Oatmeal is rich in Vitamin E. It also contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help nourish the skin and improve skin texture. One tablespoon of oatmeal may be mixed with yogurt or honey and made into a paste. This mixture may be applied to the face and neck and gently scrubbed.
If you don't have or want to use cleanser, you can easily clean your face with warm water and a washcloth! Simply splash your face with warm water to open your pores, then gently exfoliate with the washcloth. For a more thorough wash, try cleaning your face with raw honey, yogurt, or even olive oil!
“Unless you've been sweating heavily, have visible dirt on the skin, or have used heavy cosmetics, in some cases washing just with water is adequate.”
By cleansing with water only, you're less likely to over-strip the skin's natural oil and therefore reduce the risk of damaging your skin barrier. Cleansing your face with water only not only reduces the oil-stripping action but also the physical rubbing action, which would reduce irritation to the skin.
Take one teaspoon honey and add two to three drops of lemon. Mix water to get a thinner consistency and rub this mixture on your face for a thorough cleanse. Rinse clean with plain water. Tip: People with sensitive skin can use honey alone, as lemon may cause irritation.
Gohara recommends Dove's Beauty Bar because it "won't strip away skin's moisture like soap can." Although it looks like a bar of soap, it's good for your face. It's considered a non-soap cleanser made with moisturizing cream to keep your skin soft, but clean.
“Since cold water tightens your pores, bacteria and debris can get trapped and won't clear out as easily as using warm water,” explains Knapp. She recommends washing your face with lukewarm water first as a way to remove any makeup and pollutants from the day.
“You should wash your face in the morning for various reasons,” she says. “Bacteria can accumulate throughout the night and, also, you should prime your skin by cleansing it for your morning skincare routine, not to mention to remove your nighttime creams and serums used the night before.”
You do not need to wait until right before bed to wash your face. Starting your nighttime skincare routine at 7pm or 8pm will make you less likely to skip it. Even if you do not wear makeup every day, you might have touched your face all day long and that makes it the dirtiest part of your body.
“A toner or toning lotion can be even better than washing in the morning,” says Carlen. “This is because your day cream penetrates better when your skin is damp but you don't want to strip your skin just to put nutrients back in.”
Using a clean, soft washcloth is effective for cleaning your face, but unless you use a new one every day, you should probably stick with using your hands to scrub, Dr. Green says. Also, ideally, you should change the towel you use to dry your face every couple of days to keep bacteria at bay, adds Dr. Gohara.
Yes, milk is a super nourishing and mildly exfoliating ingredient that is quite beneficial for the skin. It can be used as a cleanser at the end of the day to get rid of dirt and bacteria or as a nourishing mask.
Combine 1/2 cup ground oats with hot water to form a paste. Stir in 1 tablespoon honey. Massage the oatmeal mixture into your face for about three minutes; rinse with warm water, and pat dry. Alternatively, apply the oatmeal mixture to your face and leave it on for 10–15 minutes; rinse with warm water, and pat dry.
As a rule, traditional bar soap is simply too harsh to use on delicate facial skin. Most bar soaps have a high pH value. That makes them great for getting dirt and grease off of your body, but wrong for getting oils and buildup off your face.
You don't need to use conventional soaps in your daily hygiene routine. All you absolutely need, bare bones, to stay clean is water. Just water. Water does a fine job of rinsing away dirt without stripping vital oils from your skin.
“It's especially important to wash your face before bed if you have oily skin, because a buildup of oil and sloughed-off skin cells on the skin's surface can contribute to whiteheads and blackheads,” Katta explains.
Both Emer and Zeichner agree that if you're only going to wash your face once a day, nighttime is the best time to do it. "Most dermatologists recommend face-washing twice daily, once in the morning and once before bed," says Zeichner.
A washcloth (THIS is the one I swear by) is most beneficial when it's used to wipe off the make up from your face that the act of cleansing and rinsing wouldn't achieve. Also, the washcloth provides a bit of exfoliation, which further helps achieve clear and radiant skin.