It doesn’t matter if you choose to be a natural diva or if you choose to daily create a flawless look with the most deeply pigmented makeup. A freshly cleansed face is the first step and the basis for revealing your beauty.

Most will splash a little water on the face followed by a cleanser, vigorously wash, rinse and then dry with a towel. Sounds good enough right? The problem is while the face may get somewhat clean, washing it this way can cause irritation, incomplete cleansing and the reintroduction of bacteria into the skin.

Instead of giving step by step instructions on how to properly wash your face, let’s take a look at 5 common mistakes you could be making:

Not using the right type of cleanser for your skin type

If you’re using a cleanser for all skin types, you’re robbing your skin of the proper ingredients to thorough cleanse and maintain its moisture balance.

No skin care product can adequately address the needs of all skin types. For example, dry skin requires special emollients that “all skin type” products can’t possibly contain.

Using a wash cloth or your entire hand to wash

Washcloths are filled with bacteria, especially if it’s the same cloth you use on the rest of your body.

The balls of your fingers are the cleanest. They’re the gentlest part of your hand and can work the cleanser into your skin much more effectively than using your entire hand.

Forgetting that washing your face goes beyond using a cleanser

It’s important to include a toner, an exfoliating product and a facial mask or peel in your facial regimen.

A toner closes up your pores which are opened from the cleansing process.  Exfoliating removes dead skin. A facial mask or peel helps to deep clean your skin and tightens up your pores. These should be used once weekly.

Neglecting to do so prevents your face from experiencing the deep clean it needs to reduce the presence of acne causing bacteria. If you have oily skin, your skin’s oil balance is also left unchecked.

Neglecting to seal in the moisture

Most women apply moisturizer to the skin when it’s completely dry. The correct way to seal in the moisture is to apply a moisturizer when your face is damp. This is similar to sealing the moisture into your hair by applying oil when the hair is damp.

The chemical structure of hair and skin tissues is almost identical. Therefore, it makes sense that you would seal the moisture in a similar fashion.

Towel Drying

Towel drying your face introduces germs onto the face. That’s because towels are not sterile. Even after being laundered, they contain germs.

Properly washing your face is a skill anyone can learn. The best part is the practice of washing your face is simple. Just avoid these 5 mistakes for cleaner, more radiant skin.

About the author:  Michelle Howard writes for Radiant Brown Beauty and she’s the Creator of Blended Naturals, a handcrafted line of ethnic skin care products. She’s fondly known as The Brown Beauty Diva and helps women to release their inner diva with radiant skin.