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.

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.

Washing your face in the shower with the same bar soap you use all over your body ... bad idea. Bar soaps designed for your body use alkaline ingredients that are too harsh for the face, says Dr. Zeichner. The pH level of the alkaline damages the outer layer of your skin, which dries and irritates your skin. Bar soaps also tend to contain fragrances that can cause allergic reactions.

The fix: If you're stranded without face wash -- for instance, you're at a hotel and you forgot your cleanser at home -- skip the bar soap and gently rub your face with warm water and a fresh washcloth, says Dr. Zeichner.

Lemme guess: You walk into a drugstore and grab whatever face wash is on sale. Or maybe you still use the same cleanser you used in high school when you had acne. Big mistakes. Your adult skin is entirely different from your teen skin -- your breakouts are different, the amount of moisture and elasticity in your skin is different, the issues affecting your skin (hormones, stress) are different.

The cleanser you use can exacerbate whatever skin issues you have. Example? If you have dry skin and acne, using a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide will only dry and irritate your skin more, says Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas.

The fix: Use a cleanser specifically designed for your skin type (oily, dry, combo or normal), not your skin problems. Kinda obvious, right? But do you actually know your skin type? Here's how to figure it out, once and for all: examine your skin in the morning, midday and at night. If you look in the mirror midday and your entire face is shiny, you have oily skin. If the oiliness is only on your T-zone (your chin, forehead, and between your cheeks), you've got combination skin. Dry skin will feel tight even after moisturizing. And if you find that taking your makeup off at night irritates your skin and makes it sensitive to the touch -- do we need to spell it out for you? (S-E-N-S-I-T-I-V-E.) If none of these apply to you, you have normal skin.

So which kind of cleanser should you choose? Dr. Marina Peredo, associate clinical professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, says that a gentle cleansing cream works well for all skin types. If you have dry skin, avoid products containing alcohol, which can further dry you out. Sensitive skin ladies should steer clear of products with fragrances and look for soothing ingredients like aloe vera and chamomile, says aesthetician Gary Dickman.

The thing about a "routine" is, you've gotta do it the same way every time. But maybe every now and then, you decide it's more important to watch the past three episodes of Downton Abbey than go through the rigamarole of removing your makeup, washing your face, toning, serum-ing and moisturizing. You might not notice it tomorrow morning, but skipping even one night of basic cleansing clogs pores because it gets in the way of cell turnover. No cell turnover = dull skin, blackheads and wrinkles.

And, if you're not consistent with the rest of your post-washing skin care regimen, whatever it involves -- applying a prescription retinol, patting a rich nighttime moisturizer around your face, using an eye cream -- you'll never see the results they promise or get your money's worth out of those products.

The fix: According to Dr. Peredo, at a bare minimum, your daily and weekly cleansing routine should look like this, no excuses: cleanse twice a day, exfoliate twice a week and wear moisturizer with sunscreen during the day, year-round. If you have acne-prone skin, skip grainy physical exfoliants in favor of chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid. To treat uneven skin tone or aging skin issues, exfoliate with a glycolic acid.

Your routine should also include regular facials -- ideally every four to six weeks. Because your skin cells turn over approximately once a month, periodic facials can remove the dead cells and reveal the healthy layer of skin underneath, says Dickman. If a regular professional facial isn't in your budget, getting one even twice per year can help. Think of it as one of your regular health checkups, like getting a pap smear or teeth cleaning (only much more pleasant).

And don't expect immediate, miraculous results -- Dr. Bellman says it takes about a month to see changes in your skin after sticking to a good routine.