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How to wash your face (properly)

Washing your face sets the stage for the products to follow. Whether step two of your regimen is a toner, moisturizer, or serum, it won’t work effectively if you haven’t washed your face properly. While washing your face is seemingly the most simple step in your regimen, a recent study found that 80% of us are actually doing it wrong. Here’s how to do it right.

The breakdown

01

Use warm (not hot) water.

Hot water will dry your skin out and destroy the natural protective barrier of your skin that helps to keep it balanced and breakout-free.
02

Lather in a circular motion.

Rubbing aggressively in an up-and-down motion can stretch your skin and enlarge your pores over time.
03

Pat, don’t rub, to dry.

Similarly, rubbing aggressively with a towel can stretch your skin over time and trigger redness and irritation.

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