Washing your face is important. However, I would recommend you only wash your face 1 or 2 times a day. The most important time to wash your face is in the evening before you go to bed to remove all make up, oil, dirt, and impurities. Washing your face more than 2 times a day may cause dryness, irritation, sensitivity, and may also cause your acne to worsen. Below is a simple skin care routine that shouldn't take more than 5 minutes:
MORNING:
Step 1: Cleanser
Use a gentle, water soluble cleanser all over your face with a soft washcloth. There are many good cleansers on the market. Keep in mind that any cleanser is only on your face for a short time. Any "extras" the cosmetic company adds to the cleanser (such as antioxidants or acne-treating ingredients) will be washed down the drain. I agree with nicknite 86, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is an excellent cleanser, as is Olay Gentle Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin.
Step 2: Toner
Use a gentle, water-based formula. There are many on the market have beneficial ingredients such as antioxidants, skin-repairing substances, and cell-communicating ingredients (such as niacinamide).
Step 3: Exfoliant
A facial scrub is too harsh for your skin. Therefore, a chemical exfoliator is better. AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid, also known as salicylic acid) are gentle on your skin. AHA is preferred for sun-damaged and dry skin because it exfoliates the surface of the skin and also improves the skin's moisture content. BHA is preferred for oily and acne-prone skin because exfoliates the surface of the skin as well as the inside the pores. BHA also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Step 4: Moisturizer with Sunscreen
The best defense against wrinkles is using an effective sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher every day (SPF 30 is better).
EVENING
Step 1: Cleanser
Step 2: Toner
Step 3: Exfoliant
Step 4: Moisturizer (without sunscreen)
For more information on skin care and cosmetic products, I recommend you go to
Beautypedia.com. This is an excellent website from Paula Begoun that provides reliable, in-depth researched information on cosmetic products, excellent skin care advice, and thousands of skin-care and make up reviews. It's a site I go to before purchasing any skin care or make up product.
<message edited by Anna RN JD on Sunday, January 22, 2012 1:41 PM>