Common Face Washing Mistakes
Here's What Dermatologists Say About Face Washing
Your complexion isn’t identical to everyone else’s, so you can’t just copy something you see on TikTok and get the same results. Your approach to cleansing has to fit your complexion.
Your skin is unique as you are! It’s impacted by your family history, where you live, what you do during the day and the products you use on your skin… Even your skin type plays a role in determining how you should wash.
Here’s the common mistakes we see regularly:
- Using the wrong water temperature
- Not washing oil, dirt or product off twice daily
- Picking the wrong cleanser for the skin type
- Using cleansers that contain allergens or irritants.
- Forgetting to exfoliate
The core reason for washing is to get rid of the dirt, pollution and bacteria that harm the skin. You also want to remove any makeup and sebum prior to applying skin care products.
Normal or sensitive skin is best cared for with a gentle sulfate-free pH balanced cleanser like our Soothing Cleanser Milk.
If your skin is more acne prone, our Gentle Skin Scrub can give that natural deep cleansing you skin craves. It’s formulated with soothing aloe vera, shea butter, vitamins and kelp and non-abrasive.
If your skin is pretty average, you’ll love the Exfoliating Facial Serum which is ideal for all skin types except the most sensitive / delicate types.
Water Temperature…
We recommend a slightly warm water for washing your face. Combined with a cleanser, it helps remove surface oil, dirt and debris but isn’t going to strip the critical barrier lipids your skin depends on for protection.
Think about it this way, hot water is better for tough grease on your pots and pans than cooler water. You don’t need that much degreasing power on your delicate facial skin.
Hot water also brings blood flow to the capillaries, that’s why skin turns red in a hot tub or hot shower. That increased blood flow can lead to inflammation and ultimately make some skin problems like rosacea, eczema and dry skin much worse.
Are you washing properly?
Q: Does your skin feel tight and dry after washing?
If so, try to use cooler water and a milder cleanser.
Q: Does your skin still feel oily and grimey after a wash?
In that case, try a different skin cleanser or slightly warmer water.
Either way, make sure you at least wash your face twice a day!