Skincare 101: how to cleanse face

Hey, Mazzi here! 💁‍♀️ As the owner of a skincare company, I am always asked by friends and family about how they can build their own skincare routine. They’re so curious about skincare – from using the right techniques and the best products – but are also overwhelmed by the amount of information out there.

That’s why I decided to share this series exploring the 3 essential parts of skincare – a simple, accessible, and intuitive approach to understanding and enjoying the skin you’re in!

This growing guide of content should act like a “little library” for your skincare basics so that you can build your own personalized routine. No need to take intense notes – our Skincare 101 is a mixture of common sense and skin wisdom that I and other skin-thusiasts have explored while creating high-quality all-natural products.

Let’s get sk-in to it!

This week in our Skincare 101 series, we are diving face-first into the most important step of any skincare routine – cleansing!

What is cleansing?

Our pores help our skin breathe, but they also act as a barrier to everyday elements by trapping impurities and grime that we face. Cleansing – removal of impurities like makeup, sunscreen, dirt, dust, sweat, and more – is essential to our skin’s regeneration process so that it can continue to protect us. Regular cleansing helps shed dead skin cells, maintain the natural skin barrier, and can help even skin tone, texture & pigment.

How is cleansing different from washing my face or using makeup wipes?

Cleansing typically requires the use of gentle or active ingredients that clean below the skin’s surface to unclog pores. Water alone will not penetrate the skin but instead will just sit on top of your skin’s natural oils.

Makeup wipes are also a disappointment if you’re trying to deep clean your skin. Don’t be fooled, although they seem like a quick & easy way to clean your face before bed, wipes miss the mark. Whoever told you that makeup wipes also work as a face cleanser – that person is walking around with a dirty face. Essentially, wipes just loosen makeup and grime so that it is moved around the surface of the skin but not removed.

Whoever told you that makeup wipes also work as a face cleanser – that person is walking around with a dirty face.
mazzi peled

When and how often should I cleanse?

Most of us are in the daily habit of rinsing our faces with water first thing in the morning – this is great! As we sleep for around 8 hours a night (hopefully!) our bodies & faces are still producing oil and sweat even at rest. Our pillow cases especially are traps for these excretions from our skin and hair – that’s why it’s important to change them regularly. read more about the importance of cleansing your face

We recommend rinsing your face with warm water in the morning and then patting dry with a soft skin-safe towel – B
UT save your cleansing routine for the evening before bed. Although you can cleanse your skin twice a day, this may be overly drying for most people and could possibly lead to an over-production of the skin’s natural oils. After cleansing, you can apply your thicker, moisturizing creams and active ingredient serums like retinol that will be absorbed overnight as you sleep.

What makes a good cleanser?

With so many cleansers and exfoliants on the markets, the choices can feel overwhelming – we have some specific DOs and DON’Ts:

DO:

Use products that are gentle & mild to all skin types
Look for naturally anti-inflammatory ingredients like tea tree and turmeric
Avoid harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, or sls

DON’T:

Tug, pick or pull at the skin’s surface – especially dry skin or blemishes.
Use abrasive cleansers that contain microplastics or gritty natural bits
Opt for foaming cleansers that tend to strip or dry out the skin

What is the proper cleansing technique?

Got an amazing face cleanser but not sure if you’re using it right? Here’s the most thorough and fool-proof way to cleanse and get the most out of your product.

Step 1: Wet face

Use warm water to moisten your face

Start by using lukewarm (but not hot!) water to moisten the face. Water that is too hot can dry out and damage the skin. Once your face is wet, it will be easier to coax oil and grime from your pores.

Step 2: Apply a small amount to the hands

Just a dime size will do

A little goes a long way with good cleansers. Apply a dime-sized amount to a flat part of your hand, either the palm or back, then with moist fingers from your other hand – lather the product until begins to foam slightly and spread.

Step 3: Distribute around the face AND neck

Be sure not to miss any spots

Cleansing your face also includes your neck, hairline, sides of the nose, eyebrows, and even behind the ears! These areas also produce oil and sweat in excess, often causing clogged pores, blackheads, and blemishes.

Step 4: Massage onto skin and let sit

Help the cleanser do its job

Using the pads of your fingertips, massage the activated cleanser around your face and neck – be careful to avoid the eyes so as not to irritate them. Do this for about 1 minute then let the product sit for another minute to really deep clean.

Step 5: Rinse and let air-dry

Gently wash away cleanser and dry naturally

Using cool water, wash away the excess product to reveal a freshly cleansed face. When drying your skin, you can either patiently air-dry OR gently pat down your face with a soft clean towel.

Protect your skin and it will thank you!

Up Next Week: Let’s Moisturize!

We’ll be hopping right into the basics of moisturizing, with step-by-step tutorials and product recommendations. Stay tuned for guest skin experts like dermatologists and estheticians who share their advanced tips on skincare once you’ve mastered the basics of Latika’s Skincare 101.

If there are specific questions you have about skincare that you would like us to answer in future editions – feel free to comment below!

Let’s get sk-in to it!