Have you ever wondered if there’s a proper way to wash your face? You may think it’s as simple as splashing some soap and water on but there’s much more to it than that. From properly removing makeup to thoroughly exfoliating to knowing how many times to wash your face each day, there are a lot of things to consider to keep your skin glowing and healthy. BeautifiedYou took some commonly asked questions and created this comprehensive guide to make sure you’re taking care of your face in the best way possible.

I just got home from a long day and I’m exhausted but I know I need to take my makeup off before going to bed. What’s the best way to do this?

No matter how tired you are, if you care about your skin, you’ll never go to bed with makeup still on your face. Going to bed with makeup caked on your face prevents your skin cells from repairing and renewing themselves. It’s tempting to just grab a makeup wipe and scrub away but that can be especially harsh on sensitive skin. Utilizing steam from hot water is a great way to open up your pores and make it easier to remove your makeup. Grab your cleanser and massage gently for 15-20 seconds and then wipe it clean, making sure that you were able to get all of the makeup off.

There are so many cleaners to choose from! How do I know which one to pick?

First, you need to know what type of skin you have (normal, oily, dry, or combination) as well as what issues you want to combat (sensitive skin, acne prone, etc). Remember, the goal of a cleanser is to remove dirt, makeup, and sweat without irritating your skin so knowing your type is extremely important. If you’re unsure, there are a variety of quizzes or tutorials online to help you figure it out. Avoid any cleansers with ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate as they are much too harsh and will majorly dry out the skin. Instead, look for a glycolic acid cleanser, which can penetrate and exfoliate the skin cells easier than other cleansers.

Some beauty experts say to wash your face multiple times a day and others say one. What’s the correct answer?

This may not be the most direct answer you’ll get but it really all depends on your skin type! If you have oily skin, it’s easy to feel like you want to constantly clean it but doing so can actually leave you more prone to acne. So long as your pillowcase is nice and clean, you can actually get away with just washing your face at night and skipping the morning. On the other hand, if your skin is on the dry side, you should look to wash it twice a day in order to allow your pores to breathe. Finish up with a high quality moisturizer to boost hydration throughout the day and you’re good to go.