Do You Really Need To Wash Your Face? Why And How To Use A Face Cleanser

When thinking about skincare, the first step is to understand the importance of maintaining a clean face. Think of cleansing as the foundation of your skincare routine because it sets up every other step of your skincare routine. 

This post will cover the importance of facial cleansing and why you need to incorporate it into your skincare routine.  

How washing your face is beneficial to the skin

The main reason why you should wash your face is to remove dirt, oil, and other unwanted debris that can pile up on your skin as you go about your day. Our face naturally gets covered with bacteria, pollutants, dirt, excess sebum, and dead skin cells and washing your face helps get rid of the excessive buildup that can lead to breakouts. 

As if clearing away the dirt from your day isn’t enough, cleansers also make the rest of your skincare routine more effective! This is because cleansing your face allows for other products to be absorbed by your skin. If you skip the cleansing step of your skincare routine, your toner, serum, and moisturizer won’t work as well as they could.

“As if clearing away the dirt from your day isn’t enough, cleansers also make the rest of your skincare routine more effective!”

What can you use to wash your face?

Water

You can wash your face with water as an option. By doing so, you will be hydrating your skin which can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It will also remove the build-up of dirt and bacteria on your skin. Water is a great option because it is non-irritating and it’s all-natural. You won’t run the risk of overdrying your skin which some cleaners can do. 

Aside from water, there are different types of cleansers available. You can choose between using an oil cleanser or a liquid cleanser:

Oil cleansers

Oil-based cleansers are made with different lightweight oils and can cleanse the skin without stripping away oils. It is traditionally thought that people should avoid using oils on their faces, but there are many proven benefits of using oils. As mentioned by Healthline, it is an alternative for gently removing makeup, soothing sensitive skin, and reducing breakouts.

“It is traditionally thought that people should avoid using oils on their faces, but there are many proven benefits of using oils.”

Oil cleansers are made of only oils and are later washed away with a damp cloth. The benefits of using it include:

• Remove excess oil from the surface of your face
• Unclog pores
• Remove dead skin, pollutants, and makeup

One more benefit of using oil cleansers is that they keep the skin hydrated which some cleansers fail to do. They leave your skin feeling hydrated and moisturized.

Liquid cleansers

A liquid cleanser is a water-based cleanser that is applied to the skin and then rinsed off. However, they may be formulated with ingredients that strip the skin of its oils which can affect the health of your skin. You will leave your face feeling dry and that can cause your skin to feel tight, itchiness, flaking, and fine lines if you don’t select your cleanser carefully.

Like oil cleansers, these types of cleansers and face washes help to clean the skin, clarify pores, and remove excess oil.

How do you wash your face?

Now that we’ve established what to use to cleanse your face, let’s go over best practices for actually washing your face (because technique makes a difference!)

Our recommendation? Dispense a small amount of your cleanser into your hands and lather it up by rubbing your hands together. Apply the lather to your damp face, neck, and even your chest (as your chest often has similar needs to your face and neck). Once you’ve massaged the cleanser over your skin, thoroughly rinse it off.  

Cleansing this way is gentle on your skin because you’re doing the lathering before applying the product to your face. This method also includes your neck and chest which can come in contact with the same makeup, dirt, and sweat as your face and end up breaking out too. 

Once you’re done cleansing, take a minute to tone your skin and apply a serum. This will help you keep your skin hydrated and glowing.

What about double cleansing?

Double Cleansing is a method of washing your face with two cleansers — one that’s an oil-based cleanser and one that’s water-based. Your oil cleanser will remove oil-based pollutants such as makeup, sebum, and sweat. Your water-based cleanser will remove grime from the surface of your skin. 

“Double Cleansing is a method of washing your face with two cleansers — one that’s an oil-based cleanser and one that’s water-based.”

How do you double cleanse?

Start with an oil cleanser (we like our Radiant Glow Cleansing Oil). Massage a small amount over your skin then wipe it away with a damp cloth.

After this, use a liquid cleanser like our Tea Tree Face Cleanser or Black Soap Face Cleanser. After, rinse off the cleanser and gently pat your face dry with a clean towel. 

The key is to make sure that you are doing each step gently so you don’t irritate your skin. 

Who should double cleanse? 

We recommend this face cleansing method if you feel like using one cleanser is not enough for your skin; if you often wear makeup; if you have a dry, oily, or acne-prone skin type; or if you sweat or workout a lot. 

Remember, cleansing is the foundation of your skincare routine. It clears away dirt and grime from your day and helps your other skincare products work more effectively.

“Cleansing is the foundation of your skincare routine. It clears away dirt and grime from your day and helps your other skincare products work more effectively.”