The best way to cleanse your face, according to a dermatologist

A common misconception is that you only need to wash your face at night in order to remove make-up and any residing grime leftover from the day. But, according to Dr Natasha Cook, cleansing in the morning is just as important. Cleansing twice a day is the key to a clear complexion and that taking care of your face when you wake up helps prepare your skin for the subsequent application of daily serums and moisturisers. When it comes to what type of cleanser you should use, there are a myriad of options available including wipes, gels, oils, creams and balms. A fan of cleansers that are non-foaming and include ingredients which plump and hydrate the skin, Cook says you should avoid those that are made using harsh chemicals. One of the biggest mistakes people make is using the wrong formula, she says, as certain foams or scrubs can strip the barrier away from the epidermis leaving your skin dry, inflamed and prone to breakouts. Instead, she says to use products that contain moisturising ingredients like glycerine, and antiinflammatories like Niacinimide or Vitamin B3. Broaching the topic of double cleansing — a method which involves cleaning your skin twice in one sitting to tackle different types of impurities — Cook says in some instances it can be useful, particularly if you’re wearing a lot of make-up or sunscreen. However, she adds you should beware of overcleansing as doing so can in fact make skin problems like acne much worse. The solution here is to use a micellar water first to “pre cleanse” and then carry out your routine as normal using a gentle formula. Ultimately, curly hair types should be careful not to wash their hair too often but if your hair is fine and pin-straight, an oily scalp will show more easily so you might find the need to wash every-other day. That being said, you can have too much of a good thing. Washing your hair every day actually removes the natural oils, or sebum, hair needs to stay healthy and stripping it can lead to dry, brittle locks. If you reduce the amount of times you wash your hair each week, over time you should actually find that it needs to cleaned less regularly. At most you should try and wash your hair every other day but if you can make it two, or even a week, even better. If you hair does get oily, try using some dry shampoo on your roots to help soak up excess oil.