Cleansing 101: Are You Washing Your Face Wrong?

Cleansing feels like the one skincare step that's hard to mess up. Wet your face, add product, rinse, done. But it's actually one of the most common places where a routine goes sideways — and if your cleansing habits are off, it can undo the benefits of every other product you're using afterward.

Here's what's worth double-checking.

Mistake #1: Washing Too Often (or Too Little)

Twice a day is the general sweet spot — once in the morning to remove overnight oil buildup, and once at night to clear away the day's dirt, sunscreen, and makeup. Washing more than that can strip your skin and leave it reactive; washing less can let buildup sit on your skin longer than it should.

If you're not wearing makeup or sunscreen, a gentle rinse with water in the morning is sometimes enough — you don't have to double up on cleanser both times if your skin runs dry or sensitive.

Mistake #2: Water That's Too Hot

Hot water feels great, but it strips natural oils from your skin and can leave your barrier more vulnerable to irritation. Lukewarm water does the same cleansing job without the trade-off.

Mistake #3: Scrubbing Instead of Massaging

Your skin doesn't need friction to get clean — it needs the right ingredients and a little time. Use your fingertips in gentle, circular motions for about 30–60 seconds rather than scrubbing back and forth. If you're using a cleanser with any kind of exfoliating bead or grain, that's an even bigger reason to go easy — let the product do the work.

Mistake #4: Using the Wrong Cleanser for Your Skin

A cleanser that works beautifully for oily skin can leave dry skin feeling tight and uncomfortable, and vice versa. A few general guidelines:

• Normal to combination skin does well with a gentle, pH-balanced formula like the Prebiotic Facial Wash, which cleanses without disturbing your skin's natural balance.

• Oily or combination-to-oily skin often benefits from something like a Tea Tree Cleansing Gel, which helps manage excess oil without over-drying.

• Sensitive or dry skin usually does best with a cleanser powered by peptides, like the Peptide Facial Wash, which lifts away impurities while actually adding moisture back in.

If your face ever feels tight or squeaky right after washing, that's usually a sign the formula is too harsh — not a sign it's "extra clean."

Mistake #5: Skipping Double Cleansing When You Need It

If you wear makeup, sunscreen, or a heavier moisturizer, a single cleanse often isn't enough to fully remove it — which means it can sit on your skin overnight. Double cleansing solves this: start with an oil or balm-based cleanser to dissolve makeup and SPF, like a Cleansing Balm, then follow with your regular gentle cleanser to clear away anything left behind.

You don't need this every day — just on days when you're wearing more product than usual.

Mistake #6: Rubbing Your Face Dry

After rinsing, pat your skin dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing. Rubbing creates unnecessary friction, and clean skin is more prone to irritation than you'd think. Once your skin is pat-dry, that's your cue to apply moisturizer — ideally within a couple of minutes, while your skin can still lock in some of that leftover moisture.

The Bottom Line

Cleansing isn't about how "clean" your skin feels afterward — squeaky and tight is actually a sign something's off, not a sign of success. The goal is skin that feels comfortable, balanced, and ready for the rest of your routine.

Small adjustments here can make a bigger difference than people expect. If you're not sure which cleanser actually fits your skin, it's worth asking rather than guessing — feel free to reach out, or come chat about it in our VIP Community on Facebook.