Skin care

FYI: You're Washing Your Face All Wrong

These rookie mistakes can ruin your skin

by Allie Flinn | 4 COMMENTS

PHOTO 4/9

You Chase That Squeaky-Clean Feeling The tight, tingly, oh-so-clean feeling you get after you remove your makeup, cleanse and sweep toner over your face is the skin care equivalent of washing a Rolls-Royce with a sand blaster and buffing it dry with wet sandpaper. Harsh cleansers or using too many products, especially in combos that are lethal, strip away natural (read: healthy, nourishing) oils and irritate your skin. Best of all? It gives you a "false sense of cleanliness," says Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas. You think you're all clean, but really, you've just stripped away the protective barrier that keeps your skin moisturized and healthy.

The fix: If you have sensitive or dry skin, scale back to two products, max. (makeup remover and cleanser). Avoid cleansers that foam right out of the pump, which tend to contain soap surfactants (the ingredients that make it lather), which can strip and irritate skin, says Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas. And what about this double-cleansing process we've been hearing about? It's a good way to get your skin super clean, especially if your face is all sweaty from working out, or you're wearing heavy makeup. "Do not use exfoliating beads or grains to double cleanse," warns Miami-based dermatologist Betty Bellman, M.D. Instead, remove your makeup with a cleansing wipe or gentle makeup remover before following with your cleanser.

SEE NEXT PAGE: You Treat Your Face Like You Treat Your Armpits

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