How often should you wash your face? The truth

What does cleanser do to your skin?

Cleansing has always been crucial, but it is now more important than ever thanks to an increase in environmental pollution and skin irritants. Facial cleansers work to remove all traces of dirt, makeup, excess oil, pollution, irritants and other impurities to leave your skin fresh, clean, and ready for targeted treatments.

Cleansing your skin is the first step in your skin care agenda because it preps the skin for the next products you apply.

Depending on the formula you choose, in addition to simply removing impurities your cleanser can help:

Soothe upset skin
Remove acne causing bacteria
Hydrate skin
Clear skin of acne pimples, blackheads and whiteheads
Safeguard skin from moisture loss and irritation
Revitalize skin
Provide mild daily exfoliation
Deep clean your skin

Simply put, facial cleansers are one of the most important tools in your skin care arsenal. But do you know how to use a facial cleanser?

How to use a cleanser

Every formula is different, but in general you should apply about two pumps of your facial cleanser to wet skin and gently massage over your face. Rinse with lukewarm water (avoid hot water because it irritates and dries out the skin) and follow with a balancing toner, moisturizerand a broad spectrum sunscreen if it's in the morning or an anti-aging night creme if it's in the evening.

Pro tip: Remove your makeup before you apply your cleanser to remove every last trace of dirt, grime and impurities before bed.

One of the most common skin care myths is that you don't need to use cleanser at all. Unfortunately, many people think just rinsing with water will do the trick, but that doesn't even come close to doing the job. Do you rinse your teeth with water and expect them to be cavity-free? The same is true of your skin – water alone won't help.

Using only water just strips your skin of essential oils. It also throws off the pH balance in your skin. Never cleansing your face at all will be even worse for your skin with all the dirt and pollution you're exposed to every day. Use a cleanser formulated for your specific skin type and always follow with a toner to rebalance the skin's pH levels.