Are You Washing Your Face the Wrong Way?

Iiiiiiiiiit's MONDAY!!! Time for our pearls of wisdom from the Daily Glow =). Today Dr. Jessica Wu teaches us how to wash our faces...the RIGHT way! This is what she says:

 Seems obvious, right? Add water, lather, and rinse. After all, you've probably been washing your own face since you were 5 or 6 years old. But have you had any lessons on face washing since then? One of the first things I ask of my new patients is to describe their skin care routines. While most are picky about eye cream and sunscreen, many don't know the brand of cleanser they use, or they simply make do with the bar soap in the shower — the same one they use on their feet and armpits. There's a better way, and it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Here's how to wash your face, in five easy steps:

1. Remove your eye makeup. If you don't, it will smear all over your face, get into your eyes, and take twice as long to remove, especially if it's waterproof. Plus, you'll ruin your towels. I use Clinique's Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips. If you wear contacts, take them out first.

2. Splash with lukewarm water. This will help your cleanser spread over your skin, so you won't have to use as much. Avoid hot water, which can dry out your skin.

3. Use a liquid face wash. Many bar soaps contain strong detergents that make a lot of suds — great for removing grime from dirty hands and feet, but not so great for your face. For normal to oily skin, try a gel or foaming wash, like Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, to help lift off oil and makeup. If your skin is dry or sensitive, your best bet is a creamy or milky cleanser like Boscia Soothing Cleansing Cream.

4. Massage with fingertips and rinse with lukewarm water. Then pat dry with a soft towel; rubbing can redden your face and aggravate breakouts, rosacea, and rashes.

5. Skip the cleanser in the morning. Unless your skin is very oily (or you forgot to wash your face the night before), just splash with lukewarm water to get the sleep out of your eyes.

More tips at the Daily Glow (dot) com =)