Clean Your Skin to Maintain It

If you're wondering why the condition of your skin isn't up to par, it might be time to take a look at how you're cleansing it. A good soapy lathering, a scrub with an old washcloth and a quick towel dry are cleaning steps more suited to your car than to the delicate skin on your face. If you've had a skin care routine like that since preschool, then it's probably time to rethink your approach.

First of all, when it's time to wash your face, grabbing whatever soap is close at hand is not a good idea. Not all soaps are created equal. For example, the skin on your armpits is a lot different from what's on your face, so a deodorant soap isn't really suitable to use above the neck [source: American Academy of Dermatology]. There are, however, a wide array of choices in facial cleansers. Your skin type -- whether it's oily, dry, normal or combination -- should guide your decision on what to use. Some other issues you'll need to consider include how sensitive your skin is and how prone you are to breakouts. For example, if you have extremely dry skin or a condition called rosacea, even a cleanser that seems innocuous, like hot water, might irritate your face [source: National Rosacea Society].


Water temperature is also an important consideration -- certain temperatures are kinder to your skin than others. There's even an art to drying your face, as you'll discover in the pages ahead.

There's more to a good face-washing routine than you might think. Read on to discover the steps that will help foster a lovely façade.

Before you begin, assemble what you need, and get your hair off your face with a headband, barrette or clip if necessary. The next step is important -- wash your hands. You come into contact with germs, dirt, oils and other substances during the day that you don't want to transfer to your face.

For most people, a twice-daily washing -- morning and night -- is sufficient. However, if your face is extremely oily, you'll probably feel better if you wash again during the afternoon. This can be a hassle if you wear makeup, but as you've no doubt discovered, you'll look better with that extra wash. Also, if you work out or sweat for some other reason during the day, you will want to gently wash afterwards. Resist the urge to use a towel to rub your face free of sweat.
When searching for the perfect facial cleanser, take into account your skin type. Sensitive skin requires fragrance-free cleansers that are specially formulated to be gentle. Those with acne-prone skin should also use a gentle cleanser so as to not irritate the skin further [source: Mayo Clinic: Acne].

The water you use can also make or break your skin care routine