step 3. Exfoliate more often to remove dead skin cells
If your skin is so dry that it starts to peel, you may need to exfoliate more than once or twice a week. Try exfoliating your skin every other day by rubbing a soft washcloth over the dry area in a circular motion. The key is to exfoliate without exacerbating dry skin or irritating it.
- If your skin is very dry, try using an oil to exfoliate. Dip a soft towel or facial cotton in coconut oil (or another thick oil of your choice). Rub the oil onto your face in a circular motion. This treatment will exfoliate the skin and nourish it at the same time.
- Do not use loofahs, scrub brushes, or other abrasives on your skin. Dry skin is more prone to scars and wrinkles than normal and oily skin. So you have to give care gently.
Step 4. Wash your face with cold or warm water
Hot water will dry out the skin. So, use cold or lukewarm water to wash your face. Using too much water can also dry out your skin. So, just splash water once or twice. You can also control the amount of water you use by wiping your face with a damp towel instead of splashing it.
Step 5. Pat your face dry with a soft towel
Use a soft and thick towel to remove the remaining water from the face without the need to wipe it repeatedly. Patting your face dry will prevent irritation and peeling of the skin.
Step 6. Finish with a thick moisturizer
To keep your skin looking fresh and moisturized, choose a moisturizer intended for dry facial skin. Natural or hand-made moisturizers are often the best choice for dry skin because they don't contain chemicals that can cause irritation and dry skin.
- Look for a moisturizer that contains shea butter, cocoa butter, or another thick emollient that will prevent the skin from drying out.
- If your skin peels easily a few hours after washing, try applying a little coconut or aloe vera oil to refresh your skin.
Warning
- Don't sleep when you're still wearing makeup.
- Don't use the same washcloth without washing it first.
- Do not wash your face too often because it can lift the skin's natural oils, triggering excessive oil production.
- If you have sensitive skin, try a skin care product on a small area first before deciding to use it. For example, apply the product on your hands and then wait 10 minutes to make sure your skin doesn't turn red or irritated.
- Always use an upward circular motion when cleansing or exfoliating your skin. Never pull the skin down.
