Washing your face sounds like a no-brainer, but did you know it’s possible to get your face too clean? If you suffer from oily skin or acne, then you may think it’s not possible. First, give some thought to your cleanser. Grabbing any old soap isn’t a good idea. Nor is using the same soap you use on your body, for the most part. If you use the same liquid soap that you use to kill bacteria during hand washing, then you may be drying your face too much, making it flaky and irritated. However, you should begin washing your face by washing your hands first so that you don’t transfer germs to your face. Some areas of your face need different products than others. Take off eye makeup with a gentle eye makeup remover and cotton ball before starting on your face. The key to keeping skin happy is being gentle – try not to pull, scrub or agitate your skin too much. The soap you use should be gentle and oil-free. If you suffer from large acne breakouts, then you might want to invest in a cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid; however these, and any other agents, including those that claim to fight the signs of aging, will simply be rinsed off as you clean off the cleanser.

So the added cost for these products are usually not worth it. If you have rosacea or acne that causes the skin to redden, then it’s probably best to avoid soaps with built-in scrubbers, beads or exfoliators, as they can redden skin further. Another irritant is what you use to clean – fingertips can usually do the job without irritating skin, like a loofah or rough washcloth might. Take note of how your skin feels after you clean it. If it feels dry and tight, then you should consider a gentler cleaner. Using a moisturizer after cleaning your face is usually necessary, and it’s a great idea to invest in one that contains SPF to protect skin from the sun. During this step, it’s OK to look for a moisturizer that contains anti-aging or anti-acne ingredients, since this layer will stay on your face longer than a cleanser.