Washing your face seems simple, right? Lather up, rinse off, and you' re done. Not quite. In fact, you' re probably making fairly common mistakes. If your skin lacks that fresh, glowing look, you may want to take a closer look at how you wash your face. A few seemingly harmless face- washing habits can wreak havoc on your skin, leading to excessive dryness, oiliness, or even breakouts

 

You might think that you can never get face washing wrong but there are common mistakes most people make when washing their face which can lead to a whole list of skin woes including dryness and irritation. You just might be making these mistakes too.

Below are 9 face washing mistakes you are making that could ruin your face

1. Washing your face too much

 

Washing your face too much can irritate your skin ironically leading to an overproduction of oil. Washing your face once or twice a day is recommended.

2. You Don' t Wash Your Towel Often Enough

And a dirty towel is breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Why go through the time and effort to wash your face if you' re just going to cover it in a towel crawling with bacterial contamination immediately after? And, no, the towel you use for your body post- shower shouldn' t come near your face. Have separate (and gentle) face clothes handy on rotation

 

3. You' re Applying Cleanser Incorrectly

If you' re using a light cleansing lotion, apply it on dry skin and rub it in for a few seconds, like you would for a moisturizer. This gives the oils in the cleanser time to break down the oils in your makeup and on your skin. Then get your fingertips slightly wet to help emulsify the cleanser. Make sure to massage in the cleanser in an outward circular motion. Another common mistake is not giving products enough time to work. If you use an acne treatment wash made to combat breakouts, let it sit on the skin for one minute before rinsing. This gives the active ingredients enough time to kill any acne- causing bacteria.

4. Ensure you use right water temperature

 

I understand you enjoy the feeling you get when using hot water but the truth is you should avoid using hot water for your face as it can damage your skin' s natural, protective oils and lead to over- drying or over production of sebum. Extremely cold water isn' t good for your face too either. Lukewarm water is your best bet to get the grub off your face without any skin damage.

5. Your Water Is Too Hot or Cold

Although you may find it tempting to turn up the heat, doing so will not allow you to achieve your desired results. You will want to shower in lukewarm water rather than in extreme temperatures. Hot water dries out your skin, sending your glands into oil- producing overdrive to combat the sudden dryness. Hot water also makes you appear flushed and red, especially if you have acne or rosacea. Cold water, however, has an adverse effect by preventing your pores from opening.

6. Exfoliation

Exfoliation is good for your face as it helps remove dead skin cells. You should avoid too much exfoliation as it irritates the facial skin and when you do not exfoliate at all, it gives rise to blackheads and acne. Moderation is key and stick to exfoliating two or three times per week max.

Rubbing your face with towel

Rubbing your face with towel is bad for your face as it tugs and pulls your skin, putting your elastin at risk. Pat your face with your towel instead of rubbing it.

7. Moisturizer

Applying moisturizers while your face is damp helps maximise absorption and seal in moisture. The best time to apply moisturizers is immediately after cleansing.

8. Make up removal

Makeup removal before going to bed is a must and not a choice as it helps your skin breathe. Your skin finds it difficult to breathe under that clump of makeup.

9. Pick the right cleanser

You shouldn' t use any cleanser just because your friend is using it. Pick a pH balanced cleanser that' s perfect for your skin. Creamier cleansers work well with dry skin while foaming or gel cleansers work well with oily skin.

10. Ensure your hands are clean

Before washing your face, you must ensure your hands are clean. Your face can' t be clean if you use dirty hands to wash them.

11. Rinse your face properly

Ensure your face is rinsed properly of any cleanser as residue can lead to dryness.