How To Wash Your Face - part 1
Ladies and ….gentlemen!!! The necessity to wash our faces is something not to be overlooked!!
To think of all the nasty things in the air, on our hands, and in daily products that come in contact with our faces is simply disgusting!!
Now think about all the things i just listed and imagine going to sleep tonight. You’re going to fall on the same pillow case you slept on last night, You will fall asleep, start to dream, and your body will begin its night process of restoring and repairing not only your skin but your mind and internal body as well. On the surface, your pores will open on your face as you softly begin to sweat (or heavily depending on who you are) and allow the release of toxins from your body. As this process is happening, whatever is on the surface of your skin will begin to seep into the freshly opened, desperately thirsty pores. Thus begins an unhealthy, habit forming cycle that produces premature aging, unnecessary skin conditions, breakouts, and unhappy morning faces.
The simple solution to wash your face BEFORE you go to sleep will save years from showing up on your face, help you wake up more refreshed, and actually aid your body in ITS attempt to help repair YOU each night as you sleep.
So now i’m sure you’re saying, “Ok, Maresah, it sounds like a simple solution, and i could probably dedicate three minutes of my time before i go to bed at night to prepare my face……..BUT, what in the world do i use? and better yet, How do i do it?”
Well, there is a reason this is called “How To”….i will do my best to never leave you hanging or wondering where, when, or how to do something!
GOALS FOR THE WEEK: 1) Find out if your cleanser is really right for you. 2) Find a cleanser right for you. 3) learn to cleanse more effectively.
So here we go!!
Step 1) WASH YOUR HANDS!!!! Never attempt to cleanse your face without first preparing the instruments to do it; in this case, your hands. also, use a clean towel to dry them… (i generally keep two hand towels for myself, one for my face and one for my hands) this way i don’t have to worry about carrying bacteria from one to the other.
STEP 2) CLEANSE YOUR FACE. Start by splashing some luke warm water on the surface of your face, neck, and upper chest. Apply no more than a dime to nickel size of cleanser to finger tips. Briefly massage in 3 circles into fingers and transfer to face. Begin with the forehead working in outward circular motions, down around the eyes, over the nose, around the lips, along the cheeks and jaw. Move down to the neck area (apply more product if necessary) and use an upward sweeping motion from the clavical to the chin as you cleanse from one side to the other. Move down to the upper chest, and cleanse using circular motions from one side to the other. Allow product to sit for about 10-20 seconds (prolonged exposure to a cleanser can cause irritation so please remember that a cleanser is NOT a mask, it is simply meant to breifly cleanse).
STEP 3) RINSE WITH LUKE WARM WATER. This temperature will not only be sufficient to break down the product, but will help calm the skin, reduce dehydration, and help prevent redness which are all caused by using too hot of water. (Anyone trying to cleanse in the shower and having issues with dry or red skin??) Once rinsed, pat dry with your face specific towel.
The whole cleansing process should take no more than a 40-60 seconds. Very quick. Very simple.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:50 am
I always wash my face before going to bed, but I never really considered why (except to get the make-up off and get rid of some nasty oil!). Very interesting–thanks!
October 15th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Thanks for the great post! I have always washed my face before bed, and have found if I ever skip it- even for one night, blemishes come up.
I would like yto also mention that a good hygiene routine doesn’t always require expensive products like the natural ones you listed above. I avoid strong chemicals and acids by gently washing my face with baking soda morning and evening. Applying tea tree oil to blemishes in the morning, and using apple cider vinegar as an astringent in the evening.
Since adopting this approach(I used to use Aveeno, Nuetragena, etc.) my mild acne has almost completely cleared and my skin seems more balanced. And it’s cheap.
To deeply clean my pores. I occasionally put a towel over my head and hold my face over a bowl of steaming thyme water.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Great post! I’ve always wondered! Question…how do you do your headers with the professional looking pictures and cool fonts? I’ve been trying it on my own blog and it never works. Is there a program or something?
Elyse
October 15th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
I’m great at washing my face–nightly. And, using a fresh wash cloth–but now you are making me want to change my pillow cases daily!!! LOL
xoxo
Sc
October 15th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Yes, like Elyse, I wonder the same thing.
They always look really good!
Blessings,
Rachel
October 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
This is a great post!
I am always trying to find better ways to help my face. I was wondering if it is ok to use regular soap on your face, or if you should use a cleanser?
-June
October 16th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Thanks for the post Maresah! I was wondering, do you have any recommendations as far as cleansers go?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
hey! stay in touch for the next postings…the 18th is going to be discussing specific skin types and recommended cleansers, and the 20th will be suggesting product lines to check out….mostly all natural brands…
also, after Ali’s comment i will be posting a blog about some home remedies for the face etc….: ) also, next week we will be discussing what comes after cleansing, keep checking back in! We have alot of information you’re not going to want to miss!
~maresah~
October 17th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I like soap
October 20th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Hi Maresah!
I saw in the most recent blog that you recommend Arbonne products for faces…thanks!!
As for not washing your face, I heard at a makeup convention that for every night you do not wash your face, it ages your skin 7 days. YUCK!
I also wanted to say that with Arbonne products, barely a PEA size of product is enough to cover your entire face with basically any of our cream products (not just facewash but moisturizer, primer, and foundation). I bought a facewash back in August and it’s still not halfway out yet even though I wash morning and night with it because you only need a tiny bit.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I am usually great about washing my face every night but last week I was sick with H1N1 and couldn’t for a few days, now my skin is really bad and I can’t get rid of a few tiny but annoying blacks I got, any suggestions?
November 30th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
My eldest sister uses Tea tree oil, as suggested above, and it works pretty well, from what I’ve seen.