How to Cleanse your Skin Effectively

Good Skincare Starts with Clean Skin

The foundation of any good skincare routine is cleansing.

A good cleanser gently removes excess oil, dead skin cells, dirt, pollution, and makeup, leaving your skin ready for the next steps in your routine.

Washing your face doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s important to know there’s a right way to cleanse it, and the result with any cleanser should be the same: smooth, soft, refreshed skin—never dry, tight, irritated, red, or dull.

All skin types should use a gentle cleanser that isn’t greasy and won’t clog pores.

Here’s my step-by-step for an effective cleanse:

1. Wet your face with cool or lukewarm water (never hot!).
2. Dispense the amount of product into the palm of one hand.
3. Rub your hands together to spread the product.
4. Apply to your face using gentle circular motions. Do this for 20 to 30 seconds, or longer if you’re wearing heavy makeup. Avoid pulling at the skin as much as possible, as it can contribute to sagging.
5. Rinse your face until you don’t feel any cleanser left on the skin.
6. Pat your skin dry with a clean, soft towel (never rub).

Whether you’re using a water-soluble cleanser with a gel, cream, foam, or lotion texture—the most common types—or you have dry skin and prefer a cleansing balm or cleansing oil, the steps for cleansing are similar.

 

And how Do You Use Micellar Water?

These liquid cleansers are, in many ways, similar to water-based makeup removers that contain gentle surfactants—the “Micelles”: tiny structures formed by how surfactants (i.e., cleansing ingredients) combine with water; it’s a way to formulate a cleanser that interacts with oils and debris to lift them away. Micellar technology is effective, but beyond ease of use, this type of cleanser doesn’t have a big advantage over others. Here’s how to use micellar water:

1. Apply micellar water to a cotton pad.
2. Gently sweep it over your face (avoid pulling the skin). Replace each pad with a fresh one until you no longer see any makeup or dirt.
3. Most micellar waters say you don’t need to rinse, but leaving even gentle cleansing agents on the skin longer than necessary isn’t ideal and can lead to irritation. We strongly recommend following up with another cleanser or, if you prefer, simply rinsing with water before continuing the rest of your routine.

 

Removing Eye Makeup

Most cleansers do a great job removing light eye makeup (eyeshadow, eyeliner, regular mascara), but if you use long-wear waterproof formulas, it’s best to use an eye-specific makeup remover.

 

Double Cleansing

While helpful in some situations, the double cleansing method isn’t necessary for everyone. It mostly depends on your skin type and the kind of makeup you wear.

 

Cleansers and Skin Types

Choosing the right texture for your skin type gives you the best chance of getting the results you want.

Keep reading to find out which texture is ideal for your skin type.

If you don’t know your skin type, you can follow my guidelines to find it.

 

Normal Skin

It’s important to cleanse properly, even if you have normal skin. This ensures an effective skincare routine and helps your skin benefit more from the ingredients in the products that follow.

A lotion/cream or foam texture is best for normal skin.

 

Combination Skin

Combination skin needs a product that targets oily areas while staying gentle on dry patches. Makeup should be fully removed, impurities cleansed, and the skin’s balance restored.

A gel or foam texture is best for combination skin.

 

Oily Skin

The goal when cleansing oily skin is to remove excess oil without irritating. This helps prep your skin for the rest of your products and can prevent breakouts.

A gel or foam cleanser is best for oily skin types.

 

Dry Skin

If your skin is already dry, you don’t want your facial cleanser to dry it out even more. With cleansers formulated specifically for dry skin,

you can count on clean, comfortable skin while keeping your skin’s natural barrier intact.

Choose a creamy texture, an oil, or a cleansing balm.

 

Next Steps in Skincare

After cleansing, your skin needs a range of products to help prevent moisture loss, soothe sensitivity, and keep the skin barrier healthy. Learn how to build your basic skincare routine.