This Is The Right Way to Use a Face Wash or Face Cleanser

The first thing people notice when they meet you is your face. Thus, to create a good first impression, your face must look clean and healthy. 

Your face is exposed to wind, sun, dust, and other polluting elements throughout the day. This may make it look dry, rough, and older than your biological age. Even the makeup you use every day could affect the quality of your skin. 

Washing your face correctly is an essential step in any skincare routine. It is equally essential that you use the right products to clean your face thoroughly. What matters more than the number of times you wash is knowing how to clean your face. 

Several questions arise when you think about a good and effective skin-care routine, i.e., how to use face wash, what are the uses of face wash, what are the benefits of using face wash over other soaps, and so many others. Let us get to these questions one by one. 

• What is a Face Cleanser?

• Face cleansers come in a variety of forms

• Benefits of Face Cleanser 

• Here are the steps you can use to clean your face:

• How to Choose a Good Face Cleanser

• How often Should You Use a Face Cleanser? 

• Conclusion

• FAQs on how to use a face cleanser

What is a Face Cleanser?

The main question here should ideally be - what exactly is the use of face cleanser or use of face wash and how to cleanse face effectively? But to answer the current question, face cleansers are specifically designed and formulated to clean your face. On average, the pH balance of the face should be between 4.5-6. These cleaners are used to remove oil, dirt, makeup, and dead skin cells while maintaining your skin’s natural pH level. In addition, using cleansers help keep the facial pores clean and ensures you remain acne-free.

Before face washes became popular, people used bar soaps to cleanse their faces. These were popular because there was less information about the damaging effects of applying bar soaps on the face. So, has the use of face wash taken over other cleansing products?

While bar soaps are eventually getting replaced by an assortment of face washes, the innumerable choices have left people confused and overwhelmed. After all, no one choice suits all kinds of faces. You need to choose the right cleanser for yourself, depending on your skin type. The first step is to identify your skin type, whether it is normal, dry, oily, or combination skin. Each type will need a different face cleaner to get the best results. Using the wrong product for your skin type can damage it, maybe even irreparably.

So, how to cleanse the face correctly?

Face cleansers come in a variety of forms:

• Micellar water is a liquid cleanser that looks like plain water. 
• Facial wipes are wet wipes formulated specifically to clean the face. 
• Cleansing foams are frothy and foamy and can help remove excess oils from the face. 
• Cleansing gels have a jelly-like consistency and lather up quickly to remove all dirt and pollutants from the face.

Besides these, cleansing oil is a unique product that uses face oil to cleanse your face. An example of this is the Relaxing Macadamia Deep Nourishing Face Cleansing Oil by Pure Sense.  A small quantity of the oil is rubbed into the skin to remove dirt, makeup, and other pollutants gently. Once cleansed, wash your face with warm water and pat dry with a towel. The macadamia nut oil is non-drying and leaves you feeling refreshed. The advantage of the oil is that it can be used on any skin type. It is one of the best answers to the question of how to cleanse face.

Now that the question of how to clean face has been answered, here are the benefits of face cleanser.

Benefits of Face Cleanser 

There are several benefits to the use of face cleanser over body wash or even bar soaps. 

• Face cleansers gently remove all the dirt, excess oils, and other pollutants. The buildup of these harmful substances causes acne and damages the skin’s surface, thus helping you look younger with supple skin.
• Cleansers with exfoliating elements can help remove dead skin cells and reveal fresh, youthful skin.
• Generally, all face cleansers are formulated with hydrating elements. This ensures that the skin doesn’t dry up while washing the face. 

The benefits of face cleansers also include help in the application of other facial products. Face cleansing is only the first step in even the most basic skincare routine. The use of face wash, or rather the use of face cleanser, is more detailed. After all, washing the face first ensures that moisturisers, toners, and other products penetrate the skin’s surface and maintain skin health. 

Steps to Using a Face Cleanser

You are now aware of the benefits of using face wash, or rather the benefits of using face cleansers. 

Although it sounds absurd to think about the steps of using face washes and cleansers, it is still an important question. Washing the face is simple, and everyone knows what to do, but there are ways to make the cleaning process more effective and long-lasting. 

The thumb rule is to wash your face twice every day - once in the morning and again at night before bed. There is no time constraint on your body sweating or releasing natural oils. So, the buildup from these natural secretions and outside polluting elements needs to be cleaned too. 

In the morning, your skin may carry residue from sweat and oils. A mild cleanser should work well in removing this. However, in addition to sweat and oil, makeup residue, dust, and other pollutants also need to be cleaned at night. For this, a more intense cleanser is required to clean the face gently but thoroughly. 

First, you need to choose the right cleanser for your skin. And before you start your face wash routine, make sure your hands are clean. So how to cleanse face effectively, and how to use face wash effectively?

Here are the steps you can use to clean your face:

1. Step 1: Remove all makeup thoroughly with an effective makeup remover. This is an important step, especially at night. If makeup residue gets accumulated, it will clog up the pores and result in an acne breakout. Use micellar water, makeup wipes, or any other remover to clean all traces of makeup. 
2. Step 2: Splash your face with warm water. Do not use hot water, as it can make the skin extremely dry. On the other hand, cold water tightens up the pores and prevents their cleansing. Using lukewarm water can help open up the pores gently. This allows cleansers or face wash to penetrate deep into the skin for maximum effect. 
3. Step 3: Squeeze out a small, coin-sized amount of the cleanser. This is all you need. There is no need to use excessive cleanser or face wash. With this small amount, you can easily clean the entire face properly. Most cleaners come with a recommended amount printed on the packaging if you feel under-confident. You can use this as a starting guide and modify it to suit your requirements. 
4. Step 4: Lather it up between your palm and slowly spread over the entire face. Using your fingertips, lightly massage the foam into the skin’s surface. Make sure you keep up the massage for at least two minutes for maximum penetration of the cleanser into the skin.
5. Step 5: Your face wash is not limited to just your face. The neck is also part of the face cleansing routine. Ensure that the neck is also massaged with the cleanser for an overall cleansing effect. 
6. Step 6: If you have an exfoliating face wash or cleanser, make sure you do not over-exfoliate. Exfoliation should be done only once or twice a week. Over-exfoliating will remove the skin’s protective barrier and damage the skin’s surface, causing rashes and redness. 
7. Step 7: Use cold water to wash off the soapy residue from your face. Coldwater closes pores, making the skin appear tighter.
8. Step 8: Once you have washed your face, gently pat dry with a towel. Do not rub water off your face. This will cause the skin to stretch and cause huge pores to show up on the face.

Pro-tip: Make sure that you use cleansers formulated with alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids. These ingredients clean the face effectively without damaging the skin. 

Cleansing is not the only part of an effective skincare routine. 

Once you have finished the steps mentioned here and know how to use face cleanser, you need to pat dry your face gently. Then, use a toner to hydrate the skin. Toners help maintain the skin’s pH balance and help prevent bacteria from settling into the skin. Try to use toners that have rose water or salicylic acid as ingredients. These are gentle on the skin and help you feel fresh. 

Additionally, do not forget to apply moisturisers to finish the face cleaning routine. Moisturises lock in the hydration and keep your face from becoming dry and rough. 

Always follow your moisturisers with sunscreen that has a good amount of SPF. This helps protect our skin from harmful UV rays and keeps the skin feeling supple and healthy. 

How to Choose a Good Face Cleanser

Before choosing a good facial cleanser, you need to identify your skin type. If you have trouble understanding your skin, you can approach a skin doctor to get an accurate assessment. 

Once you get an idea about your skin type, pick a face cleanser that is gentle and cleans your face without damaging the skin.  Follow the steps mentioned under the head on how to use face cleanser to get clean and supple skin.

Always try to choose cleansers that are alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, chemical-free, and not overly fragrant with artificial scents. One such cleanser is the Rejuvenating Grapefruit Revitalising Face Cleansing Gel  from Pure Sense. The cleansing gel is made entirely with organic ingredients and free from sulphates. The vitamin C from grapefruit rejuvenates the skin and leaves it radiant. 

Try to choose gentle cleansers that clean deeply and do not dry out your skin. 

How often Should You Use a Face Cleanser? 

Skincare routines can be as basic as just three steps and as elaborate as 10-15 steps. However, no matter which routine you follow, you need to cleanse every day. For example, you need to wash your face twice every day to clean your skin. So, even if you have been at home all day and have not applied any makeup, you still need to clean your face before going to sleep. 

But, how to clean your face if it is dry? If you have extremely dry skin, you can limit your face cleanses to just one time, preferably at night, to ensure that your skin remains healthy and can maintain a good pH balance. 

In case you have sensitive skin prone to acne, rashes, or other extreme reactions, you should try consulting with a dermatologist before you try any new face wash, cleanser, or any other product on your skin. 

Conclusion

Washing your face daily is not a complex task. It is part of everyone’s usual routine, although not everyone follows it correctly. 

Choosing the right cleanser and using it properly ensures that the benefits of using face wash can be optimised. Only when you choose a good cleanser that is organic as well as uses natural ingredients can your face maintain its youthful and supple look. 

If you have a self-care routine, make sure that you include the steps mentioned above to get more benefits. And if you do not have a proper face cleansing routine, you can use the steps and products mentioned here as a starting point to make your routine simple, easy, and efficient. 

Is your self-care routine thorough, and does it cleanse your face as needed? If yes, mention the routine you follow in the comments below. 

FAQs on how to use a face cleanser:

• Is face cleanser used before or after bathing? 

  If you wash your face before a bath, you may spray some product on your freshly washed face during the bath, completely negating the purpose of cleaning your face beforehand. Hence, the best time to use a face cleanser is after bathing. Once you have washed, start your facial self-care routine with a good cleanser. 
  
  

• How long should you leave the face cleanser on?

  Face cleaners are used to clean your face and remove dirt, excess oils, and other pollutants. You need to take a small amount of cleanser, lather it up with water and apply it to your face. The cleanser must be massaged into the face and washed off with warm water. There is no need to apply the cleanser to your face for more than a minute or two. 
  
  

• Should you wet your face before using the cleanser?
  

  Before you use a face cleanser, make sure that all makeup has been removed. Once makeup is removed, splash warm water to moisten the face. This could help open up the pores and allow the cleaner to penetrate deeper into the skin and clean thoroughly. Hence, it is necessary to wet your face before you apply cleanser to your face.