How To Clean Your Face Properly: Face Washing 101
Nourish Mantra
How To Clean Your Face Properly: Face Washing 101
On a daily basis, your face gets exposed to the harsh climate, pollutants, UV rays, and whatnot! You put a lot of skincare and makeup products on your face and then you also constantly touch it with your hands that may have germs and viruses. All this implies how important it is to wash your face correctly.
You also need to clean your face correctly in order for any other skincare step to work! So what's the best way to wash your face? This blog will help you figure it out and will also tell you a lot more about cleaning your face in general. Let’s get started!
What Happens When You Do Not Wash Your Face Correctly?
Many people have the wrong assumption that you only need to wash your face if it is dirty or oily. Some only tend to wash their face once a day, while others do not even know how to wash their face properly. To understand the hows of face washing, you first need to understand the whats and why.
What Happens If You Under-Wash Your Face?
If you do not wash your face as much as needed, your pores may start to get clogged with sweat, oil, and dirt. This would lead to the development of whiteheads and blackheads. Acne breakouts can become common if your face is not cleaned properly.
What Happens When You Over-Wash Your Face?
When you over-wash your face, it tends to lose its natural oil. The outer skin barrier can get compromised since it is getting exposed to external stimulants more often. It is also likely that a skincare product does not work effectively on your skin because of the loss of hydration.
What Would Be Your Perfect Face Cleanser?
Every skin type has a perfect face cleanser, and we will help you uncover it in this section.
For Normal/ Combination Skin
People with normal and combination skin do not have too much oil on their face, and their skin is also not dry all the time. However, these people tend to have oily T-zone areas on their faces and some dry patches of skin.
The best face cleanser for normal and combination skin is a gel-based cleanser. Such cleansers are able to clean the pores of the skin and remove oil from the T-zones without making your face dry.
Green Tea Tatva Scrub Cleanser is a 2-in-1 face cleanser to remove dirt and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. It has the goodness of aloe vera extracts, green tea extracts, and niacinamide. It gives your face an even skin tone and a natural glow.
For Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
People with oily skin tend to experience more breakouts than people with dry or combination skin. This is because their sebaceous glands produce more oil. The impurities mix with these skin oils to clog the skin pores leading to pimples, blackheads, pustules, and whatnot.
Oily and acne-prone skin needs a clay-based face cleanser. Such cleansers do not scrub the face but simply penetrate deep inside the pores to suck in the dirt, bacteria, and oil. This helps detoxify the skin from within.
Ratrani Moroccan Lava Clay Cleanser from Nourish Mantra is perfect for oily and acne-prone skin. It has French clay, activated charcoal, and Moroccan clay that pulls away dirt and dead skin cells from the deeper layers of the skin to give you a naturally glowing and clean face.
For Sensitive and Dry Skin
Sensitive skin can experience rashes and redness if products containing parabens, SLS, and artificial fragrances are used. If you have sensitive skin, you need to buy products free from harmful chemicals. Look for natural and organic brands.
Dry skin tends to get irritated by constant scrubbing and washing. Regular washing with dry face washes can damage the external skin barrier. You need a cream-based cleanser that does not remove excess oil from your face but instead adds moisturization to your face.
Cucumber Mint Upvan Facial Cleanser from Nourish Mantra is perfect for both dry and sensitive skin. It is a natural face cleanser that does not contain parabens, SLS, phthalates, and harmful chemicals. It is enriched with cucumber extracts and aloe vera extracts, both of which are incredibly moisturizing on the face.
How to Wash Your Face Daily: Steps
You need to understand how to clean your face properly at home and we will help you understand it in this section.
Step-1: Use Lukewarm Water
Wet your face with lukewarm water making sure that the water is not ice cold or hot. Extreme water temperatures can irritate your skin, especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. We suggest that you wet your face before using any cleanser.
Step-2: Use a Gentle Cleanser
After wetting your face, take out a dollop of face cleanser and massage it on your face in regular circular motions. You do not need to scrub your face hard. Massaging it gently will also be able to clean your face.
Pro-Tip: People with acne-prone skin should use medicated face cleansers or cleanser with benzoyl peroxide as the main ingredient. They also do not need to wash their face with a cleanser more than twice.
Step 3: Pat Dry
After washing your face, pat dry with a towel. We insist you do not rub your face harshly. Pat drying your skin helps it retain moisture and saves your skin from any kind of irritation.
Prop-Tip: Use a soft cotton towel. If you have acne-prone skin, you need to wash this towel at least once a week.
Step 4: Moisturize Your Face
Put a moisturizer on your face just after drying it. Choose a hyaluronic acid moisturizer if you have dry skin. Choose a moisturizer containing tea tree oil and cinnamon extracts if you have acne-prone skin. Choose a moisturizer containing aloe vera if you have oily skin.
Pro-Tip: Use a serum before a moisturizer. A serum helps fade pigmentation, slows skin aging, and helps get rid of acne scars, etc.
Step 5: Remove Makeup
At night, before going to bed, you need to wash your face correctly. Before doing so, use a makeup remover to get rid of all the makeup residue on your face. Now, wash your face as suggested in step 1.
Pro- Tip: Use a night cream or face oil to wake up with glowing skin. Put a sleeping lip mask to get rid of dry, chapped lips overnight.
5 Benefits of washing your face correctly.
Removes Dirt Buildup
A good face washing can help you get rid of excess dirt and sweat that blends with the skin oils. Your face is exposed to pollutants, dirt particles, and bacterial growth throughout the day. A good face washing can help remove such dirt buildup.
Boosts Skin Hydration
Face washing does not make your skin dry. If it does, you have not found the right facial cleanser. Face cleansers containing active ingredient like hyaluronic acid helps boost hydration in the skin. Some face cleansers also contain aloe vera, ceramides, glycerine, etc. These help moisturize the face.
Makes Your Skin Clean
Face cleansers containing active ingredients like niacinamide and benzoyl peroxide helps clear out acne breakouts. If you use such face cleansers properly, you can witness your face getting clearer with each wash.
A clean face is a canvas you can put your makeup upon. Your makeup will look flawless if your skin is healthy and clean.
Makes Your Skin Look Younger
When you wash your face correctly, your skin pores are clean and smaller in size. This helps your skin look tight, giving the appearance of younger-looking skin. Further, face cleansers containing ingredients such as niacinamide help build collagen in the skin. This decreases skin sagging to a large extent.
What are some best ways to clean face naturally?
- Chickpea powder and turmeric
It used to be a traditional way used in every house to get rid of dirt and dullness from the skin.
What do you need?
- Chickpea powder
- Turmeric powder
- Milk
What to do?
- Take two tablespoons of chickpea powder, one teaspoon of turmeric powder and milk, and mix all of them to make a paste.
- The paste should be lump free and thick in consistency.
- Leave it on the skin for 20 minutes and wash it off thoroughly with water.
- Morrocan Clay Powder
It is one of the purest clay in the world that draws out dirt, excess sebum, sloughs away dead skin cells and soothes skin irritation.
What do you need?
- Moroccan clay powder
- Organic argan oil
- Water
What to do?
- Take one tablespoon of Moroccan clay powder, one teaspoon of organic argan oil and mix it with water to form a paste.
- Apply it on the face and leave it for 15 minutes.
- Rinse it off with water.
- Milk
It is an easily available ingredient that has lactic acid that alleviates dead skin cells and unclog pores.
What do you need?
- Milk
- Cotton ball
What to do?
- Dip a cotton ball in milk.
- Apply it on the face evenly on your face in a circular motion.
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
- Cucumber
It is a hydrating ingredient that has antioxidants in abundance. It helps in nourishing the skin, reduces swelling and alleviates sunburn.
What do you need?
- Cucumber
What to do?
- Take a fresh 1/4 of a cucumber and slice it in a blender and blend it.
- Apply this mash on your face and leave it for 15 minutes.
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water and pat yourself with a soft towel.
- Honey
It is full of antioxidants that soothes and brightens the skin.
What do you need?
- Honey
What to do?
- Take half teaspoon of honey and massage it gently over a damp skin.
- Wash it off with lukewarm water.
- Pat dry for soft, smooth, dewy and rejuvenated skin.
- Aloe vera
It cleanses, smoothens, softens and rejuvenates the skin.
What do you need?
- Aloe vera gel
What to do?
- Once your hands are washed and dried, use your fingertips to apply a small amount of the gel on your face.
- Massage the aloe vera in a circular motion to cover all areas of skin.
- Afterwards, rinse off with cool water and gently pat the face dry.
- Green Tea
It contains antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which makes it heroic ingredient for acne-prone skin.
What do you need?
- Green tea
- Honey
What to do?
- Mix two tablespoons of a green tea-infused liquid with one tablespoon of honey and use the mixture to massage into your face.
- Finally, rinse the concoction off with water.
5 Face Washing Tips to Swear By
Now that you know about the different types of facial cleansers for different skin types and how to wash your face correctly, here are some tips on face washing that can help you get the skin of your dreams.
Skincare products containing parabens, phthalates, SLS, and other harmful chemicals are not suitable for your skin in the longer run. Go for natural plant-based face cleansers. You can also choose to go for 100% vegan products. These products do not contain animal remains or other ingredients that can fuel allergies.
A clean face is not single-handedly dependent upon your face washing habits. You also need to maintain your diet and exercise regularly. A healthy diet rich in proteins, fiber, and minerals can help you build more collagen, making your face look younger and clean.
Your hands have bacteria and viruses that should not be transferred to your face. To protect your face from all such bacteria, wash your hands with a hand wash before you use it to massage your face.
If you segregate your face towel from your bath or hand towels, you can save your skin from the millions of bacteria that sit over the dirty bath and hand towels. Choose a cotton fabric for a face towel, and always pat dry your skin instead of rubbing it hard on your face.
Most people are in a rush to wash their faces in the morning. As a result, the face washing action is not done correctly. Please slow down and give it a good 2 minutes. Spend 30 seconds wetting your face and 1 minute massaging the face cleanser on your face.
Use your fingertips to move in a circular motion. Start from the corners of your nose and go outwards toward your hairline. Take another 30 seconds to pat dry your skin, and you are done!
Frequently Asked Questions
To clean your face naturally, use homemade natural face cleansers like fuller’s earth, aloe vera, gram flour, etc. Mix fuller’s earth, gram flour, and aloe vera together. Add some raw milk to it. Use this paste as a face cleanser daily.
Dermatologists often recommend that washing your face twice a day is enough to get a clean face. However, three times a day is okay too. Frequent face washing can dry your skin. We suggest you use face mist if you feel like washing your face frequently during summers.
Apply a good natural face moisturizer after washing your face. If you have any skin concerns like acne, pigmentation, wrinkle, etc., use a natural face serum before applying a moisturizer. Follow it up with an SPF cream.
You can use two different face washes depending upon your skin concerns. However, make sure that your facial cleanser is compatible with your skin type. For example, use a cream-based cleanser if you have dry skin.
A face wash is gentler than soaps as it contains milder ingredients. A soap cleanses your skin but also disturbs the pH of your skin. A face wash maintains the natural pH of the skin. This helps your face remain smooth and clean.
To Sum It Up
Face washing is the first step in any skincare. You should be able to nail it. If you clean your face correctly, all other skincare steps will align with your skincare routine. Do not forget to eat healthy, exercise, and listen to your skin’s needs.