Facial Cleansing Tips
Washing your face probably seems super straightforward. However, if you’re not in tune with your skin, how you choose to cleanse during your facial cleansing routine could be the difference between fresh, glowing skin and skin that’s angry and irritated.
Why and When to Cleanse Your Face
A common skin care myth is that you only need to wash your face when it looks dirty or if you wear heavy makeup. This is FALSE. No matter your lifestyle—whether you’ve stayed inside all day, gone makeup-free or slathered your face with layers of skin care—facial cleansing is essential.
Why? Your skin accumulates oil and impurities throughout the day. Starting with a clean canvas provides a base for other skin care products to work as effectively as possible.
And, while there are various opinions on cleansing in the morning, we prefer a gentle cleanse to remove overnight skin care and give our faces a clean start for the day.
Think of your skin care routine in 2 steps:
1. Remove impurities, oil, makeup.
2. Washing/deep cleansing face.
Ready for a fresh start? Follow these tips to have your skin glowing in no time!
REMOVE IMPURITIES
Use a gentle makeup remover such as the fmg Makeup Remover Wipes or a micellar water like Anew Hydra Fusion Cleansing Micellar Water to get the job done before you start cleansing, especially before bed.
MAKEUP REMOVAL, GUARANTEED
- Wipe the day away with a double-cleanse. Cleanse once to remove makeup, impurities and dirt, then another time with a gentle face cleanser to wash away any left-behind impurities and oil.
- Soak a cotton pad with micellar water (once again, we love Anew Hydra Fusion Cleansing Micellar Water), or to help remove waterproof makeup, use our Waterproof Lip & Eye Makeup Remover. Pro Tip: a cotton swab can help gently remove makeup from the eye area without tugging on skin.
GIVE MICELLAR WATER A SHOT
What is micellar water? It’s water that contains micelle molecules that attach to makeup or impurities and break it down.
Even if you don’t wear makeup, soak a cotton pad in micellar water, smooth over skin, and you’ll be surprised with what you see! (It’s a great test to prove everyone needs to cleanse to remove impurities!)
And a great tip: if you’re travelling somewhere where water supply is limited, like camping, micellar water can cleanse your face and it doesn’t need to be rinsed off!
DON’T: USE BAR SOAP
Unless they’re specially formulated for the face, bar soaps can alter the pH balance of the skin and make it feel dry, flaky and imbalanced.
DO: USE LUKEWARM WATER
Why? Hot water doesn’t open pores and cold water doesn’t close them. Extreme water temps can cause irritation, so it’s best to stick to a middle ground. When you look in the mirror, you shouldn’t see an extremely flushed reflection. Hot water can dehydrate your skin, which could lead to more fine lines and wrinkles.
DON’T: GO STRAIGHT FOR THE WASHCLOTH
While a super soft gentle washcloth can be good for gentle exfoliation, most people overdo it. Scrubbing can strip skin of its natural protective barrier and if you go too hard, can leave it raw. The best way to cleanse your face is with your fingertips in a gentle circular motion for a minute or two.
When you need to exfoliate (and everyone does at least 1-2x per week), reach for products specially formulated with ingredients to remove dead skin. Try these exfoliators:
- Isa Knox Anew Clinical Collagen Booster Microneedling Polisher
- Isa Knox Anew Clinical Revitalize & Reveal Extra Strength Retexturizing Peel Pads
- Isa Knox Anew Clinical Revitalize & Reveal Intensive Peel
- Anew Vitamin C Exfoliating Peel Pads
DON’T: OVER-EXFOLIATE
Your skin has a natural barrier that protects it and helps it retain moisture. While using a physical scrub might feel good, scrubbing too hard or using these products daily can damage the most outer layer of skin.
One sign of over-exfoliating is skin hypersensitivity. This can cause irritation, breakouts, and even a stinging feeling when you apply products.
DON’T: GO FACE SPONGE OR LOOFAH CRAZY
Studies have shown the amount of bacteria that builds up on sponges and loofahs—even those designed for facial skin—proof that these aren’t a great idea. Your fingers are the best tools.
DO: GIVE A CLEANING BRUSH A WHIRL
However, oily skin might benefit from vibrating cleansing brush, a technology that uses gentle pulsations to clean pores.
Give Isa Knox LXNEW Clean Cleansing Brush a try, as it will gently, yet effectively remove impurities without stripping your skin.
DON’T: STOP AT YOUR CHIN
Don’t just cleanse your face—your jawline and neck are just as prone to dirt and debris buildup. And they need love, too.
DO: FINISH WITH A TONER OR ESSENCE
Although it’s not technically a step in cleansing your face, it’s important to re-balance your skin and prepare to repair! A toner or essence has a lot of great benefits for your skin and acts as a ‘primer’ in your routine. It helps the active ingredients in the rest of your products be more effective, while simultaneously providing weightless hydration to help restore your skin’s natural moisture balance. To apply, gently press into your skin with your fingertips or apply a little on a cotton pad and gently swipe across your face, neck and chest.
Shop Toners
Overall, cleansing your face is the first step to maintaining healthy, balanced, glowing skin.
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