Is It Really Necessary To Wash My Face Every Day?

Washing your face twice a day, every day can be such a chore. You dread the thought of getting up, standing at the sink, waiting for the water to warm up. “Not too hot!” “Not too cold!” Then there’s choosing which cleanser to use, which washcloth would be best for your skin type, the lathering/cleansing, and then rinsing and the drying, moisturizing, and... wait... that’s it. Seriously.

What about in the shower or bathtub? Do you keep special cleansers in there to make sure you’re cleaning your face properly when you’re bathing? Or, do you just honestly think that rinsing your face is good enough? Well, it’s not. Using plain water to “clean” your face only removes about 65% of dirt and oils on the surface. It doesn’t exfoliate dead skin cells and it definitely doesn’t clean deep inside those pores.

Even if you do wash your face (at least once) daily, are you doing it the right way or the wrong way? Yes, there is a right way. And while there may be slight variances due to skin sensitivities- these little nuggets of information are sure to help you create your own perfect skincare routine.

Here are seven tips for happy, healthy, clean skin:

#1: Wash both morning and night. Washing your face at night is the most important thing you could do to have healthy skin. At the end of the day, whether you wear makeup or not, your face is dirty. “During the day, natural oils and sweat accumulate on the skin,” says Dr. J. Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.

“We are exposed to the environment, which means that dirt and pollution build up on our outer skin layer.” Spend a few minutes each night and develop your own special routine. Even if it’s just for five minutes- which is five minutes for you to love yourself and give your skin the attention it deserves.

But, just because you go to sleep with clean skin, doesn’t mean that you’re going to wake up with clean skin. According to Rachel Nazarian, M.D., a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group, “While you're tossing and turning at night, bacteria from saliva and oils from your hair are easily transferred to your face and eyes.” It’s important to make sure to wash your face in the morning.

As your skin regenerates overnight, dead skin cells start to emerge and excess sebum (your body’s natural oils) is produced. This means you need to make sure your pores are really clean, the flakes are sloughed off, your skin is hydrated and ready for anything the day throws your way.

Knowing your face is now becoming layers and layers of grossness, do you really want to put make-up on top of a dirty face? I don’t think so…

#2: Make sure the water is the correct temperature. Use lukewarm water to wash your face. Yes, hot water may feel great if you’re cold, or even in the bath or shower. But when it comes to your face, using water that is too hot will cause more inflammation and irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. “Extreme temperatures, such as hot, steamy showers or hot water, can cause dilation of blood vessels and breakage of delicate tissue,” warns Dr. Zeichner, M.D. “Further, the hot water naturally strips skin of the necessary oil barrier that helps maintain skin integrity.”

After cleaning, it’s suggested to finish by splashing your face with cold water, as it will help shrink the pores that were just opened by the warm water.

#3: Grab the right washcloth. While it is not necessary to use a washcloth, and those with the most skin sensitivity should avoid using one (it can irritate your skin and make you more prone to breakouts); for normal to dry skin, the right washcloth can become such a handy tool in your skincare arsenal.

Choose one that is thick and can help exfoliate- but avoid scrubbing! Scrubbing your skin, especially if it’s oily or breaking out, can make matters worse. Use a cloth in soft, circular motions. This will help loosen the dying cells, open the pores, and allow the cleanser to permeate the skin.

#4: Don’t rely solely on make-up remover cloth. Sure, these definitely come in handy in a pinch, but these cloths contain ingredients that are not meant to be left on the skin. Instead, they’re typically filled with preservatives that allow the cloths to sit on shelves for long periods of time without developing any bacteria or fungus. In essence, you’re putting unnatural preservatives on your face that only temporarily cleans the surface layer.

Instead, use this cloth as a precursor to your cleansing routine. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the cloth and then wash your face with a mild cleanser.

#5: Use the right cleanser. Check any cleanser and you'll be surprised at all of the ingredients on those bottles. Half of them are unpronounceable, and, I’d be willing to bet that you couldn’t even explain why those ingredients were included in the recipe, to begin with.

It’s best to go with a mild, natural cleanser that provides a good lather and has ingredients that are meant to help, not hurt, your beautiful mug. (Check out this amazing Beauty Bar from Hawaiian Healing Skin Care.)

#6: Pat yourself dry with a clean towel. While this seems like common sense, it’s not hard to forget to grab a clean towel instead of using the hand towel hanging near your sink. It’s very important during your regime for you to keep everything from your fingertips to your laundry clean.

Using old washcloths or towels while cleaning your face will just add other germs, dirt, and bacteria back onto the fresh face you just took such good care to cleanse. Make sure to pat your skin dry. No need to dry it completely. "The best time to apply moisturizer is right after a wash when the skin is damp, this allows you to trap the moisture on its surface," says Karen Kim, MD, a dermatologist in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

#7: A good moisturizer is KEY! Not using a moisturizer can be worse for your skin than you think, especially if you have acne. Sure, oily skin may have you believing adding a moisturizer to your routine is counter-productive, but this is not the case at all. "Dryness can actually make your acne worse," says Dr. Debbie Palmer, a board-certified dermatologist who is one of the country's leading experts in the field of antioxidants.

Moisturizers are important because they do more than just soften your skin. If you’re using one with all-natural and organic ingredients (like the face and body cream from Hawaiian Healing Skin Care), you’re not adding harsh chemicals which may harm your skin.

Instead, you’ll be adding components such as organic unrefined shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamin E, organic hibiscus flower extract and more which work in conjunction with your skin’s natural chemistry and helps to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, dehydration, and dullness.

If you’re looking for the best skincare products to rejuvenate your skin, visit Hawaiian Healing Skin Care at www.hawaiianhealing.com. All of the products are made with natural and organic ingredients to combine the magic of nature with your own skin’s needs.

The KioKio Coconut Beauty Bar is a rich, luxurious soap; the Nourishing Night Oil brings extra vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-aging properties, and the Pure Revitalizing Face and Body Cream is a decadent, hydrating moisturizer that provides tons of nourishment naturally while fighting the effects of aging or neglect.

With a little bit of effort and just a few days to develop this new habit, you are sure to fall in love with your skin again as you watch it fade from dull and lifeless to radiant, hydrated, and beautiful.