Everyone is so busy these days it’s sometimes easy to forget the basics and neglect our skin. I’m here to help with some skin care 101. This time I’m talking about washing your face – why, how and when. Oh and my advice is for both women and men. Don't forget you can always find even more of our helpful skin care tips here.
The ONE Rule
You gotta do it once a day and definitely at night. I know that’s when you are the most tired but a lot of dirt builds up on your skin during the day. Plus for many women removing makeup is a nightly must do.
All this build-up and makeup needs to come off before you go to bed. Otherwise your skin will suffer. What happens to your skin if you don’t? Check out what dermatologist Macrene Renee Alexiades-Armenakas, MD, PhD told Elle magazine:
"Eventually, your youth can no longer out-match the toxicity of the damage from makeup left on overnight…When you sleep with makeup clogging the pores, the bacteria proliferate overnight. Pollutants and other bacteria adhere to the makeup and further add stress and damage to the skin. Leaving makeup on overnight can exacerbate breakouts and worsen the skin aging process."
Yeah that’s doesn’t sound so good. And guys you’re not off the hook either. Dirt and buildup have the same effects as makeup – clogging pores, causing acne and increasing skin aging.
The SECOND Rules
Make sure your hands are clean. You don’t want to put more dirt on your skin. So start with a clean palette before you wash your face.
Also don’t use scalding hot water. Warm water is best because if the water is too hot it will dry out your skin.
Don’t abuse your face. Be gentle and kind to it as you are cleansing.
The OPTIONAL Rule
Some people like washing their skin more than once a day – like in the mornings. A lot of that depends on your skin type or preferences.
For example, if you have oily skin you might want to cleanse again in the morning. If you have dry skin – consider using just some warm water, you’ll still be good to go.
The key is not to over-wash as it can lead to irritation and even breakouts. Here’s a good piece of advice from dermatologist Ranella Hirsch via Yahoo Beauty to think about:
“There’s really no reason to wash your face in the morning, especially if you thoroughly cleansed the night before. But, at the same time, there’s nothing wrong with cleansing the face every morning, as long as you’re not overstripping the skin with harsh, drying cleansers. It’s just a matter of personal preference.”
What CLEANSER DO I USE
I know a lot of men like using just bar soap or body wash for their face. Unfortunately some of these products are harsh on your skin, stripping it of essential oils and causing skin irritation.
My suggestion for both women and men is to go for more gentle options. Look for products free of parabens, fragrance, sodium lauryl sulfates, and artificial dyes to name a few. Check out our Ingredient Truths series for even more on this topic.
It’s impossible for me to list every ingredient you should choose and it’s also a personal decision. Just make sure you read your product’s ingredient label so you know what you’re putting on your skin.
But if you’re busy and want a quick answer – check out our Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser of course 
– it’s free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dyes and artificial fragrances. We also don't do animal testing and use vegan-based formulas.
If you want to find other advice for keeping your skin looking its best - check out our skin care education series.
