Why You Should Wash Your Face In A Circular Motion

When it comes to your skin care routine, there are many factors that are often overlooked or deemed unimportant. However, if accomplished correctly, your skin care routine can actually help you retain a youthful glow and prolong the skin aging process (1). While there are many factors that are important when it comes to your skin care routine, you may be wondering why wash your face in a circular motion? You hear it everywhere you turn, but very few explain the reasoning behind this. In order to achieve great skin and get the most out of your products, it is important to understand why this minimal step makes such a big impact.

It’s Easy On Your Skin

The reason why so many cosmeticians utilize a circular motion when they wash the face is because it is gentler on the skin, removes bacteria more thoroughly, and reduces acne and other problematic skin issues. One of the main functions of your skin is to protect against environmental or outside factors (2). It acts as a barrier and keeps you safe from many dirt’s, oils, and even chemicals. Dermatologists have discovered that the skin cells on your face, however, are actually smaller than the rest of your body. The skin on our face is very thin compared to the skin on our bodies, and the skin around the eyes and eyelids are especially the thinnest and most sensitive. We also have a small layer of fat under the skin on our face, which is why wrinkles are more prominent on the face than the rest of the body.

So what does this mean exactly?

Well, it means that the way we care for our skin is different than how we care for the skin on the rest of our body. Understanding the basics of our skin can help us understand better why we must wash in a circular motion on face skin. Since we know that the skin on our face is more sensitive, this is why dermatologists have developed the tried and true ‘circular motion’ technique when washing your face.

When washing your face, first make sure that you have clean hands and a clean face cloth. Apply water and your product to your hands or cloth and apply to face. We suggest lightly rubbing the cleaning product all over your face and neck, then working it in with the circular motion washing face technique. Remember, because your skin is more sensitive on your face, it’s important not to scrub, or put too much pressure on our skin when washing. It should be a light, soft, circular motion, almost massaging the product into your skin as you go. Be sure to add small splashes of water periodically as you continue working the product into your skin. Rinse with cold or lukewarm water and pat dry.

It Removes More Bacteria

Washing your face in a circular motion helps get rid of bacteria more effectively than any other face washing technique. Many dirt’s, oils, and bacteria’s sit on the skins surface, which is why it is important to wash your face in the morning and evening. When we scrub our skin, this can actually have a reverse affect than what we were hoping to achieve. Scrubbing, using a scratchy/textured cloth, or aggressively rubbing your skin can actually leave your skin damaged, causing bacteria’s to soak into your skin instead of being washed off. Because of this, it results in acne breakouts, blackheads, and irritated red skin. In addition to this, cleansing too aggressively can also stretch the skin and result in wrinkles earlier on.

When we choose to adopt the circular motion method, we are carefully and gently killing the bad bacteria’s that sit on our skin, and washing them off completely. While it is extremely important to wash our faces in the morning and evening, remember that over washing the skin can be detrimental as well (3). Always wash your face when you wake up and when you go to bed for maximum results and overall healthy skin.

The 60 Second Face Washing Challenge

A popular skin washing challenge is quickly rising in popularity and for good reason! According to skin care professionals many people will typically only wash their face for 10-15 seconds. Much like brushing our teeth, they discovered that this isn’t long enough for skin care products to actually work. Many dirt’s, oils, and bacteria’s are harder to get off than most people realize and take a little extra time to be fully removed. Washing your face for 60 seconds, however, has many incredible benefits that go along with it (4). Not only are you giving your skin cleansing product the proper amount of time to do their job, but it also allows you to really focus on how you are cleaning your face. Many areas of the skin such as the hairline, under your jawline, and the edges of your nose can be commonly neglected areas. Washing your face for 60 seconds, allows you to be more attentive to these small nooks and crannies of your face.

Many have reported that using the 60 second method has reduced acne, tighten their pores, and improved the overall texture of their skin. Our skin care products are on our side, and it’s up to us to give them the chance to improve the health and youthfulness of our skin.

So set your timer and watch the amazing results of fully giving your face a good cleanse!

Final Words

The beauty world continues to stick with what works. After trial and error and much research on the overall health of our skin, dermatologists and skin care professionals have concluded that the ‘circular motion’ technique is the most effective method for achieving the skin health and balance that you so desire. Not only does it improve the balance in your skin, but it can help fight against aging, prevent breakouts, and help restore our skins natural glow. Washing our skin in this way has a plethora of immediate and long lasting results. It’s an investment into the current health of your skin, but also into the future of your skin health.