Washing your face seems like a task we’ve done a million times, but there are some easy tips that make a big difference. In case you or your customers need a refresher, we’ve gathered these tips and made product suggestions based on information from the American Academy of Dermatology.
Step 1: What is your skin type?
We recently talked about this in our blog Skin Care Routines & Tips for Men, and here’s a quick guide to identifying your skin type.
This step ensures you choose the right type of cleanser for your face.
- Dry Skin – can’t get enough cream? Flaky or rough skin? If you’re not sure, wash and dry your face and wait a few minutes. Does your skin feel tight? If so, you likely have dry skin.
- Oily Skin – if your skin is often greasy-feeling or extra shiny, you likely have oily skin.
- Combination Skin – a mix of areas that are dry and oily.
- “Normal” Skin – no notable problems, and not sensitive to common products.
- Sensitive Skin – likely reacts to common products, stinging or burning after use.
Step 2: Choose a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your natural oils. Here are some favorite neutral-scented options:
- Green Tea Facial Cleanser is great for dry and sensitive skin
- Jojoba Cream Facial Cleanser is great for ‘normal’ skin
- Simple Gel Facial Cleanser is perfect for normal-to-oily skin
Step 3: Rinse your face in lukewarm water (not hot). Using your hands, gently rub the cleanser over your face.
There’s no need to scrub your skin or use a sponge, however tempting it is, because this damages the soft layers of your skin. It can be hard to remember how delicate your skin really is, but the goal is to avoid micro-abrasions. This is also why we don’t recommend using a physical exfoliant like our Walnut Body Polish—it’s wonderful for the skin on the rest of your body, but the granules are too sharp for your face.
Step 4: Rinse off your cleanser with warm water and gently pat dry with a towel.
Don’t worry if the cleanser hasn’t lathered! It’s still doing its job. This is particularly true of cream and clay-based cleansers.
Step 5: Tone & Moisturize.
This step helps skin stay soft and supple and avoid being dried out from the cleansing process. If you choose just one step from the three below, go for a moisturizer.
Using toners is a slightly newer step in the world of skin care routines, but it helps lay the foundation for the wonderful ingredients in your serum and moisturizer.
Toners: here are some of our favorite toners for every skin type:
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- AHA Facial Toner for normal or dry skin
- Moisturizing Facial Toner for dry skin
- Basic Facial Astringent for oily or teenage skin
- Calming Facial Toner for sensitive skin
Serums are the nutrient-rich step of your skin care routine and depending on the serum, can take the place of a moisturizer. Here are some of our top serums, all of which are formulated for most skin types. Those with sensitive skin should perform a patch test before use:
Moisturize your skin and help keep its youthful glow with a good moisturizer, topped off by a sunscreen. Here are some excellent moisturizers:
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- Daytime Moisturizer for normal skin
- Jojoba Cream for dry skin
- Equalizer Facial Moisturizer for oily or teenage skin
- Olive & Green Tea Lotion for sensitive skin
Washing your face really is as simple as it sounds but making sure you have the right temperature of water, a cleanser that suits your skin type, and avoid being too rough can make a big difference. Do you have any tips or tricks you use?
