Mar 24, 2020

Face Wash Guide | How to Choose a Facial Cleanser

If you were to go to a skin care specialist, the first questions they would ask is “Are you washing your face? Are you using the right facial cleanser?”

Estheticians know that there’s a reason cleansing is step #1 in your skin care routine and you need to know too!

Read below to learn why you need to wash our face, how many times you should be washing your face, the proper face washing technique, and how to choose the proper cleanser for your skin type.

What does washing your face do?

Washing your face is the most important step in your skincare routine to deep cleanse and remove any dirt, debris, and makeup.

Left on the face for any period of time, the buildup of these materials can lead to dull, sallow, oily and problem skin.

How many times should you wash your face?

You should wash your face two times a day – once in the morning and once before bed.

Cleansing in the morning is necessary to remove oil and build up that may happen overnight.

Cleansing at night is equally important, especially to remove makeup. Makeup is composed of ingredients that allow it to last all day, so you must wash your face every night before bed to prevent clogged pores and to ensure your skin is able to replenish itself.

Cleansing is also an essential step as it prepares your skin for your serum and moisturizer, allowing your skin for better absorption of the two and to get the maximum benefits of both!

How do I wash my face?

1. Before cleansing your face, you want to remove any eye makeup with a fragrance-free and gentle eye makeup remover. Pour a small amount of the eye makeup remover onto dry cotton, close each eye, cleansing it with downward, inward motions. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

2. Squeeze a few pumps of your facial cleanser (see guide below) onto your hands and apply it on your face, all over, and massage in circular movements.

Pay attention to the nose creases, chin area, and forehead as this is where the most amount of debris and dead skin cells are collected.

3. After massaging your face with your cleanser use moistened cotton to remove the cleanser. We recommend cotton as it is sanitary and soft on the skin*.

*If you do not have cotton, you can rinse your face and remove the cleanser with lukewarm water and a clean face towel.

4. Repeat this process until all makeup is removed and there is no residue on the cotton or towel.

5. Blot your skin dry with your tissue or face towel. It’s important not to rub during this step, as it can be irritating to your skin.

Which face wash do I use?

The best way to choose a face wash is by your skin type or concern.

Read our guide to discover the best cleanser for your skin.

Eye Makeup Remover

Before using your facial cleanser, if you wear eye makeup you should care for this more sensitive area accordingly.

Our Opti-Cleanse™ Extra Gentle Non-Oily Eye Makeup Remover is fragrance-free and helps to remove makeup gently, yet thoroughly.

Face Wash for Combination Skin

When you experience both dryness and oiliness choosing the right cleanser can be a little tricky.

With combination skin, you want to restore moisture in your cheek areas (where you may see dry and flaky skin) while still targeting oil that you see in your t-zone area (nose, chin and forehead).

My facial cleanser is: T-Zone Balance Cleansing Complex or Hydra Refine® Cleansing Mousse

T-Zone Balance Cleansing Complex has a creamy consistency, which is especially great for removing makeup and helping to soften those dry cheek areas.

Hydra Refine® Cleansing Mousse is a mousse consistency, and especially great at targeting more oily areas without over-drying.

Face Wash for Oily/Problem Skin

A big mistake we often see with oily skin and problem skin is using cleansers and products that dry out the skin and strip the skin’s lipid barrier.

This tricks the skin into thinking it needs more hydration and in effect causes even more oil production!

Finding a cleanser that won’t strip your skin’s lipid barrier is important.

You want to find a deep cleansing formula with ingredients such as Witch Hazel and Salicylic Acid that will help exfoliate excess grime build up, but also with ingredients like Seaweed extracts and natural botanicals that help restore moisture and reduce the appearance of dryness.

My facial cleanser is: Hydra Medic® Face Wash

Face Wash for Sensitive Skin

If you find your skin looks red or irritated, you want a face wash designed for sensitive skin.

Your cleanser should contain a gentle formula with ingredients like Seaweed extracts, Coconut Oil, Micro Silver, Aloe and natural botanicals that help to calm and soothe your skin’s appearance.

My facial cleanser is: Red-Out® Cleanser or Hydra 4® Cleanser

Red-Out® Cleanser is gently foaming creamy formula, designed for those with sensitive skin.

Hydra 4® Cleanser is a creamy formula, and especially great for removal of waterproof makeup.

Face Wash for Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, you want to find a mild, soap-free cleanser that will not strip your skin even further.

You also want to look for moisture-enhancing ingredients in the cleanser, such as Seaweed, as well as calming and soothing ingredients like Waterlily and Willow Herb extracts.

My facial cleanser is: Hydra Dew® Gentle Cleansing Mousse

Face Wash for Uneven Skin Tone

If you see uneven skin tone, a brightening cleanser is your first step to more radiant-looking skin.

A cleanser with ingredients like Willow Bark, Gotu Kola, Licorice extracts and Daisy extract will help to reveal a more luminous-looking complexion.

My facial cleanser is: Biolight® Brightening Cleanser

Face Wash for Fine Lines, Wrinkles and Mature Skin

With aging skin, hormonal changes cause you to produce less oil, depriving your skin of its natural moisture and protective mantle.

For this reason, you want to look for a cleanser that cleanses and soothes skin while delivering smoothing benefits with ingredients like Chamomile, Shea Butter, Squalane, Ginkgo Biloba and Laminaria Digitata seaweed.

This will help to remove water and oil-soluble debris while leaving skin feeling clean and smooth.

My facial cleanser is: Vita Cura® Triple Action Cleansing Cream

Face Wash for All Skin Types

If your skin is normal to combination without any consistent concerns, you need a pH-balanced cleanser that will help keep your skin clean, clear and healthy-looking.

You want a foaming cleanser that will remove dirt and debris without leaving your skin feeling dry or taut.

A cleanser that has a combination of natural surfactants and seaweeds will help keep skin feeling soft, smooth and clean without the feeling of dryness.

My facial cleanser is: Sea Cleanse® Foaming Seaweed Cleanser