8 Cleansing Mistakes You’re Probably Making
Self-care comes in many forms. It could be a relaxing body massage, meditating to tune out the noise, or pampering yourself with a healthy skincare routine. In fact, you wouldn’t want to retire for the day without cleansing your face and putting on your skincare products.
As for cleansing, many people think that this is a very straightforward step. You take out your facial cleansing product, put it on your face, and rinse it with water, right?
Well, you’re wrong.
The truth is, you may be cleansing your face the wrong way. This could explain the frequent breakouts, excess oil production, and sensitivity of your skin. Improperly cleansing your face could sabotage your entire skincare routine, doing your skin more harm than good.
Here are the eight cleansing mistakes you should stop doing right now.
- Cleansing with dirty hands
The goal of cleansing is to remove dirt, grime, and makeup from your face, so it’s important that you begin this step with clean hands. If you don’t wash your hand before cleansing, then it’s just as good as rubbing that dirt and bacteria on your face and further aggravating your skin condition. So before you reach out for your cleanser, make sure to wash your hands properly first.
- Thinking wipes are enough
Using facial wipes in lieu of proper cleansing is a terrible mistake for several reasons.
First, facial wipes contain chemicals that may ruin your skin. You’re also prone to tagging and pulling on your skin when you use wipes, and these movements are damaging. Finally, wipes take so long to disintegrate, so they’re not exactly Earth-friendly.
The best thing to do is to spare a few minutes cleaning your face and putting on your best anti-ageing skincare products before you sleep.
- Using the wrong cleanser formula
If you have been to your skin and beauty specialist, you probably already know if you have dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, normal skin, or combination skin. Knowing these things allows you to pick the right cleanser for you.
Gel cleansers are suitable for people with oily and acne-prone skin, cream cleansers are best for those who have dry skin, and people with sensitive skin are most likely to benefit from micellar cleansers. With this in mind, you can also opt for one that is suited for all skin types like the Mayerling Foaming Cleanser.
- Not removing makeup
Any beauty specialist would insist on removing makeup before you sleep, so it makes sense to do this when you’re cleansing. However, if you have a very thick layer of makeup or used waterproof eyeliner and mascara, you must not get into cleansing right away.
It’s best to remove stubborn makeup with cleansing oil or balm first before you use your regular cleanser. This way, you won’t have to cleanse your face multiple times, which by the way, can dry out your skin and lead to excessive oil production.
- Rinsing with hot water
Cleansing your face with hot water might be comforting, but it’s not right. Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils and disrupt your skin’s moisture barrier. This could result in numerous issues, such as sensitivity and oiliness. It is best just to use lukewarm water.
- Cleansing too often
Cleansing too often is also a mistake many people make. But cleansing multiple times a day can be damaging to your skin. Since your skin could get too dry, it prompts your skin to work extra hard and produce more oil, which in turn, leads to breakouts. You should only cleanse your face up to twice a day.
- Rubbing your skin vigorously with a towel
Our skin is a delicate organ, so we should treat it as gently as we can. Rubbing your skin with so much force after cleansing aids in the formation of wrinkles and fine lines. The proper way to dry our skin is just to pat it dry using a clean towel.
- Over-exfoliation
Yes, our skin needs to be exfoliated to remove dry and dead skin cells. The right exfoliating products give our skin a more vibrant and youthful glow. But exfoliation is not something you do to your skin every day. Over-exfoliation can cause redness and sensitivity, as well as an increase in oil production, leading to breakouts. Harsh exfoliators could also damage your skin severely. At the very least, you should only be exfoliating your skin once or twice a week.
Which cleansing mistake are you guilty of?
Cleansing your skin is a pleasurable experience. But if you’re doing it wrong, your skin will ultimately pay the price. So take note of the cleansing mistakes mentioned above and correct your process before it is too late. Better yet, see one of our skincare professionals at Bliss Skin Care to give you the best tips and treatments to help your skin stay clean and radiant.
