Are you washing your face the right way?

How often should you wash?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing twice a day: morning and evening. Once more if you have sweated a lot after exercise or on a hot day. Washing more often than that only wears your skin out.

Step by step

• 1Wet your face with lukewarm water. Hot water dries the skin more.
• 2Apply the cleanser with your fingertips. A washcloth, sponge or loofah can irritate the skin.
• 3Don't scrub; light, circular movements are enough.
• 4Rinse well with lukewarm water; leave no foam at the hairline or under the chin.
• 5Pat dry with a soft towel.
• 6Apply your moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp.

Choosing a cleanser

Harsh, high-foaming surfactants remove dirt, but they also strip the oils from the top layer of your skin. If your skin feels tight after washing, your cleanser may be too harsh for you. A gentle, alcohol-free gel is enough for most skin.

Common mistakes

• 1Washing your face with very hot water in the shower.
• 2Rubbing your face hard with a towel.
• 3Washing three or four times a day and drying your skin out.
• 4Going to bed in makeup; the evening wash removes the day's dirt and makeup.