How to Wash Your Face Correctly? Choosing a Cleanser and Common Mistakes

How to wash your face: with lukewarm water, a gentle cleanser, your fingertips, without rubbing, and at most twice a day. One wash in the morning and one in the evening is enough for most skin; add one more when you sweat heavily. Then pat your face dry with a clean, soft towel and apply moisturizer. Hot water, harsh soap and frequent washing don't make skin cleaner, they strain your barrier.

How to wash your face? A step-by-step guide

1. Wash your hands. There's no point in bringing the cleanser to your face with dirty hands.
2. Wet your face with lukewarm water. Cleanser spreads more easily on wet skin.
3. Apply the cleanser with your fingertips. A small amount, about the size of a coin, is enough. If it's a foaming product, gently massage until it foams. Don't forget your jawline and neck.
4. Don't scrub. Rubbing doesn't improve cleansing; it irritates the skin. Pressing too hard on breakouts can rupture comedones and increase inflammation.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water. Continue until the foam and slippery feeling are completely gone. Make sure no residue is left at the hairline and under the chin.
6. Dry by patting. Press a clean, soft towel gently onto your face, don't rub. Leave your skin slightly damp.
7. Apply your moisturizer right away. Slightly damp skin holds water better. You can find the order of the next steps in our skincare routine order article.

How hot should the water be?

For most people the most comfortable option is lukewarm water, meaning water that feels neither hot nor cold when you put your hand in it. If you prefer cold water, that's fine too. The only extreme to avoid is hot water.

Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils. This leads first to dryness, then to irritation. Irritation can also make your pores look larger. So the habit of washing with hot water "to open pores" can backfire. Ice-cold or very cold water doesn't tighten pores for long either: the effect lasts only a few minutes and disappears as the skin warms up.

If you wash your face in the shower, the thing to watch is not holding your head directly under hot water. An easy solution is washing your face in the sink before showering, or with slightly warmer water at the end of your shower.

How long should you leave the cleanser on your face?

No specific time has been set for most cleansers. The "60 second rule" you often hear about is not a requirement either: massaging the cleanser in for longer adds no benefit and can weaken the oily layer of your barrier. Spread a regular cleanser over your face, massage gently, and rinse.

The one important exception is cleansers containing active ingredients. For products containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or glycolic acid to work on the skin, it may be recommended to wait 1-2 minutes. Still, follow the label if it states a different time. After these products, skin may feel tight, so don't skip your moisturizer.

How many times a day should you wash your face?

The standard answer is once in the morning and once in the evening, plus after heavy sweating. But your skin type slightly changes this answer. If you don't know your skin type, our skin type guide can help.

For athletes and teens prone to breakouts, a third wash after intense activity may be worth considering. Because sweat that stays on the skin causes irritation, it's best to wash the area under a hat or helmet as soon as possible.

Choosing a cleanser: Bar soap, gel or foam?

The word "gentle" on a product is not a regulated term, so you should look at the ingredients and your skin's reaction rather than the label. The most distinct difference is between soap and synthetic detergent-based cleansers (syndets).

• Soap: It is alkaline, with a typical pH value in the range of 8,5-11. Normal skin is slightly acidic (around pH 4,5-5,75). This is why soap, especially when used frequently, more easily leads to dryness and irritation. In hard water, its lather weakens and it leaves residue.
• Syndet: A large share of liquid cleansers fall into this group. They can be formulated close to the skin's pH, leave no residue in hard water, dry less, and irritate sensitive skin less. A small note: the label often doesn't state the pH, and the word "syndet" alone does not mean the pH is suitable.

Rinsing with water alone is not enough, except for the morning for dry and sensitive skin, because water alone cannot remove oil-soluble dirt.

If a salicylic acid cleanser is drying you out, alternate the two: a gentle cleanser in the morning, the salicylic acid one in the evening. For skin with many blackheads, more information is in our article blackheads.

What should you look for on the label?

• Fragrance-free: This is the priority label for sensitive and dry skin. Products labeled "unscented" may still contain irritating ingredients.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate: If you see it on the list, be careful with sensitive skin; it is more irritating than sodium laureth sulfate.
• Alcohol and AHAs: The likelihood of stinging is higher. Gel cleansers may also sting more on some skin types.
• Non-comedogenic: One of the terms to look for on acne-prone skin, but it does not mean zero risk.

Even hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products can irritate very sensitive skin. When you switch to a new cleanser, keep an eye on your skin during the first few weeks.

If your home water is hard

In hard water, soap leaves residue, and because it doesn't lather, you use more product. A liquid, soap-free cleanser rinses off without leaving this residue.

Towels, cloths and brushes: the most overlooked part of cleansing

If you clean your face and then dry it with a dirty towel, you undo part of the work. A towel left hanging in the bathroom for two weeks is not suitable for your face.

• Keep your face towel separate. It should be clean, soft and preferably cotton. Don't share it with others: sharing towels is one of the ways contagious problems such as eye infections spread.
• Wash often. It is recommended to wash bath towels at least once a week, or 2-3 times a week in humid conditions. Washcloths and face towels should be washed more often. Make sure they dry completely after use.
• Don't rub. Friction damages the barrier. Pat your face with the towel and lift it off.
• Leave out cloths, sponges and scrubbers. They are harsher than your fingertips and can cause irritation. Cleansing brushes fall into the same category.
• Keep cleansing wipes on hand. They're useful if you're somewhere without a sink, but they don't replace regular washing. Preservatives in wipes and rubbing can damage the barrier.

What does excessive cleansing do to your skin?

Every wash removes some of the natural oils along with dirt. This amount is not a problem with normal washing, but when frequent, hot or harsh washing builds up, the picture changes:

• The skin's pH shifts and the outer barrier gets damaged.
• When sebum decreases, water loss increases and skin dries out faster.
• Dry and weakened skin becomes more open to irritation-related dermatitis and infections.
• On breakout-prone skin, washing several times a day can increase breakouts.

Those who wash frequently because of shine can easily fall into this vicious cycle. Even oily skin doesn't need to be washed again during the day; it needs blotting papers when necessary.

Signs your barrier is overworked

• Tightness and a pulling sensation after washing
• Dryness, flaking and rough patches
• Stinging or burning when applying your usual products
• Redness, itching, sensitivity to touch
• Breakouts appearing more often than usual

If you notice these signs, first reduce washing to morning and evening, stop using hot water, and switch to a gentle fragrance-free cleanser and a moisturizer containing ceramides. Put exfoliants and acidic products aside for a while. Be patient: recovery of the barrier can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

If you have cracks, oozing, itching that won't go away, or spreading redness, this routine won't fix the problem. See a dermatologist for diagnosis of conditions such as eczema, rosacea and contact dermatitis; avoiding soap and washing only with fingertips is especially recommended for rosacea, but the treatment plan is up to your doctor.

Common mistakes when washing your face

The only exception is those using retinoids. Since retinoid applied to wet skin can increase irritation, wait 20-30 minutes after washing; but if your skin is dry, you can first apply moisturizer and switch to the retinoid after this waiting time.

Short answers about face washing

Is it enough to wash my face in the shower?

Yes, showering counts as washing your face. The only conditions are that the water isn't hot and that you don't use a product made for the body on your face. Facial skin is thinner, so body products can feel harsh on it.

What should I do if I'm wearing makeup?

Don't try to rub makeup off, and don't mix it up. Start with a gentle makeup remover, then move on to your cleanser. Waterproof makeup and sunscreen may not always come off with a single wash. How to reapply sunscreen during the day is the subject of our article how to apply sunscreen.

Is rinsing with water alone enough in the morning?

Yes, for dry or sensitive skin. For oily or breakout-prone skin, the recommended approach is to use a gentle cleanser in the morning too.

This content is general information for daily facial cleansing; if irritation persists or for common acne, consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment decisions.