Skin care

FYI: You're Washing Your Face All Wrong

These rookie mistakes can ruin your skin

by Allie Flinn | 4 COMMENTS

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You're Still Using a Terrycloth Washcloth You might feel like like you're exfoliating all your troubles away with that old school terrycloth washcloth, but it's too easy to over-scrub when you use those soft (seeming) cloths. Then, you're not exfoliating, you're creating tiny tears in your skin, which can lead to inflammation and wrinkles. Oh, and those washcloths are havens for bacteria. Think about it: you wash your face, (kinda) rinse and wring the washcloth out, then let it air dry until you use it again. There are dead skin cells on that washcloth. There's ample opportunity and time for bacteria and other microbes to grow and spread. So, unless you're using a fresh, clean cloth every day, you're washing your face with ... ick.

The fix: If you absolutelycannot stand the thought of only using your hands and fingertips to wash your face and don't want to shell out for a face-washing gadget, switch over to a muslin cloth. These 100 percent cotton, lightweight cloths won't irritate your skin and dry quickly. If you rinse the cloths thoroughly in hot water and let them air dry, they're good to go for a couple days. Wash them every other day with your regular load of whites. If your skin is sensitive to detergent, boil the cloth in water and let it air dry.

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