Wash Your Hands, Wash Your Face

Scrolling social media I have found a ton of tutorials on how to wash your hands. The length of time needed, proper technique, and even hand soap recommendations (anything that foams!), which is honestly great. Knowledge is power, right? I didn’t see a single post for correctly taking care of the skin on your face. Maybe you're thinking that hand washing is a priority right now, not face washing. I disagree. I’m not telling you to forgo the hand washing, but with all of this time in quarantine, isn’t it a great opportunity to learn how to properly take care of your skin and create new, lasting habits that will benefit you for years to come?

Here it is - proper face washing techniques, what products do, and how to use them. 

Step 1: Cleansing

Cleansing is simply washing away dirt, dead skin cells, makeup, and anything else that can clog pores or make your skin unhappy. It’s not necessarily how you wash your face that is important, but when, how often, and products used. At the very least, wash your face before going to bed. This will rid your skin of anything that it came in contact with, including pollution, dirt, makeup, and anything else that can cause irritation, inflammation, and breakouts. Best practice is to also wash your face in the morning. I know that it seems like your skin should still be fairly clean from the nightly cleanse, but oils from hair and bacteria from saliva are easily transferred to your face as you sleep. Any products that you used before going to bed also need to be washed off to have a fresh start with your daily products. 

Water temperature is also a factor in cleansing. Hot temperatures usually feel the best and product steam, so it seems like they would be the most beneficial, but actually these steamy temps are too harsh. For minimal skin damage use a nice lukewarm temperature. When applying the cleanser, try not to be aggressive. Use gentle massaging motions for 20 - 30 seconds. Make sure that you work up to a nice lather and massage around the jawline. 

We have the when and how often, now the product. Liquid cleansers are usually less harsh, but bar soaps are perfectly fine if they are made specifically for your face. Newly Organic’s cleanser is gentle and effective for all skin types. Stay away from cleansers (unless saponified in a bar soap, like this charcoal soap or blemish bar) that contain coconut oil. Although this is a natural moisturizer, it is also comedogenic which means that it causes clogged pores and blemishes. Oil in cleansers is not a bad thing, but be aware of which oils work best for your skin. Anything at chain stores usually contain a ton of fillers and unnatural ingredients. Look for products with five (5) ingredients or less and all active ingredients. 

Step 2: Toning

Toning is the most misunderstood step of a skin care routine. Most people find it unnecessary, but trust me - this is one that you don’t want to skip. Toners remove any residue from your cleanser, close pores, and tighten pores after cleansing. This reduces penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants. Toners also restore your skin’s natural pH balance (remember my blog post about exfoliating with baking soda and the importance of restoring pH balance?) Keeping your pH in check helps skin focus on protecting your body instead of working overtime to create a balance. 

The most effective and gentle toners contain rose water and/or witch hazel. Rose water not only restores the skin’s pH, but also cleans pores and tightens capillaries, removes oil and dirt, and controls excess oil making it a great addition to any toner. Witch hazel acts as an astringent to restore pH, remove excess oil and dirt, and tightens pores. These two ingredients paired in any product, like Newly Organic’s toner, is an excellent addition to your skin care routine. 

To apply toner, use a cotton round (I like reusable ones that can just be thrown in the washer) and glide it all over your face. Toner is too thin to be applied with fingers and won’t be distributed evenly. Make sure that you get under your jawline and all the way up to your hairline. 

Step 3: Moisturizing

The final step in your new skin care routine. All skin types need moisturizer. As we age, our skin’s ability to retain moisture declines causing premature aging and generally unhealthy skin. Regardless of how oily your skin is, a moisturizer still proves to be beneficial to counteract wrinkles and early signs of aging. 

Day and night moisturizers differ and should be used differently. Your day moisturizer is created to protect your skin from environmental stressors that happen when leaving your home. The most important ingredient is some type of sunscreen, preferably naturally derived, like the zinc in Newly Organic’s moisturizer. These creams usually have a lighter consistency and should be rich with natural ingredients like butters and oils. 

Your night cream is created to focus on repairing damage and replenishing moisture levels. These creams usually have a thicker consistency and may contain ingredients that are not safe in the sun (such as photosensitive essential oils). Newly Organic’s night cream has a rich, thick texture and naturally restores your skin as you sleep. These creams should also be packed with natural ingredients, but tend to contain heavier oils, like olive oil and beeswax.  

These creams should be applied similarly to cleanser. Apply to face using gentle massage motions until creams are evenly applied and absorbed. Reminder - when dipping into these creams daily, use a spatula or something similar to scoop your cream. Do not use your fingers! Any dirt and contaminants will remain in your cream and will not only be applied to your face daily, but will also shorten the life of your product.  

Step 4: Serums and Eye Creams

Serums and eye creams are valuable, but not necessary in a daily routine. Serums are powerful skin allies that contain concentrated potent ingredients to combat numerous issues. The formula is usually specialized for a specific result or to give your skin a boost. These should be used as needed and can either be applied to a specified area or all over, depending on your skin concerns.

The skin around the eyes is thin and delicate and may require a specialized cream. Dark circles, puffiness, and dryness are all concerns that can be addressed with an eye cream. Like serums, these creams are more concentrated than other skin care products, but are also formulated with more tolerable ingredients due to the eye’s sensitivity. When looking for an eye cream, you should find a product with more natural ingredients and less fillers and active ingredients to ensure eye safety. 

Let’s wash, tone, and moisturize and come out of this quarantine with healthier skin and habits.