How to Wash Your Face Properly: What You Need to Know

We talked about common mistakes for washing your face already, so now that you know what not to do, let’s dive into how to wash your face properly both day and night. We take our lead from board certified dermatologist Dr. Susan Stuart who shares some valuable wisdom on getting a simple cleansing practice down right.

Dr. Stuart explains that, “the goal of face washing is to unclog pores and to dissolve dirt, makeup and remove excess oils. You may not realize that this is also a great opportunity to slough off dead skin cells by exfoliating.”

Moving in the right direction for a glowing complexion

A proper face wash is a really simple way to maintain the health of your skin. It’s important to stimulate your lymph system to get much needed oxygen and blood circulating in your face. – Dr. Stuart

Dr. Stuart says that washing your face in the right direction is crucial. Begin washing your face starting at your forehead and work your way to your nose, then outwards to your cheeks and eventually down  your face and neck.

6 steps: how to wash your face properly

STEP 1: Make sure to always wash your hands; you don’t want to transfer anything from your hands to your face — things such as grease, grime and germs. You will also want to make sure a remove eye makeup before you start to cleanse.

STEP 2: Make sure to wet your face with tepid water, if it’s to hot or cold it could shock your skin and possibly burst capillaries in sensitive areas of your face such as around the nose and cheeks.

STEP 3:  Place a dime size amount of your cleanser onto your fingertips and rub them together. You’ll want to use your fingertips to massage the cleanser onto your skin for about 30 seconds to one minute in small gentle circular motions.

STEP 4: When rinsing your face, a great way to ensure that all makeup and dirt have been removed is to use a muslin cloth. This also acts as a great light exfoliant for your skin. (See also: The Facts of Exfoliation) In addition don’t forget to rinse either side of your nose, your neck and hairline; these are areas where cleanser is sometimes forgotten or missed.

STEP 5: The finishing touch is to splash your face a couple of times with cool water to help close your pores. Make sure it’s not freezing cold as you don’t want to shock your face.

STEP 6: Lastly pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel (no harsh rubbing, please!) 

Tell us green beauties, what tips can you offer on how to wash your face properly that work well for you? Leave a comment below!

Kristen Arnett

Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Green Beauty Team, Kristen Arnett has been immersed in the world of beauty for over 15 years, with roles ranging from product development to a career as an international makeup artist. She uses only the best in natural, organic, green makeup and skincare for her high-profile fashion and celebrity clientele.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me: