Facial Cleansing

Everyone needs a good facial cleanser for her regular skin care routine. Expensive products are not necessary because a basic facial cleanser from the drugstore is usually effective enough to clean everyday dirt and oils from the face. Learn how to choose a cleanser and how to use it for clearer, healthier facial skin. Does this Spark an idea?

Know Your Skin Type

The cleanser that works best for you will work with your skin type. Your facial skin may be normal, oily, dry or a combination, which is usually normal with oily areas in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). If you wash your face with a mild cleanser and it is shiny by mid-morning or lunch time, your skin is probably oily. This skin type often suffers from acne. If your skin feels tight and sometimes peels, it is dry. Combination skin shines in the T-zone areas but not on the cheeks. Normal skin feels neither oily nor dry. Choose a cleanser based on your particular skin type to get the best results. Most commercial cleansers are broken down into these categories.

How Often to Clean Your Face

No matter what type of skin you have, you should wash your face in the morning when you first wake up and at night before bed. Dry skin may feel particularly tight in the winter months, so using a gentle, soap-free cleanser in a creamy formulation may help alleviate any tightness or itchiness.
People with oily skin may add a third cleansing in the middle of the day, but only if this is absolutely necessary. Regardless of how oily your skin is, skip harsh detergent cleansers. When you strip your skin's natural oils away, your body works to produce even more oil, so too-frequent washing usually does more harm than good.

Facial Cleaning Techniques

Use tepid, lukewarm or warm water to wash your face. Hot water is too drying for delicate facial skin. Cup the water in your hands and splash your face several times. Apply a dime-size amount of cleanser and work it into your skin in circular motions. Avoid your eyes. Make sure you cover your entire face, including right beneath your jaw line. After cleansing for 30 seconds to 1 minute, rinse with warm water. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel; do not rub vigorously.

For Problem Skin

If your skin is prone to acne, choose cleansers formulated to fight acne and/or oily skin. Tea tree oil as an ingredient is a good, natural antiseptic that works against pimples. Avoid scrubbing cloths because these may make your acne worse.

Facial Cleansing in a Hurry

If you need to remove makeup or just want to cleanse your face in a hurry, use cleansing cloths found in any drugstore. No matter how tired you are, it is important to remove makeup before going to bed. It is a good idea to keep a supply of these easy-to-use facial cleansing cloths on hand for those times you do not want to go through an entire face washing routine.