Let’s Wash Our Face

Let’s talk about washing your face! It’s definitely not hard to do, but let me tell you, there are more details than one might think when it comes to washing your face correctly. Washing your face is the foundation of starting your skincare routine out correctly. We want the cleanest canvas to allow for maximum penetration of all the powerful ingredients for anti-aging, reducing pigmentation, acne healing & overall radiant skin. 

The first step to washing your face and your skincare regimen is finding a cleanser that is best for your skin type! This is critical. Whether you wear makeup or not, the delicate skin on your face comes into contact with pollutants, impurities, and other debris all throughout the day. Because of this, cleansing is a non-negotiable for healthy skin. From the cleanser you start with to the towel you use to dry off, being conscious of how you cleanse is super important.

A good cleanser gently removes excess sebum, dirt and makeup. It leaves your skin feeling clean, fresh, and ready for the next steps in your skincare routine. A good cleanser will be gentle, fragrance-free, and irritant free.  Cleansers are not a one-size-fits-all situation. In fact, how to choose the right cleanser actually depends on your skin type. Whether you have oily, dry, combination, or acne and redness-prone skin, I am here to help you choose the best cleanser for your skin!

Which RFA Cleanser Is Right For Me?

Our RFA cleansers are formulated with the highest quality ingredients and do not contain the top 5 toxic ingredients like other cleansers on the market. 

• Dry skin: Gentle Foaming Cleanser
• Normal: Gentle Foaming Cleanser/Purifying Cleanser
• Combination/Oily: Gentle Foaming Cleanser/Purifying Cleanser
• Sensitive: Gentle Foaming Cleanser
• Acne: Purifying Cleanser

Suitable for all skin types for the best pre-cleanse – Cleansing Balm. RFA Cleansing Balm is designed to serve as your “pre-cleanse’—your first step in removing makeup, dirt, and debris without stripping your skin. The powerful hydrating properties of Sodium Hyaluronate and soothing benefits of Camellia Sinensis Green Tea will leave your skin feeling deeply conditioned.

The Not So Basic Basics

First things first… wash those hands! Just as you brush your teeth twice a day, your face isn’t any different, everyone should be washing their face morning and night. In the morning, one round of cleansing will do, since you will have washed your face the night before. Going to bed with makeup on your face is an absolute NO NO! But you may think, why should I wash my face if I went to bed with it clean? The reason being, while you sleep at night your skin is in repair mode, excreting toxins and oils, thus we want the cleanest slate for the new day.

After a long day though, that is when the double cleanse is essential and so beneficial. What exactly is double cleansing? Washing your face twice, the 1st time as a pre-cleanse and the 2nd time as your deeper cleanse. The benefit of double cleansing is that the first cleanser will break down any makeup, remove dirt and excess oils from the day and clean your skin. The second cleanser will address your particular skin type or concern and should have ingredients to hydrate, exfoliate, and/or treat your skin. 

I recommend our RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser for the 1st cleanse. You will apply this to your dry face and slowly add water with your fingertips to emulsify makeup and product using a circular motion. Once emulsified, use a clean microfiber cloth or gentle washcloth and gently wipe away the cleanser.  Do this until all cleanser has been removed. Your second cleanse is tailored to your skin type that we have customized for you. Again, using your fingertips in a gentle, circular upward motion.

Direction, Clean Towels & Water Temperature

The direction of how you wash your face is important. We want to be gentle, not vigorous and move in an upward motion. Don’t tug down on your skin, this can cause unwanted pressure and wrinkles on our delicate skin. A circular and upward motion is the best way to cleanse and apply any skincare products or makeup. An upward and outward circular motion helps stimulate blood flow and improves circulation. 

A clean, soft towel and the right temperature water is another vital part of your routine. Cold water doesn’t properly remove dirt and debris, while hot water can dry out your skin… so WARM water it is! A fresh washcloth that is ONLY for your face helps prevent transferring any unwanted bacteria or oils to our skin. Bacteria likes warm, moist environments and if you leave your towel out and reuse for multiple washes, it can easily accumulate bacteria that you then would be transferring to your face. Now, pat, pat, pat… don’t rub your face dry with a harsh washcloth. 

Makeup wipes, skip them! They are better than nothing once in a while, if you don’t have anything to wash your face with, but they shouldn’t be a regular part of your routine. They contain tons of harsh chemicals and truly don’t clean your face. 

Now that we have a clean face, it’s time to apply those powerful products to help address our skin concerns and moisturize! Moisturizing your face and not over-exfoliating are two other key parts of your routine, but I’ll save those tips for another time! Let me help you with your customized skincare routine. Check out our Exclusive AI Skin Assessment to determine what products are best for your skin!

XO-

Racquel