Face Washing – Washing the face in general looks simple. Wet your face first, pour facial soap and rub it on the surface of the face, then rinse it clean. However, the correct way to wash your face is not necessarily the same for everyone.
How to wash your face properly according to skin type
Before starting to clean your face, the first thing you need to do is identify your skin type. Healthy skin is divided into oily, dry, combination, and normal skin. In addition, there is another type of skin called sensitive skin.
In addition to recognizing your skin type, also understand the skin problems you have. This is to prevent further problems due to certain ingredients in facial soaps that may not be suitable for your skin.
After that, you can start washing your face by following the guidelines outlined below.
1. Oily skin
Wash your hands before touching your face. If your hands are dirty, bacteria or dust can stick to the skin, causing acne. Don’t forget to tie your hair when it’s long enough.
First, clean the remaining makeup or dirt using a milk cleanser and toner in the first step. Apply lotion to the facial skin evenly with massaging movements, then clean with a cotton swab moistened with toner.
Wash your face with a special face wash for oily skin types. Clean thoroughly, especially on the T-zone which consists of the forehead, nose, and chin. Then, rinse with water until you feel all the soap has been rinsed off.
You can also use a facial sponge or cotton swab to wipe the remaining cleanser off your face. Washing your face with cold water can close the open pores and increase blood circulation.
Dry your face by patting it with a towel or gently rubbing it. Use a special towel for the face, not the same towel used for bathing. Do not rub directly on your facial skin.
While your face is still half damp, use a toner to remove any invisible makeup, dust, and soap residue. Toner also functions to moisturize the skin, shrink pores, remove oil, and smooth the skin.
Don’t forget to use a moisturizer after the toner starts to dry. Choose a moisturizer for oily skin that is non-comedogenic, oil free, and water or gel based.
2. Dry and sensitive skin
Unlike oily skin, owners of dry and sensitive skin only need to wash their face once a day. This is because washing your face too often can erode natural oils, making your skin dry and at risk of irritation.
Make sure you wash your hands before touching your face. Then, clean the rest of the makeup and dirt on the face in the same way as cleaning oily skin. Use cleanser and toner as the first step of double cleansing.
Wash your face with a special soap for dry and sensitive skin. Soaps for this skin type usually contain oils, ceramides, glycerin, and chemical exfoliators that are gentler on the skin. The soap may also not have a lot of suds.
Rub the soap all over your face in circular motions. After that, rinse with lukewarm or cool water. It’s best not to use warm water because the high water temperature can dry out the skin.
Once there is no soap residue left, dry your face the same way you would dry an oily face. Use a special face towel with a softer material by gently patting it, not rubbing it.
Dry and sensitive skin needs extra moisture. Therefore, immediately apply moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin as soon as you finish washing your face. Choose a moisturizer with mineral oil, glycerin, and ceramides.
One thing that should not be left behind is toner. A good toner for dry skin is one that is alcohol-free and has glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or other moisturizing agents. Toner can moisturize the skin and help further absorption of the product.
3. Normal and combination skin
Owners of normal skin actually do not need a special way to wash your face, as long as your skin is not experiencing certain problems. Just follow the usual steps using soap, toner, cleanser, and moisturizer for normal skin.
Meanwhile, those with combination skin can wash their face in the same way as oily skin. Focus on cleaning the most oily part of the face which is usually found in the T-zone.
Choose a face wash that contains moisturizers such as ceramide, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid. Although your skin tends to be oily, combination skin also has drier areas, especially around the cheeks and under the eyes.
Dry your face with a soft towel. After that, use an alcohol-free toner to balance the pH of the skin and keep it moisturized. Complete your skincare routine by using a serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
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Mistakes in washing your face that often occur
Have you washed your face many times, but not getting the results you want? This could be because you made a number of mistakes in cleaning your face. Here is a list of the most common errors.
1. Didn’t wash your hands
Not a few who still forget to wash their hands before cleaning their face. In fact, touching the face with dirty hands can transfer bacteria and dirt into the pores of the face. As a result, the facial skin is overgrown with acne.
2. Didn’t clean your face first
Before washing your face, it is important to remove makeup or makeup on your face first. Use an alcohol-free cleanser or one that suits your skin type before washing your face with soap as usual.
3. Too much use of facial soap
You should not use too much soap when washing your face, because the chemicals in it can irritate the skin. You only need a fingertip-sized amount of soap. If more than that, the use of soap can actually make the skin irritated and dry.
4. Random choose for face wash soap
Certain substances in face wash may be too harsh for your skin. It’s best to avoid facial cleansers that contain harsh detergents such as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), menthol, or alcohol.
5. Scrubbing the skin too hard
Scrubbing your skin too hard when washing your face doesn’t guarantee that your skin will get cleaner. On the contrary, this can actually cause irritation, damage to sensitive skin, to inflammation which is characterized by a red rash.
This impact can also occur due to the use of rough towels. Therefore, use a special face towel with a softer material. Dry your face by patting, not rubbing.
The number of facial cleansing products used is not a guarantee to get clean and dirt-free skin. How to wash your face that is not suitable for your skin type can also cause new problems for your skin.
Always pay attention to the right facial cleansing guidelines so that your facial skin gets its benefits. If you have skin problems, try to stop using the product for a while to determine if the cause is your face wash.
