Washing our face seems like one of the simplest things we do, but it’s kind of baffling how complicated it can be. Even though we all do it all the time, there are so many different tips, tricks, approaches and techniques. Not only does advice differ based on skin type, but our skin changes throughout the ageing process or even because of the weather. Having an adaptable cleansing routine and knowing what works best for us individually is vital to skin health.
Is it good to wash your face every day? Do you exfoliate before cleansing or after? How many times should you wash your face per day? Does your morning routine differ from your nighttime one?
There are so many questions, so read on for some answers!
How to Clean Your Face
It’s a good idea to wash your face every day; that’s a given. By giving our pores some breathing room we avoid dull skin and breakouts. But how do you wash your face, exactly? And when?
How Often Should you Cleanse?
Depending on your skin, you might do a full wash routine once or twice a day – if your skin is sensitive or dry, focus on the night time wash, or if it’s oily, you might need different morning and nighttime regimes. If you do sports and need an extra wash after a big sweat, you might throw in a third cleanse, but be careful to use only the very gentlest of cleansers, or you’ll break down your skin’s natural oils and protection barrier too harshly.
Setting aside the time once a day for a good focused cleanse is perfect for many of us.
When Should you Cleanse?
Whatever your skin type or lifestyle needs, it is really important to cleanse off your sunscreen, makeup, sweat and dirt at the end of the day. So it’s a good idea to nail that night routine.
Overnight our skin rests, and the rejuvenation process can kick in. It’s the best time for our skin treatments to do their thing, so there are many benefits to washing your face at night before bed.
What Order Should I Do Things In?
There can be countless steps in the process depending on your needs, but the essentials come down to just a few – cleanse, treat and moisturise.
The ‘treat’ step might include your face masks, exfoliation, serums, toner, eye creams, lots of fun stuff! But it’s best to start from a clean base, so do that gentle wash first up.
Face Cleansing Routine
Here are the steps to follow in a good face cleansing routine:
Cleanser
Sensitive, dry and dehydrated skin types need a gentle cleanser, and even oily skin will probably prefer this in the morning when there aren’t also layers of grime to contend with. For heavier makeup or sweaty days, something a bit deeper might be needed at night, but remember you still don’t need to strip everything away, so a quality cleanser is a must (please don’t be tempted by that bar of soap!)
So, how much cleanser should you use? Probably not as much as you think! One pump should do it.
Treat
The middle of the cleanse routine is where all the fun options appear. You should do different combinations of the below on different days, but remember not to overdo it. Once a week is more than enough for masks and exfoliation in particular. There are a lot of options here but try to keep it simple.
Toner
After cleansing, it can feel good to apply a toner to get the last bits of dirt off and all the remnants of the cleanser too. Avoid toners with perfumes and alcohol, or you’ll risk drying your skin right out.
Masks
It’s essential to cleanse before applying a face mask to really let the goodness penetrate (do it before your serum though). Don’t just use any old mask, find one that really addresses your skin’s needs on any given day. A deep cleansing mask might be good on spots or for your t-zone, but also consider soothing and hydrating options, especially on the cheeks and around the eyes.
Exfoliate
Physical exfoliants are out (remember those plastic balls and the rough apricot kernels? No thanks!), and gentle exfoliating serums are in. It can feel good to exfoliate but go easy on it, or your skin will end up irritated. It’s also important to exfoliate just at night when your refreshed skin isn’t at risk of sun damage.
Serum
The one thing in the ‘treat’ category that’s an absolute essential is a serum. You might like to have several on hand depending on your skin’s needs on any given day. This is the chance to really feed your skin and sort out some issues. Breakoutss? An antioxidant vitamin C serum will help. Dehydrated? Try a hydrating and exfoliating hyaluronic serum or some vitamin B. Ageing skin? Retinol complex and peptides might just be your new best friends. Irritation? Redness? Pigmentation? There are plenty of treatments for those too.
Eye Cream
Eye creams can be especially great to target wrinkles and dehydrated under-eye bags. While many serums and moisturisers that we use all over are also safe for the eye area, sometimes a little bit of eye-specific help is required.
Moisturiser
Often we neglect the moisturising step of our cleanse routine, especially for the oilier skin types when it can feel like we’re just clogging ourselves back up again. But it is so important, especially as we get older, to make sure the skin is moist, hydrated and has all those gorgeous natural oils replenished. Believe it or not, our oils are there to help us! For daytime, a lighter cream might feel nicest, but bedtime is our chance to really get some nourishment in. Especially after skin treatments, it’s important to regenerate our nutrients, hydration and protective barriers. Having a couple of different moisture options in the bathroom cabinet is a must.
So perhaps you’re just jumping in and out of the shower in the morning, doing your gentle cleanse and popping on some daytime moisturiser (followed of course by sunscreen). But at night you can take the time to really treat yourself by focusing on your unique face washing routine. Your skin will thank you!