I am sure you've all heard the importance of washing your face at night- it is an absolute must. But you may not know that washing your face incorrectly can do damage on its own. So be kind to your skin and follow these steps to be sure you are getting the best results possible.
1- NEVER USE HOT WATER
Hot water is the enemy of all things beautiful: Skin, Hair, and Clothing. Hot water causes hair color to fade, clothes to lose their shape, and skin to dry. Using hot water leaves the delicate skin on your face too tight and dry, which in turn will cause more oil production to compensate. This may mean skipping the face cleanse in the shower if you are a hot water lover. Instead wash with cool/warm water- the results of this alone will change the state of your skin.
2- NEVER USE A TERRY WASH CLOTH
Terry cloth is great for absorbing, and is a standard when it comes to bathroom amenities, but its' rough texture is not ideal for skin or hair. Wash cloths can also harbor lots of bacteria that you don't want to spread around your face. Cleanse the face first with a splash of water and your favorite
wash
. Use your finger tips to swirl the cleanser in upward motions around your face and remove makeup. If you feel as though you
must
use a tool to help with this, trade in your wash cloth for
Konjac Sponge
that are designed to cleanse and are made from anti-fungal materials. After a thorough rinse, you can use a facial wipe to gently clean up any excess makeup around your eyes, and don't forget under your jaw and behind your ears.
3- NEVER OVER EXFOLIATE
Over using exfoliating products such as
scrubs
or
sonic brushes
, can lead to sensitized skin which can cause breakouts, dryness and redness. I suggest you limit exfoliation to two times a week, and if you're sensitive only once a week. Although it is tempting to use your favorite sonic brush every day, this will cause more harm then good. Your cells simply need more time to turn over and replace the moisture that is lost with these deep cleanses. So use self control and put that fun little gizmo away to avoid using it too often.
4- NEVER TUG ON YOUR SKIN
Your facial skin is more delicate than skin on other parts of your body, and your eyes are even more so. It is essential that you treat this skin with as much care as possible to avoid aging and damage. When applying products use a light touch and never scrub aggressively. Use your ring finger to apply eye products above and below the eye- it has less strength then your other fingers and in turn will not be able to apply too much pressure to the area. As with the above mentioned terry cloth towels, use a patting motion to absorb moisture instead of a swiping motion that can cause tugging and agitation.
5- NEVER FORGET YOUR FOLLOW UP
Once you've cleansed your face properly, you are only half way there. Applying follow up products is crucial- start with a
toner
