5 Facial Cleanser Dos and Don'ts

Facial cleanser is essentially the foundation for your skin care routine. Before you apply your facial serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and makeup, you’ll want to cleanse your complexion to help remove dirt and impurities from the surface of your skin. But are you using your facial cleanser the right way? Although you may think this is a pretty simple skin care step, there is some technique involved. Here are five facial cleanser dos and don’ts to keep in mind the next time you head to your bathroom sink and wash your face. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DON’T #1: CLEANSE WITH DIRTY HANDS

If you’re going to touch your face, no dirty hands! Before cleansing your skin, wash your hands—that way you can help avoid transferring bacteria from your fingers to your face. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DO #1: WET YOUR HANDS AND FACE FIRST

If you’re going to use a rinse-off facial cleanser, wet your hands and splash your face with water before applying the cleanser to your skin. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DON’T #2: BE ROUGH WITH YOUR FACE

Good skin care is all about treating your skin kindly—that means there’s no need to be rough. So, don’t scrub harshly when you’re cleansing your skin. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DO #2: TREAT CLEANSING AS A MASSAGE

Is there ever a bad time to fit in a massage? Why not use your cleansing routine as an opportunity to squeeze in a bit of pampering and give yourself a facial massage? With the tip of your fingers, gently massage your face wash onto your skin. Apply with small circular motions and use light pressure before rinsing off with water. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DON’T #3: OVER-CLEANSE YOUR SKIN

When it comes to using a facial cleanser, in general, doing so twice a day—once in the morning and once at night—should be sufficient. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DO #3: PICK the best facial cleanser for your skin type

Not all facial cleansers are created equal—and what works for one person may not necessarily be the best option for someone else. Just as you might pick a different moisturizer or foundation than your friend, you should choose your facial cleanser based on your skin type. Find our best cleansers for dry skin, oily skin, mature skin, and sensitive skin types below:

If you have dry skin…try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser. This gentle foaming facial cleanser helps to remove all traces of makeup and impurities, while gently exfoliating dead skin cells.

If you have oily skin...try the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Purify and Mattify Cleanser. This clay-to-mousse facial cleanser formula helps remove impurities and excess oil and leaves skin with a matte (a.k.a. non-shiny) finish. 

If you have mature skin…try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Nourishing Cream Cleanser. This daily cream facial cleanser with replenishing oils gently yet effectively removes traces of makeup. 

If you have sensitive skin…try the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser – Normal to Dry Skin. This no-rinse facial cleanser, which is free of oil, soap, and alcohol, removes makeup and dirt in one step without stripping the skin and causing dryness.

FACIAL CLEANSER DON’T #4: USE STEAMY HOT WATER 

While using super-hot H20 to cleanse your skin might feel relaxing, it’s not the best option. That’s because hot water can strip your skin of essential oils, which can leave your skin feeling drier. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DO #4: RINSE WITH LUKEWARM WATER

Since you now know that hot water can do a number to your skin, go ahead and turn down the dial the next time you wash your face. Cleanse your face in lukewarm water instead. 

FACIAL CLEANSER DON’T #5: RUB WHILE DRYING 

Put that towel down! Like we told you earlier, it’s all about being gentle with how you handle your skin. Getting too aggressive when drying your complexion can be irritating, so just gently blot your face dry with a towel (but not before applying moisturizer—more on that below!). 

FACIAL CLEANSER DO #5: APPLY MOISTURIZER BEFORE YOU DRY OFF

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the best time to apply moisturizer is when your skin is still damp after cleansing. So, before you even grab your towel, apply your moisturizer. As for what to use, you’ll want your moisturizer to match your skin type—just like your facial cleanser. Try the L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care – Normal/Oily Skin, L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care – Normal/Dry Skin, or L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care – Extra Dry Skin.

Now that you’ve got these facial cleanser dos and don’ts down pat, take your routine to the next level by reading up on How to Double Cleanse.