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How to Wash Your Face Properly (Men): 20 Seconds, Done Right

Short version: warm water not hot, a pea of face wash not shower gel, massage for twenty seconds, rinse, pat dry. Morning and night. If you get this one step right, everything else works better.

Why it matters

Washing is the step everyone thinks they already do. Most men splash water on their face in the shower, or use whatever bottle is nearest, or scrub with a towel. Splashing does not clean. Shower gel strips. Scrubbing irritates. The wash is the foundation and it is the one most often done badly.

Step by step

  1. Warm water. Not hot. Hot water feels cleansing and strips the oil your skin needs.
  2. A pea of face wash. A face wash, not a body wash, not bar soap, not the hand soap by the sink.
  3. Massage for twenty seconds. Fingertips, small circles, face and neck. Do not forget the neck and the bit under the jaw.
  4. Rinse. Warm water again until there is no slip left.
  5. Pat dry. Do not rub. Leave the skin slightly damp for the next step.

How often

Twice a day. Morning removes overnight oil and sweat. Night removes the day. Three or more times strips the skin and it fights back with more oil.

The routine, in order

Morning, 1 2 3. No.1 Day Cleanser, No.2 Day Serum, No.3 Day Moisturiser. About a minute. Together as the AM Routine Set, £50.

Night, 4 5 6. No.4 Night Cleanser, No.5 Eye Cream, No.6 Night Oil. About a minute. Together as the PM Routine Set, £50.

All six as the Full Routine Set, £49.99 (was £89), which is the cheapest way to own the lot. Made in the UK, vegan, cruelty free, dermatologist tested, and the full ingredient list is on every product page.

Questions

Can I wash my face in the shower? Yes, at the end, with the water turned down. The problem is hot water and using shower gel, not the shower itself.

Should I use a flannel or a brush? Fingertips. Flannels harbour bacteria and brushes irritate. Your hands are cleaner and gentler.

What if I shave? Wash first, shave on warm clean skin, rinse, then serum and moisturiser. Shaving before washing means shaving through the day's grime.

Related: men's skincare for beginners, what order to apply skincare.