Mistakes to avoid when washing your face.

Although useful for rinsing the skin, water alone is not sufficient to cleanse the face and remove impurities, makeup, sebum, and pollution particles deposited throughout the day. It is necessary to use a cleanser formulated with surfactants, amphiphilic compounds capable of binding to these impurities with their lipophilic end and to water with their hydrophilic end, thus allowing them to dissolve in water and be removed during rinsing.

For a more effective facial cleansing, we recommend proceeding with a double-cleansingmethod, a technique that involves initially applying an oil-based cleanser before using a water-based product.

Recent work conducted by Li and his team has demonstrated the necessity of using at least an aqueous cleanser for washing the face. In this study, 20 volunteers compared the effectiveness of a makeup removing oil, an aqueous cleanser, and water in removing both water-resistant and non-water-resistant sunscreen. Before and after cleansing photos were taken using the VISIA analysis system, a high-definition visualisation system. After applying the sunscreen, the volunteers waited for 30 minutes in a room with controlled temperature and humidity (20-24°C, 50%-60%), before being asked to remove the sunscreen by gently rubbing their faces for two minutes with either water only (3.5 L), an aqueous cleanser (0.5 g), or a makeup removing oil (0.6 g). The residual rate of sunscreen was then evaluated. The results are compiled in the table below.

While it's crucial to use a cleanser to thoroughly wash the face, it's equally vital to rinse it off properly afterwards. Indeed, product residue can have several negative effects on the skin, ranging from pore blockage to irritations. This risk is particularly relevant for products containing harsh surfactants, such as sulfates, but in reality applies to all cleansers, products designed to be rinsed off after use. Furthermore, thoroughly rinsing the face also prepares the skin to better absorb the forthcoming treatments, which might not penetrate properly in the presence of cleanser residue.

Before washing the face, many overlook a crucial step: washing the hands. Indeed, our hands are constantly in contact with surfaces, objects, and bacteria. If we do not take care to clean them before touching our face, we risk transferring all these impurities and germs directly onto the skin. This oversight can lead to irritations, inflammations or even blemishes, especially for oily skin types.

Washing hands is a straightforward yet crucial action to prevent bacterial contamination or germ transmission.

Another common mistake is washing the face too frequently. This is particularly true for oily skin types, hoping to eliminate excess sebum by increasing the frequency of skin cleansing. However, as mentioned earlier, this is a misguided approach. By excessively stripping the hydrolipidic film, the skin, deprived of its protective lipids, feels attacked and responds by producing more sebum. It is better to perform a gentle cleanse in the morning and a deep cleanse in the evening, using a purifying cleanser if you have oily skin, for instance.

It is generally recommended to cleanse the skin on your face twice a day.

Finally, after washing one's face, it is crucial to apply a moisturising cream suitable for one's skin type. Cleansing, although essential for removing impurities, tends to temporarily destabilise the skin barrier. The skin is then more vulnerable to dehydration as it has lost some of its hydrolipidic film. To restore it and ensure skin balance, it is beneficial to rehydrate the face, using a gel, cream or moisturising balm, depending on your preferences and the needs of your skin. It's worth noting that a moisturising product will not only immediately nourish the skin, but also help it retain its moisture for the coming hours.

At Typology, we offer a variety of moisturising creams so that everyone can find a treatment that suits their needs and skin type.