Category: Lifestyle | 2-Minute Read
Hi All,
I hope you are keeping well and safe!
As a dentist, I always used to find it awkward explaining to an adult patient how to brush their teeth and I’m sure that many of them were not too happy to sit through that teaching session!
Unfortunately, there is a right and a wrong way to brush your teeth. Just like there is a right and wrong way to wash your face!
It’s always assumed that everyone knows what they should be doing but that’s not actually true! And I found that out the hard way when one of my dental patients announced that they brush their teeth with water and haven’t used toothpaste for 30+ years! (He was 40 years old!!)
From that point on-wards, I never assumed.
So let’s talk about…….
The 6 things you do wrong when you wash your face.
1. Washing your face too frequently can result in acne.
One of the causes of acne is excessive secretion of sebum which then accumulates in your pores along with bacteria, resulting in spots. Sebum is naturally produced by the skin if the skin is too dry therefore by washing your skin too frequently or with hot water, strips the skin of it’s natural oils and the body secretes sebum to replace this oil.
As an average rule, you only need to wash your face in the morning and before bed at night. If you have dry and sensitive skin then cleansing your face at night is sufficient. I would always advise washing your face at night prior to applying any products to remove dirt and pollution that accumulates on your skin during the day. If the skin in not cleaned before you go to bed, these particles will damage the skin resulting in collagen break-down and wrinkles.
2. Wash your neck when washing your face.
Whenever you read the labels on products, most cleansers, serums and creams will say apply to face, neck and (maybe) décolletage. Yet we don’t wash our necks as often as we wash our face, so how can the skincare products work as effectively on our neck skin? Wash your neck with your face cleanser every morning and night too. If you are not applying your face products to your neck then start doing it now! Don’t wait until you have a turkey neck!!
3. Do not rub-dry your face with a towel.
This is a more commonly known topic however as I mentioned above I will not assume! Do not use a rough towel when drying your skin in the hope that it will further exfoliate your skin. It won’t. It will traumatise your skin resulting in inflammation and further issues such as sensitivity and acne. Instead pat-dry your skin with a soft towel. This technique actually applies to skin anywhere on your body. This will avoid unnecessary trauma and dragging of sensitive skin areas, such as under your eyes.
4. Washing your face to remove your make-up is not the same as washing your skin.
Washing your face without removing your make-up may be considered a fast-track route of completing your regime but actually it just wastes your cleanser and your time. Remove your make-up first and then wash your face with the cleanser as the cleanser cannot penetrate through your make-up to unclog your pores and cleanse your skin. So it would be as if you never washed your face in the first place. I would suggest an oil-based or water-based (for acne) make-up remover to do the job effectively for you.
5. Use the appropriate skin cleanser for your skin concern, not face wipes or a soap bar!
Soap bars are extremely harsh and can cause irritation and trauma to the skin resulting in itchiness, sensitivity and yup, you got it….acne!
Alternatively, face wipes will remove a small portion of make-up or dirt from your skin but essentially it will just move the dirt and make-up around your face clogging up your pores. Another time-waster!
It is always advised to consider using cleansers with active ingredients that are suitable for your skin type and your skin condition as these will actually work to deal with your concerns improving your skin.
6. Wash your hands before washing your face.
Now how many of you do this one? And now that you’ve read it, you are nodding your head thinking….’ahh this makes sense! Why haven’t I thought about this before?!’
Consider where your hands have been…..! Opening car doors, door handles, using harsh cleaning chemicals, typing on your laptop. Wash ‘em! Wash ‘em good!
Washing your hands before you touch your face is not only to protect your face from bacteria, chemicals and dirt but is also good for your hands. After you have washed your face, you are highly likely to apply some skincare to your face which you can then rub into your clean hands! And now they will be able to absorb all this goodness because you washed them! No skincare product wasted and you’ve now treated after your face, your neck and your hands!!
What I call a no-brainer!!
I hope this has been helpful! I know we all lead very busy lives, so let’s not waste time on ineffective methods!
Please like and share this post with anyone you may think it will help!
I wish you all a Happy Friday & and fun-filled weekend!
Prioritise yourselves,
Dr Natasha Verma 💕
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