Cleaning Your Face with the Right Soaps
1. Cleanse twice a day, no more. Unless you have exposed your skin to excessive dust, grime or pollution, twice-a-day cleansing is more than adequate for any skin type. Cleansing too often strips your skin of precious natural oils. Not cleansing regularly, particularly before you retire for the night, may lead to build-up and eruptions.
2. Choose a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. Do not use soap on facial skin: it can be too harsh and drying and damage skin over time. A too-rich cleanser can clog pores, while a too-dry cleanser can irritate the skin. A cleanser for dry skin should contain nourishing herbs and oils. One for oily skin should include herbs that balance oil production and support clarity. Sensitive skin benefits from an ultra-gentle, fragrance-free, non-irritating cleanser.
Traditional ayurvedic cleansers are made fresh with natural ingredients such as ground oats, lentils or chickpeas, complexion enhancing or clarifying herbs such as turmeric, Amalaki, Neem and sandalwood, emollients such as milk, cream yogurt or honey, and floral or citrus waters for pure healing fragrance. You can make your own by mixing the dry ingredients to last a week or two and blending the mix with milk or cream right before use. Otherwise, look for a natural cleanser that’s gentle and fortified with skin-friendly herbs.
3. Always cleanse with tepid water. Hot water dries and damages skin over time, and cold water won’t dissolve and take away embedded dirt and grime as well as lukewarm water.
4. If you use sponges or washcloths, make sure they are clean and soft. They are not necessary for effective cleansing: your fingertips can do just as good a job.
5. Wash your hands thoroughly before you cleanse your face, or you will be working dirt into facial skin. Use a headband to secure hair away from the face.
6. Start by splashing tepid water on your face and neck.
7. Apply the cleanser with your fingertips or a soft sponge, using gentle circular massaging strokes and moving upward on the face and neck. Do not scrub too much…gentle massaging strokes are enough to help improve circulation as well as loosen grime and old surface skin cells. Too much scrubbing will stretch skin and irritate it, especially the delicate skin around the eyes.
8. Rinse with lots of tepid water. Don’t forget to rinse off cleanser from the neck and hairline. Cleanser residue can clog pores and attract dirt.
9. Gently blot off excess water with a soft towel. Do not scrub dry or drag towel along skin.
10. Follow immediately with a water-based toner and a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type to seal in surface moisture and offer nourishment when skin is receptive.
2. Choose a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. Do not use soap on facial skin: it can be too harsh and drying and damage skin over time. A too-rich cleanser can clog pores, while a too-dry cleanser can irritate the skin. A cleanser for dry skin should contain nourishing herbs and oils. One for oily skin should include herbs that balance oil production and support clarity. Sensitive skin benefits from an ultra-gentle, fragrance-free, non-irritating cleanser.
Traditional ayurvedic cleansers are made fresh with natural ingredients such as ground oats, lentils or chickpeas, complexion enhancing or clarifying herbs such as turmeric, Amalaki, Neem and sandalwood, emollients such as milk, cream yogurt or honey, and floral or citrus waters for pure healing fragrance. You can make your own by mixing the dry ingredients to last a week or two and blending the mix with milk or cream right before use. Otherwise, look for a natural cleanser that’s gentle and fortified with skin-friendly herbs.
3. Always cleanse with tepid water. Hot water dries and damages skin over time, and cold water won’t dissolve and take away embedded dirt and grime as well as lukewarm water.
4. If you use sponges or washcloths, make sure they are clean and soft. They are not necessary for effective cleansing: your fingertips can do just as good a job.
5. Wash your hands thoroughly before you cleanse your face, or you will be working dirt into facial skin. Use a headband to secure hair away from the face.
6. Start by splashing tepid water on your face and neck.
7. Apply the cleanser with your fingertips or a soft sponge, using gentle circular massaging strokes and moving upward on the face and neck. Do not scrub too much…gentle massaging strokes are enough to help improve circulation as well as loosen grime and old surface skin cells. Too much scrubbing will stretch skin and irritate it, especially the delicate skin around the eyes.
8. Rinse with lots of tepid water. Don’t forget to rinse off cleanser from the neck and hairline. Cleanser residue can clog pores and attract dirt.
9. Gently blot off excess water with a soft towel. Do not scrub dry or drag towel along skin.
10. Follow immediately with a water-based toner and a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type to seal in surface moisture and offer nourishment when skin is receptive.
Cleaning Your Skin
How to Clean Your Skin
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TIPS
Warnings
- Steam your face. This is really simple, just boil the kettle to get some hot water, pour the water into a bowl, then put a towel over your head and hold the bowl (make sure it's not too hot to hold!) near your face for about 5-10 minutes.
- Wash your face with warm (not hot) water and a cleanser for your skin type. For example, if you have acne, you would want an oil free or lightly medicated cleanser. Nothing too harsh or drying, because you'll more than likely be washing your face twice daily.
- Rinse your face THOROUGHLY. Make sure the soap is GONE. Do a final rinse with cool (not cold) water to close pores.
- Pat your face dry with a soft cloth. Don't rub, it spreads bacteria.
- Once your face is mostly dry, allow it to finish air drying for a few more minutes.
- Moisturize your face, once again with a product for your skin type.
- Finished
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TIPS
- Harsh, drying cleansers will actually make the problem worse, so go for a mild one.
- Don't rub hard when you cleanse, or really any time else. Massage gently.
- Always make sure your hands are clean before you start cleaning your face! This will make sure that bacteria and oil from your hands do not end up in your pores.
- Egg makes a nice mask to tighten up pores, and oatmeal is great for oily skin. Just search up natural beauty recipes and you'll find all kinds of great stuff!
- Try to find and use a toner. Toner removes leftover dirt and soap. For example, the Clinique 3 step program is facewash, toner, and a good moisturizer.
- If you're going to exfoliate make sure you use a gentle exfoliant, and don't do it as much in winter. Your skin needs time to repair itself.
- Masks are great to add into your skincare routine. Clay masks are great for most skins types, and most masks are recommended for use once or twice weekly.
- If you can without damaging skin, wash your face morning and night. You don't have to steam as often, just as is convenient.
Warnings
- Don't use a cleanser with ingredients you are allergic to.
- Washing your face too much is just as bad as anything else.
- Bowl
- Access to running water
- Kettle
- Cleanser
- Moisturizer