Facial cleansing

Choose a cleanser that the skin tolerates well

For normal to dry skin, a cream or milk texture may be comfortable. Oily skin may prefer a gentle gel, without trying to remove any feeling of suppleness after rinsing. If your skin reacts easily, choose a fragrance-free formula. The product should remove residue without regularly leaving redness, burning or tightness; its texture and foam volume are not enough to judge its softness.

The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser kept in the recommendations corresponds to a non-foaming hydrating cleanser intended mainly for normal to dry skin. It is used on damp skin and rinsed. Check the reference received: CeraVe offers several cleaners, with different textures and uses.

Start with a gentle wash

Wash your hands, wet your face with lukewarm water and spread a small amount of cleanser with your fingers. Massage to reach the different areas, without prolonging the action until the skin creaks. Follow its instructions and above all take the time to cover the face without insisting unnecessarily on the same place.

Rinse thoroughly, then dab with a clean towel instead of rubbing. Cleaning brushes, rough gloves and abrasive sponges are not necessary for this daily procedure. If you're already using a retinoid or exfoliant, a simple cleanser helps avoid adding a new source of irritation to a routine that's already taxing your skin.

Don't stop at the cheeks and forehead

Go over the sides of the nose, temples, hairline, chin and under the jawline. The neck, nape and outside of the ears also deserve to be cleaned when they have received sunscreen, hair products or a lot of perspiration.

Under a beard, direct water and product to the skin rather than only washing the surface of the hair. Rinse at the base of the beard, particularly under the chin where residue may remain. Find our advice in the Beard and mustache sheet.

Adapt the frequency rather than multiplying the washes

The evening is a useful time to remove the products and accumulations of the day. In the morning, cleansing may be appropriate if your skin is oily or if treatments from the day before need to be removed. Dry, tight skin can better tolerate a light rinse when you wake up and a real cleansing in the evening. This is a comfort adjustment, to be reviewed if you are following a treatment with special instructions.

After a sweaty activity, clean your face rather than letting residue dry under a cap or helmet. On the other hand, avoid re-washing every little shine. On acne-prone skin, washing more often and rubbing the spots can worsen the irritation; this does not replace appropriate treatment when acne persists.

Remove resistant products without insisting

If your regular cleanser does a good job of removing the day's products, you can stop there. For stubborn makeup or very resistant sunscreen, a cleansing oil or balm can make removal easier. Follow its instructions for use, often on dry skin before emulsifying and rinsing. A second gentle cleanser can supplement if needed, without automatically turning every evening into two washes.

For the eye area, use a product intended for this area and avoid pulling on the skin or rubbing the eyelashes. A food oil is not the equivalent of a cleansing oil formulated to rinse. If you use micellar water, follow its instructions and monitor tolerance: repeated passes with cotton can also irritate sensitive skin.

Maintain comfort after rinsing

Then apply the treatments included in your routine, in particular a moisturizer if your skin needs it. A so-called moisturizing cleanser remains a product that you rinse off: it does not necessarily replace a cream. If you are using a treatment requiring very dry skin, respect this time before applying it rather than applying it immediately to a face that is still wet.

Repeated tugging prompts review of product, water temperature and frequency before adding more serums. Stop using a cleanser that causes a marked reaction. If redness, burning or peeling persists, seek medical advice: dermatitis or other conditions are not necessarily resolved by simply changing the texture.