A Derm's Recommended Skin Cleansing Method
In our post "Personalizing Your Skincare Routine" and below, we discuss one of the essential elements of your skincare routine – cleansing!
Cleansing after a long day feels great! As if you’ve removed all the hardships and trials of the day. But in actuality, you’re removing dirt, sweat, and makeup to allow the skin to breathe, repair & renew itself.
Clean skin helps your chosen product ingredients penetrate deeper & work more efficiently without being blocked by the dirt and makeup. Thus, cleansing is the first step in your skincare ritual. Learn it, practice it, and be consistent! Be sure to perform this daily ritual before thinking about anything else. It will be your first line of defense!
First, we’ll discuss the expert-recommended method for cleansing and then read here to learn how to pick the right cleanser for you!
The Proper Way to Cleanse – “Double Cleansing”
Many haven’t heard this term before. But “Double Cleansing" means removing makeup and washing your face as two separate steps.
The goal is to remove all makeup first and you’d typically use cleansing oil for this step to loosen the makeup. The second step is to use a face wash to remove any excess sebum, oils, and dirt that was previously loosened and clean out the pores directly.
Many people assume simply removing makeup and a light washing is enough. It isn't. Make enough time for each step and do a thorough job.
This is the best method for removing impurities and cleaning your skin. The two steps address different parts of the process, which often can’t be done with just one product. Let’s break this down:
STEP 1: REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP
There several ways to do this: traditional oil-based makeup removers, cleansing oils, micellar/cleansing water, or even just cleansing wipes.
This step is particularly essential if you wear waterproof makeup. Either way, the sole focus of the product should be to remove makeup not necessarily remove debris or unclog pores.
STEP 2: WASH YOUR FACE
Apply a small amount of cleanser to your hands and rub them together with lukewarm water.
Use a circular motion, alternating directions as needed, to massage it onto and into your skin for about 30 seconds.
Get all the hard to reach areas including the commonly missed area near the hairline, below your ears, and the front and back of your neck.
STEP 3: RINSE AND PAT DRY
Rinse your face with warm water. But finish with cold water to close the pores once the rinsing is over.
Gently pat (do not rub) your skin with a clean, dry towel.
Listen to your skin and adjust as needed. Some people may benefit from a 2x/day routine; for others, it may make their skin dry or tight. See what works for you; there are some trial and error here.
As a General Rule - Wash your face at least once per day, in particular at night before bed. Never sleep with makeup on!
While this process might seem simple and common sense, surveys suggest otherwise. So we wanted to make sure this low hanging fruit was well known.
After the skin is cleansed, you can and should apply a personalized moisturizer that also contains appropriate SPF sunscreen if you are going out for the day.
Not only will this lock in the moisture - especially important after using any alcohol or drying agent - it will protect you from harmful UV radiation that causes skin aging.
Finally - once all previous steps are complete, you can apply your makeup (if going out) or head to bed with the comfort and knowledge that you have done your skin a great favor.
As always - we hope you fund this information useful and would love to hear about your personalized skincare techniques in the comments below. Let us know if you have any questions or comments.
~The HealFast Medical Team
