Facial cleansing is the most basic and critical step in skin care. However, unfortunately, many people either underestimate this step or unknowingly damage their skin with the wrong products. Yet, the choice of cleanser and how you cleanse directly affect the overall health of your skin. The wrong cleanser can render even the best serums and creams ineffective.
The job of a cleanser is not to tighten, dry out, or “deeply purify” the skin. Its job is to gently cleanse the skin of dirt, oil, and residue that accumulates throughout the day without tiring it.
The Biggest Misconception: Clean Skin = Tight Skin
Many people interpret the tight feeling of their skin after washing their face as “well cleansed.” However, this feeling is often a sign that the skin barrier is damaged. Cleansers that give a “squeaky clean” feeling remove not only dirt but also the skin’s natural protective oil layer.
Although this situation gives a refreshing feeling in the short term, it can lead to problems such as dryness, redness, sensitivity, and sudden oiliness in the long term. This is because the skin starts to produce more oil to compensate for the oil it has lost.
Cleansers Not Suitable for Skin Type
Using a cleanser that is not suitable for your skin type is one of the most common mistakes made in facial cleansing. Using harsh and foaming products on dry skin can cause the skin to dry out and flake even more. Oily skin, on the other hand, may increase acne problems by disrupting the oil balance by using excessive purifying products.
In sensitive skin, choosing the wrong cleanser can create redness, burning, and stinging sensations. For this reason, how the skin feels when choosing a cleanser is very important. After cleansing, the skin should be comfortable, not tight, and should not cause discomfort.
How Often Should You Wash Your Face?
The frequency of face washing is just as important as product selection. The face should be washed no more than twice a day: morning and evening. Washing more often does not cleanse the skin; on the contrary, it wears it out. Washing your face repeatedly during the day, in particular, causes the skin barrier to weaken.
Evening cleansing is important to remove dirt, oil, and sunscreen residue that accumulates throughout the day. Morning cleansing, on the other hand, is sufficient to gently cleanse the oil and sweat secreted overnight.
Moisturizing is Essential After Cleansing
Facial cleansing alone is not enough. The skin must be moisturized after cleansing. While cleansing, the cleanser may cause some moisture loss, even if it is minimal. Using a moisturizer helps to balance this loss and protect the skin barrier.
When the moisturizing step is skipped, the skin dries out more quickly, becomes sensitive, and becomes defenseless against external factors. This situation paves the way for more skin problems in the following stages.
What Should Not Be Expected from a Cleanser?
A cleanser is not a skincare product. It is not correct to expect it to lighten blemishes, remove wrinkles, or renew the skin. The only job of a cleanser is to cleanse. The main active effect in skin care is achieved with the products used after cleansing.
For this reason, the simpler and gentler you choose the cleanser, the more efficiently the remaining steps of skin care will work.
Conclusion
Facial cleansing is the basis of skin care, but when done incorrectly, it causes the greatest damage here. Cleansers that soothe, not tighten, the skin should be preferred; the face should be washed no more than twice a day, and moisturizing should be done after cleansing. The most important thing to remember is this: Cleanser does not fix the skin, it only prepares it for proper care.
