7 Common Mistakes You Might Be Making With Your Cleansing Routine

Shockingly, research shows that over 60% of people use hand soap or bath wash when cleansing their faces. It’s easy to understand why they do this – after all, soap is soap, right? So long as the product you’re using has cleansing agents in it, why shouldn’t you use this on your face? This questioning especially from men and teenagers.

The answer is simple. The skin on your face has a very different consistency to the skin on your hands or body. It is much thinner and more delicate, meaning that it’s more prone to damage. The skin on the face, neck and decollete are more exposed to the environment and muscle movement more often than other body skin. This is why the skin on the face tends to age at a much faster rate than the skin on the body. Many people notice wrinkles appearing on the face (and neck) several years before they experience creases or sagging anywhere else.

That’s why, in order to give fragile facial skin, the care that it needs, one of the skin habits that you need to get used to is using a dedicated facial cleansing routine.

Most people don’t think twice about how they cleanse their skins. But if your skin feels dull, dry, or just off then often your cleanser might be the reason why. Here is what I see all the time with new clients:

1. You’re using the wrong cleanser for your skin.

When you are using the same cleanser year-round year in year out, regardless of the seasonal changes and what your skin is doing. Skin changes with hormones, weather, diet, stress, medications, activities…. What works in summer may not work in winter!

Change out your cleanser based on your skin’s current condition and the season you are in. A milk or oil-based cleanser is great for dryness (winter) and a gel-based one when your skin is more active and congested.

2. Not using a separate towel to dry your face.

The towel you usually use is more than likely the one hanging in the bathroom that is changed weekly! This damp towel harbors bacteria, and then you use it on your face can lead to breakouts or irritations especially if your skin is already compromised or has an unhealthy microbiome

By using a clean, soft washcloth each and every time you can ensure you are maintaining healthier skin.

3. You are using makeup wipes instead of a real cleaner!

When you are using wipes to “clean” the skin. Wipes just smear makeup, oil, pollution, the days grime, sunbloc and bacteria around. It doesn’t effectively remove any of the above.

Ditch the wipes. If convenience matters, use cleansing oil or balm followed by a gentle cleanser. We always say double cleansing is best as the first cleanse removes the surface dirt etc. and the second cleanse actually cleans the skin. This 2-minute process does way more to bring you healthy vibrant skin more than you know.

4. What is more important AM cleansing or PM cleansing?

Facial cleansing is not only necessary at night to remove makeup and impurities. It’s also important to clean your face in the morning to eliminate excess oil, and sweat, from when you are sleeping and promote absorption of the skincare products that you apply during your morning routine. Evening cleansing removed the grime of the day as mentioned above.

PRO TIP: If you often find yourself so tired that you’re skipping your evening skincare routine, then don’t wait until you’re ready for bed to cleanse your skin. I do it when I get home and I put dinner on, then I will go wash my face so that it’s done, and I will then have the evening to relax.

5. Why use toner?

Because not only will a toner remove any residue left behind by your cleanser, but it will also help your skin’s pH to be better balanced. Cleansing usually throws your pH out of whack, particularly if you’re using a gel or foaming cleanser. Following this up with a toner will help your skin to feel restored once again. In turn, this will prevent a number of skin concerns from arising, which is extremely common if your skin’s pH level is out of balance.

PRO TIP: To help eliminate impurities left on your skin from water reside (hard water, soften water, chemically cleaned water), incorporate a toner into your regimen.

6. How do you decide which toner to use?

Toners nowadays are often the first stage of treating skin! They have a plethora of ingredients to do a variety of “jobs” many will include binding ingredients to hydrate and balance the pH and feed the microbiome of your skin.

7. Forgetting to moisturize after cleansing is a No No!

After cleansing, one of the most critical steps is to apply a serum and then follow with a moisturizer. Applying a moisturizer will lock in the serum and moisture. Allowing your skin to reap the benefits of the ingredients in the serum and moisturizer.

Yes, to exfoliate is to cleanse – but this is a WHOLE blog unto itself!