Since many of us are curious about how to get radiant and glowing skin, following an excellent skin care regimen is usually where we start. It might be difficult to let go of old habits, but seeing improvements in your skin could be the push you need to make minor adjustments to your skin care routine.
For example, nothing is more soothing than a warm bath or shower, but your skin won't benefit from this. In fact, it might worsen the texture of your skin and cause dryness. Similarly, washing your face seems simple too, doesn't it? Use a high-quality facial cleanser, create a lather, wash it off, and proceed. Well, not really. You might be making face-cleansing mistakes, and you may need to reevaluate your face-cleaning practice if your skin appears lifeless instead of bright and renewed.
Innocuous face washing techniques can have the potential to cause severe skin issues, such as acne breakouts. Just remember that everything that follows washing will be doomed to failure if the face is not first cleansed properly.
What are Common Face Cleansing Mistakes?
- Overwashing Your Face
Even though it may seem odd, washing your face too often can actually be detrimental to your skin. It can cause the skin to lose its natural oils, which can culminate in dryness and even an overproduction of oil as the skin tries to make up for the loss. This may affect the natural equilibrium of the skin and worsen conditions like acne.
Given that dry skin is more likely to experience moisture loss, this can be highly problematic for individuals who have sensitive or extremely dry skin. Plus, overwashing can also weaken the skin's barrier against external elements, which:
- Increases redness and inflammation
- This leaves the skin more susceptible to aggressors
- Not Washing Your Face Enough
Not washing your face enough causes debris, oil, and germs to form on the skin's surface, which may lead to:
- Breakouts
- Clogged pores
- Whiteheads and blackheads
- Dull complexion
Adequate cleaning facilitates the removal of pollutants, extra oil, and dead skin cells, restoring the natural ability of your skin to breathe. When your skin becomes blocked with dust particles, other products you use may not penetrate well, so skipping this paramount step might also waste the money you’ve invested in your expensive skin care products.
Further, using water to wash your face is usually insufficient to give your skin a thorough cleanse. Why? Because the gunk on your skin isn’t water-soluble, which indicates that water alone won't be able to dissolve it. In addition, neglecting to cleanse your face on a regular basis might hasten the aging process since free radicals and pollutants from the environment can harm the skin over time.
- Using Wrong Face Cleanser
Investing in the right products for your skin type is the most crucial step towards achieving perfect skin. Different products are best suited for different skin types, such as oily, dry, or acne-prone. For instance, a cleanser with the main ingredient as salicylic acid might be ideal for oily and acne-prone skin, but it would:
- Irritate dry skin
- Lead to itching and flaky skin
Similarly, a facial cream cleanser would act as a holy grail cleanser for dry skin, but it might not be the best option for extremely oily skin. While your face should be free of daily filth and all dirt, your cleanser shouldn't deplete your skin's natural oils. Moreover, sensitive skin can become inflamed, lose its natural oils, and have its pH balance disturbed if you use a strong cleanser with active ingredients on a daily basis.
- Water is Too Hot or Cold
The temperature of the water you use to wash your face has a significant impact on the appearance and health of your skin.
- Hot Water:
Although hot water may seem comforting, particularly in the winter, it can be harmful to the condition of your skin. Hot water's heat has the ability to remove the natural oils that hydrate your skin, leaving it feeling dry and sometimes itchy. This can damage the skin's protective barrier and alter the moisture balance of the skin, which makes it more vulnerable to environmental aggressors and premature aging.
Furthermore, the heat from the water can exacerbate skin diseases like rosacea or eczema by increasing redness and irritation and causing flare-ups.
- Cold Water:
Blood arteries contract in cold water, which lowers blood flow to the skin and may make it more difficult for vital nutrients to reach the skin. Due to the restricted circulation, your skin may appear dull and weary and have a lacklustre complexion.
Cold water might not be able to completely cleanse the skin's surface of dust and pollutants, which could result in clogged pores and possible breakouts.
- Over Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the removal of dead skin cells from the skin's surface to expose skin that is brighter and healthier underneath. Overdoing it, though, can have a number of detrimental effects on your skin. You can remove the skin's natural oils, damage its moisture barrier, and promote inflammation by exfoliating too often or using abrasive exfoliants. This may also pave the path for increased:
- Sensitivity
- Flakiness
- Redness
- Dryness
So, select an optimal exfoliator like facial scrub that is gentle and non-abrasive to eliminate pollutants without encountering the need for daily scrubbing.
- Poor Towel Drying Habits
A comprehensive face cleaning routine should include what you do after cleansing. To properly dry your skin, you need to use the appropriate method. Although it could appear infallible, this step might be overly strict. In particular, if you have dry, sensitive skin, rubbing or cleaning your face with a rough, abrasive cloth could result in discomfort.
In addition to attracting germs and grime, improperly cleaned towels can function as a catalyst for breakouts or clogged pores on your face.
How to Fix Common Cleansing Mistakes?
- How Many Times Should I Wash My Face?
Depending on your skin type, lifestyle, and any pre-existing problems with your skin, there are different guidelines for how often to cleanse your skin. If you just wash your face once a day, make sure to do it at night as opposed to the morning. By doing this, you can remove all the filth and contaminants that accumulate on your skin over the day.
On the other hand, if you have oily skin, you should wash your face twice a day and don't skip the morning cleansing. This rinse eliminates any residue from products used before bed, as well as the sebum that builds up during the night.
- How to Choose the Right Cleanser for My Skin?
First and foremost, it is mandatory to identify your skin type in order to ensure that you use a suitable face cleanser. Follow these tips if you’re experiencing difficulty in selecting the right cleanser for your day and night skin care routine:
- Know whether your skin is dry, oily, or normal.
- Choose a cleanser made of ingredients, especially for your skin type.
- Carefully read product labels to find important ingredients; stay away from those that are known to be harsh or may irritate your skin type.
- To keep your skin balanced and healthy, pay attention to how your skin reacts to various cleansers and modify your skincare regimen accordingly.
- What Type of Cleanser Should I Use for Dry Skin?
Seek for cleansers that are alcohol-free, devoid of toxic substances, and specifically designed for delicate skin. For dry, sensitive skin, a mild, non-foaming cleanser containing moisturising components like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, ceramides, or almond oil is the best option. Without impairing the skin's natural moisture barrier, these ingredients aid in skin cleansing.
- What Type of Cleanser Should I Use for Oily Skin?
Because of its lightweight foam, a foaming facial cleanser is an excellent option for people with oily skin because it effectively targets the grime and oil that the day can leave behind. When your skin requires something a little stronger, they're also an excellent choice for clearing:
- Sweat
- SPF
- Makeup
Moreover, water-based cleansers are also an exceptional choice, as they aid in cleansing the skin of extra oil and gunk.
- How Much Cleanser Should I Apply on My Face?
When skin care products are overused, it can lead to allergic reactions. Using more than the prescribed amount of any cleanser won't improve outcomes and might even be counterproductive. Here are our suggestions regarding how much cleanser you should apply at a time:
- Read the suggested usage guidelines given by your dermatologist or on the product's box.
- Apply a pea-sized amount of cleanser to your face.
- Keep in mind that a little goes a long way and that using too much product won't make it work better.
- What Water Temperature is Perfect for Washing My Face?
Lukewarm water is the ideal temperature for washing your face. By gradually opening the pores, it creates a balance that is soothing on the face and allows for a deeper wash. Additionally, it assists in improving blood flow and stimulates the skin for optimal absorption of later skincare products.
- How Many Times Should I Exfoliate My Skin?
A number of variables, including skin type, age, moisture levels, skin discolouration, and weather, affect how often you should exfoliate your skin. Dermatologists say that it's critical to customise your exfoliation regimen to meet your specific needs. It is normally advised to limit exfoliating to once a week for people with dry skin. On the other hand, its recommended to exfoliate oily skin twice a week to:
- Get rid of dead skin cells
- Prevent clogging of pores
- What Should I Use to Dry My Face After Cleansing?
After washing your face, we advise patting it dry with a gentle cloth rather than rubbing it. You can also use a soft towel, but you have to make sure that the towel is only meant to be used for your face and isn't being used elsewhere. Why? To prevent spreading germs or other irritants to your skin.
After drying your face, use a non-comedogenic facial moisturiser if you have oily skin. In contrast, if you have dry skin, go for a cream that can keep your skin hydrated and nourished for longer periods.
Bottom Line
Buying an expensive cleanser along with other skin care products like eye creams, serums, etc., isn’t enough to achieve a healthy, brighter skin. Instead of this, we suggest using your time in understanding your skin type to choose an appropriate cleanser and use it according to the golden rules we’ve provided in our guide!
Want to invest in a high-quality facial cleanser that can give you a youthful glow? Well, it’s time to end your research! At Uniquely Natural, we have the best cleansers made of organic ingredients for oily and dry skin, so get ready to transform your skin care regimen with our holy grail cleansers!