Cleansing 101: The Foundation of Every Skincare Routine (Plus 5 Mistakes to Avoid)
Cleansing is the foundation of skincare. It sounds basic, but doing it correctly — or incorrectly — affects nearly everything else in your routine. This is especially true if you deal with congested, oily, or dull skin, but it matters for every skin type. Here's how I recommend cleansing, and the mistakes I see most often.
Choosing the right cleanser for your skin type
If you have normal or combination skin, reach for a gentle gel cleanser — something that won't overstrip your skin's natural barrier.
For sensitive skin, I recommend Hale & Hush Quiet Wash; it's formulated without common irritants and is genuinely gentle.
If you have dry or mature skin, a creamy cleanser works better. Two of my favorites are GlyMed Mega Purifying Cleanser and Face Reality's Barrier Balance Cleanser. I apply these to bare, dry skin first, then add a little water to massage and emulsify further — that dry-first application helps the product work more effectively on drier skin types.
Whatever your skin type, aim to cleanse and massage for at least one full minute. Most people only cleanse for about 20 seconds, which isn't nearly enough time for your cleanser to actually do its job.
Why you should cleanse twice a day
There's some debate on this, but as an esthetician, I recommend cleansing twice daily — morning and night. You wouldn't skip brushing your teeth in the morning just because you did it the night before; skin works the same way. Overnight, your skin repairs itself and sheds dead skin cells, and your natural circadian rhythm increases oil production during the day — a morning cleanse clears that buildup before it has a chance to clog your pores.
Double cleanse if you wear makeup or SPF
If you wear makeup or SPF daily — which should be everyone — a single cleanse isn't enough. Double cleansing means using an oil or cream cleanser first to break down makeup and sunscreen, followed by a second cleanser (ideally a gentle gel or treatment cleanser) to actually clean out your pores. Skip the second step and you're left with buildup and congestion even if your skin feels clean.
5 cleansing mistakes to avoid
Skipping the double cleanse if you wear SPF or makeup (covered above — it's the single biggest fix most people need).
Skipping your morning cleanse out of fear of stripping your skin — the fix is usually a gentler cleanser, not skipping the step.
Overusing active or exfoliating cleansers. These are great two to three times a week as a gentle boost, but daily use can compromise your barrier, especially if you're also using leave-on actives.
Using the wrong cleanser for your skin type, or the wrong technique — cream and oil cleansers go on dry skin first; gel cleansers should be worked into a light lather in your palms before applying, and massaged in for a full minute.
Washing with water that's too hot. Hot water increases transepidermal water loss (TEWL), worsens redness, and can aggravate rosacea or inflamed acne. Stick to lukewarm water.
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