The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleansing Your Skin

Cleansing your face might sound like an easy task, but properly caring for your skin can be a complex process. Facial cleansing should be the first step of your skincare routine, so it’s important that you do it correctly and reveal a clean base that is ready for your toners, serums, and moisturisers. If you would like a complete breakdown of everything you should and shouldn’t do when cleansing your skin, keep on reading!

Do: Cleanse twice a day

It is highly recommended to cleanse your face twice a day – once in the morning and once at night. Our skin is exposed to various pollutants and irritants twenty-four hours a day, even while we’re asleep. Throughout the day, our skin produces sebum and oil that can build up, clog our pores, and cause breakouts. If you don’t cleanse twice a day, you are putting your skin in danger of acne.

Don’t: Use hot water

Hot water can irritate and dehydrate the skin, stripping it of its natural oils and moisture. Although it might feel good to cleanse your skin with hot water, it’s not good for your face! Rather than using hot water, stick to a lukewarm temperature – this will effectively get rid of any grime on your face without drying your skin out.

Do: Double cleanse

You should always double cleanse when washing your face. This involves the process of using two cleansing products – firstly a cleansing oil or balm, then a gentle cleanser that will nourish and hydrate your skin, removing any leftover residue in the process. In the first cleanse, it’s important to use thick, textured products such as oils and balms that can properly break down and remove your makeup and sunscreen. The second cleanse will leave your skin looking radiant and hydrated, removing everything that was hiding underneath that first layer of grime.

Don’t: Rely on Face Wipes

We know how hard it can be to properly wash your face after a big night out – it’s so easy to just resort to using disposable face wipes instead! However, it’s important to keep in mind that face wipes often contain high levels of alcohol and harmful chemicals which can cause dryness, irritation, and disrupt the pH balance of your skin. The texture of face wipes can also cause micro-tears on the skin, contributing to premature ageing. Therefore, you definitely shouldn’t be using face wipes on a regular basis and should only keep them in case of emergencies!

Do: Pat Dry

Never let your face air dry after cleansing! This does not hydrate the face – in fact, it does the opposite. When water is not dried from the face, it can dehydrate the top layer of the skin, making it rigid and preventing proper skin cell turnover. After cleansing, you should always gently pat your face dry with a clean, soft, antimicrobial towel. Make sure to take extra caution around the under-eye area, being careful not to stretch the skin and cause wrinkles. Avoid rubbing the towel over the skin as this can lead to skin irritation and inflammation.

Don’t: Forget the neck and décolletage

The neck and décolletage areas are extremely delicate and prone to premature ageing. Since there are less oil glands in the neck, the skin here is typically dryer, causing it to age quicker. In the same way that the face does, these areas attract dirt and grime that needs to be cleansed away. Therefore, you should never leave out the neck and décolletage when cleansing your face! Remember to be extremely gentle in this area as you don’t want to stretch or irritate the skin and contribute to premature ageing.

Feel free to call us or come into the clinic if you have any further questions!
P: (07) 3207 4100⁠
W: https://lapeau.com.au/
A: Suite 12/120 Birkdale Road, Birkdale⁠