SO it turns out we’ve all be washing our faces wrong.
It’s something most of us do every day, so it’s a bit of a shocker that experts claim we’ve been doing more harm than good all time.
Getty – ContributorA survey found over half of people tend to over or under-wash their face.[/caption]
So much so that a survey, by skincare brand Cerave, found over half (55 per cent) of people tend to over or under-wash their face.
While 42 per cent are using water alone to cleanse their faces, the research found.
We spoke to Emma Coleman, a dermatology and aesthetics specialist nurse, to find out common mistakes people are making when it comes to their skin.
1. Dirty business
I think we can all agree that one of the worst things you can do for your face is use a dirty face cloth.
“Leaving your cloth hanging around the bathroom for days on end between uses creates a petri-dish for bacteria,” Emma warns.
She urges people to wash their cloths in the washing machine after every two uses.
“And make sure to rinse well with hot water after each use,” she adds.
2. Temperature control
“Using overly hot water encourages thread veins to appear and can flare up acne and rosacea,” the nurse explains.
While using cold water can cause dryness.
“Instead go for tepid water,” she says.
3. What a drag
Washing your face can sometimes hurt a bit.
“Rubbing your face can cause irritation and upset the fine balance of bacteria on skins surface,” Emma explains.
“Splash tepid water over the face and if using a cloth apply light circular motions rather than dragging the skin,” she adds.
4. Hard truth
Water quality is not really something you can control.
And sadly, the type of water that pours from your tap can really affect your skin.
“If you live in a hard water area the high levels of limescale present can flare up eczema and lead to dry skin,” Emma says.
To combat this, try applying an emollient as you wash such as Cetraben or Aqueous cream to seal in moisture as you wash.
5. Overboard
The saying is true: there really is too much of a good thing.
“Washing the face once or twice daily is more than enough to keep your skin clean.
“Over-washing can irritate and upset the skins microbiome,” Emma explains.