How to Wash Your Face

Do you want to know the secret to a radiant, healthy and youthful face? Washing your face daily is a simple way to keep your skin clean, but it’s important to wash it properly so that it doesn’t dry out or burn. Whether you have acne-prone, dry, or sensitive skin, learn how to wash your face that’s right for your skin type.

Table of Contents

Daily Face Wash

Wet the surface with warm water. Tie your hair back and wet your face with warm water. Using hot or cold water can damage your skin. Warm water will gently cleanse and not irritate the skin.

You can splash water on your face with your hands, or wet a towel and use it to wet your face.
Wetting the face before using the cleanser will make it easier for the cleanser to be spread all over the face and avoid overuse.

Use an optional facial cleanser. Use an appropriate amount according to your skin type. Rub onto face in a circular motion. Dot each spot a little cleanser. Continue massaging in a circular motion for 30 seconds to 1 minute. ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Avoid using hand soap or bath soap. Facial skin is often more sensitive than other parts of the body, so strong soaps will make the skin dry and red. ^{[2] X Research Source}
If you already wear makeup, use a makeup remover first, especially around the eyes. Virgin coconut oil is a great natural makeup remover.

Diana Yerkes

Skin care specialist

Diana Yerkes is the head esthetician for Rescue Spa in New York City, New York. Diana is a member of the Association of Skin Care Professionals (ASCP), certified in the Wellness for Cancer and Look Good Feel Better programs. She majored in cosmetology at the Aveda Institute and the International Dermal Institute.

Diana Yerkes
Skin care specialist

Pro tip: If you have oily skin, use a gentle cleanser to wash your face. Avoid using gel or foaming cleansers. After washing your face, if your face becomes shiny like suede, it is a sign that the natural oils have been washed away. This will cause the skin to produce more oil to make up for the loss.”

Gently exfoliate dead skin. Exfoliation is the process of gently rubbing the skin to remove dirt and dead skin. Exfoliating every few days will leave pores unclogged and skin brighter. Use an exfoliating scrub or washcloth to scrub your skin in circular motions, focusing on areas that are dry or oily. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Exfoliating too often or too thoroughly will cause skin irritation. You should only do it a few times a week, and don’t scrub too hard. On days when you don’t need to exfoliate, skip this step when washing your face.
You can make your own scrubs with ingredients that are easy to find at home. Mix one teaspoon of honey, one teaspoon of granulated sugar and one teaspoon of water or milk.

Rinse and pat dry. Use warm water to wash your face, you must wash off all the cleanser and exfoliating mixture. Use a towel to pat the skin dry. Do not scrub at this time because doing so can create wrinkles and irritate the skin. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Use a little astringent solution (toner) to smooth the skin. Using toner is an optional step, you can use it if you want a smooth skin and small pores.

Many store-bought toners contain alcohol, which can dry out your skin. Look for an alcohol-free toner, especially if you have chapped skin. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Natural toners work just as well as the store-bought ones. Try mixing half the lemon juice with half the water for a great astringent. Aloe vera, witch hazel and rose water are also very effective.

Use moisturizer. Choose a face cream and dab it all over your face. The lotion will protect your skin from dirt, keeping it fresh and radiant.

If you wash your face before bed, use a stronger lotion to help your skin recover overnight.
If you go outside, use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher to protect your face from the sun.

Face Wash For Acne Skin

Wash your face twice a day. Washing your face once in the morning and once in the evening is a good treatment for acne-prone skin. Washing your face in the morning will clean your face from bacteria that multiply at night, and washing your face in the evening will clean your skin of sweat, dirt and makeup. Washing your face more than twice a day can make your skin dry and irritated.

Many people with acne think that washing their face regularly will make their skin healthy, but that’s not the case. Facial skin is very sensitive, washing your face a lot will make the skin scratched and weakened. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
If you feel your skin needs to relax between washes, you can use warm water on your face instead of soap or other chemicals.

Use a cleanser made specifically for acne-prone skin. Regular face washes contain ingredients that make acne worse. Chemicals, alcohol, and oils will irritate or clog pores, and those are the things you must avoid while treating acne. Choose a cleanser specifically designed for acne-prone skin. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Acne-prone skin is not always oily. Many people with dry skin also suffer from acne. Choose a cleanser that suits your skin and doesn’t make it too dry.
If your acne is too severe, you should use a pharmaceutical cleanser with ingredients that kill the bacteria that cause clogged pores. See your doctor for a prescription, or look for a cleanser that contains salicylic acid, sodium sulfacetamide (an antibiotic), or benzoy peroxide (BP). ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Do not scrub your face. Many people with acne think that scrubbing hard will unclog pores. However, this method will scratch the skin, cause the skin to burn and make the acne worse. When you have acne, you must wash your face very gently. Exfoliation should also be gentle and not harsh on the skin. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Instead of using an exfoliating mixture, use a soft towel to rub it on your skin in circular motions.
Do not use the brush to rub the acne skin.

Avoid hot water. Hot water will make the skin red and burning, so you should only use warm water to wash your face. Do not use facial steam methods that open up the pores when treating acne, because hot steam can make the problem worse.

Gently pat skin dry. When you have acne, do not use a hard towel to rub the skin. Use a soft towel to dry your skin after washing your face. You must wash the towel regularly so that bacteria on it do not have a chance to attack your skin while you dry your face.

Use an oil-free lotion. If your skin is prone to breakouts, it may be because your pores are easily clogged. Many people say that using an oil-free lotion is very effective. If you use an oil-based cream, you should test it on a small area of skin and wait to see if there is a reaction before applying it to your entire face.

Aloe vera soothes irritated skin and is a gentle oil-free natural moisturizer.
If your skin is oily, skip the step or just apply it to dry areas.

Face Wash For Dry Skin

Wash your face once a day. If your skin is dry, washing your face more than once a day will make it even drier. Wash your face at night to remove all makeup, dirt and sweat before going to bed. In the morning, you just need to splash warm water on your face or wipe it with a damp towel instead of washing your face with the usual process. Always use moisturizer last to prevent chapped skin. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Use a mild soap or oil to wash your face. Dry skin is drier when washed, so choose your cleanser carefully. You should choose a cleanser specifically for dry skin, or use oil to wash your face.

To use the oil, wet your face and use your favorite oil (almond oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil…) Use a towel to rub in circles and use warm water to wash your face.
If you’re going to use commercially available cleansers, look for one that doesn’t contain sodium laurel or laureth sulfate. Those are cleansers that make your skin even drier.

Exfoliate regularly. If your skin is so dry that it peels off, you need to exfoliate more than once or twice a week. Exfoliate every other day by rubbing a soft towel over dry skin in a circular motion. The most important thing is to both exfoliate the skin without drying or irritating it.

If your skin is too dry, you can use oil to exfoliate. Dip a soft napkin or cotton pad in coconut oil (or any other oil you like). Rub the oil on your face in a circular motion. This will both exfoliate and moisturize the skin.
Do not use a loofah, brush or any other tool to rub your face. Dry skin is more prone to scratching and wrinkling than oily skin, so you have to be gentle with your skin.

Rinse with warm or cold water. Hot water will make the skin drier, so you should only use cool or warm water to wash your face. Using too much water will also dry out your skin, so you should only splash water once or twice on your face. You can adjust the amount of water by wiping your face with a damp cloth instead of splashing water on your face.

Pat skin dry with a soft towel. Use a soft and porous towel to gently pat the skin to avoid stretching the skin too much. Patting the skin dry will help prevent it from scratching or flaking.

Use a moisturizer rich in moisture. Choose a lotion specifically made for dry skin to make it look fresher and dewy. Natural or homemade lotions are great for dry skin because they don’t contain chemicals that can irritate and dry the skin. ^{[11] X Trusted Source American Academy of Dermatpogy Go to Source}

Look for moisturizers that contain shea butter, cocoa butter, or any other emollient oil to keep your skin from drying out.
If your skin is flaking again within a few hours of washing your face, apply some coconut oil or aloe vera to relax your skin.

Warning

Don’t go to bed without removing your makeup.
Do not reuse face towels without washing them.
Don’t wash your face too much. This will strip away the body’s natural oils, causing the skin to produce more sebum.
If you have sensitive skin, always test a small area of the product first. For example, you can apply it to your hand, wait 10 minutes to see if the skin becomes red or itchy.
When washing or exfoliating, always rub in a circular motion from bottom to top. Your skin will be massaged and blood circulation will be stimulated. Never pull the skin downwards.

Things you need

Mild milk or soap
Soft towel
Mixture or towel for exfoliation
Toner
Lotion

Steps

Daily Face Wash

Face Wash For Acne Skin

Face Wash For Dry Skin

Warning

Things you need

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