Washing your face is one of the easiest yet most important things you can do for your skin. If you don’t know how to wash your face properly, just follow these instructions!

1.Pull your hair back. If you’re washing your face at the sink, hold your hair back with an elastic or a head band. If you’re in the tub or shower, either rinse your hair back or put it in a cap. Remember to get bangs/fringes out of the way if you have any.

2. Splash warm water all over your face. Warm water opens your pores and helps you clean deeper, so avoid using cold water if possible. (You might even want to let your face steam in the bath or shower for a few minutes.) Don’t dry your face yet!

3. Apply a cleanser or soap using gentle, circular motions. Spread all over the face gently, especially if you have acne; scrubbing hard will make it worse or even leave scars. Remember that you don’t need a lot of product for a thorough clean.

Facial scrubs contain tiny beads or particles that help rub away dead skin cells (i.e. exfoliate). This will make your face smoother and fresher looking while helping to unclog your pores.

To exfoliate with regular soap, use a face scrubber (a soft, knit piece of material) or facecloth. Gently rub it in circles over your skin as you did the soap. Don’t scrub hard or you will irritate the skin and encourage wrinkles.

Thoroughly rinse away the soap. Splash your face repeatedly with water, rubbing gently with your hands after each splash. If it all does not come off, wet a cloth and rub your face gently to get the more obvious stuff off, then rinse again.

4.Rinse more than you think you need to. Soap residue will clog your pores, dry out your skin, and possibly even affect your skin’s natural pH. Leaving soap film on your face will make it dirtier than when you started.

Pay extra attention to your hairline, jawline, and anything that drips down your neck. It’s easy to neglect these spots while rinsing.

5. With a soft, clean towel, gently pat your face dry. Try not to rub or pull at your skin, which encourages wrinkles.

6. Apply an alcohol free toner with a cotton ball or pad.

7. Apply moisturiser (optional). Doing this won’t make your face any cleaner, but it can enhance the wash by giving your face a healthy, glowing look.

If you have acne, choose a non-oily moisturizer. If necessary, make sure it won’t conflict with any  products you’re already using.

If you’ll be going outside, use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen, preferably with SPF 15 or 30.