How to cleanse properly for your skin type

Cleansing is the first step in every skincare routine, and the one most of us rush. Yet the way you cleanse affects how well everything else works. Cleanse too harshly and you can leave skin tight and irritated. Cleanse too lightly and makeup, SPF and oil can build up, leaving skin congested and dull.

Here’s how to get it right, morning and night, for your skin type.

Morning vs night cleansing

At night, your cleanse does the most work. It removes makeup, SPF, oil, sweat and the build-up of the day, so your skin is ready for your night serums and treatments. Try never to skip it, even when you’re tired.

In the morning, a quick, gentle cleanse is usually enough. It freshens your skin and removes any leftover night products, giving you a clean base for vitamin C, moisturiser and SPF. If your skin is very dry or sensitive, your therapist may suggest an even lighter morning cleanse.

How to cleanse, step by step

• Start with clean hands so you’re not adding oil and dirt back onto your face.
• Use lukewarm water. Hot water can leave skin feeling tight and dry.
• Take your time. Massage your cleanser over your face and neck with your fingertips in gentle circles for about a minute, so it has time to lift makeup and oil.
• Rinse thoroughly, including around your hairline and jaw.
• Pat dry with a clean, soft towel rather than rubbing.
• Follow straight away with your serums and moisturiser while your skin is still slightly damp.

Our Rejuvenating Foaming Cleanser ($69) is an oil-free foaming cleanser and the first step in our Australian Skin Institute routine. Its label says to avoid contact with the eyes, so keep it away from the eye area and remove eye makeup gently with a product made for the eyes.

Double cleansing for makeup and SPF wearers

If you wear foundation, long-wear makeup or a water-resistant sunscreen most days, one cleanse at night may not remove everything. That’s where double cleansing helps.

• First cleanse: breaks down and lifts makeup, SPF and surface oil.
• Second cleanse: cleans the skin itself, so your serums go onto a properly clean base.

You can simply cleanse twice with the same cleanser. The second round often lathers more easily, a sign the first did its job. If you wear light makeup or none at all, one thorough cleanse at night is often enough. Either way, don’t tug at your eyes when removing mascara and liner.

Cleansing for your skin type

Oily, breakout-prone and combination skin. It’s tempting to scrub oily skin until it squeaks, but stripping it can leave skin tight and irritated while it still looks shiny. Cleanse morning and night with a gentle cleanser, don’t over-wash, and keep pillowcases and your phone screen clean. In clinic, the Oily Skin Peel (15% salicylic) or blue LED light can help with congestion and breakouts. Read more in our guide to breakouts and acne.

Sensitive and reactive skin. Keep it simple. Use lukewarm water, a gentle touch and as few products as possible, and avoid hot cloths and rough scrubbing. Introduce new products one at a time so you can tell what your skin is reacting to. If redness is an issue, see our guide to calming redness and rosacea. For very reactive skin, our partner Tugun Compounding Pharmacy compounds personalised skincare.

Dry, dehydrated and mature skin. Your skin needs a cleanse that respects its barrier. Skip hot water, keep your cleanse gentle, and never leave skin bare afterwards. Follow straight away with hydration, such as Pure Hydration Concentrate Serum and All Day Hydration. If your skin feels tight after cleansing, your routine may be too harsh. See dry vs dehydrated skin for more.

Why harsh face scrubs can do more harm than good

Gritty face scrubs feel satisfying, but rough particles and heavy-handed scrubbing can irritate skin, leave it red and sensitive, and disrupt its protective barrier. They also tend to exfoliate unevenly, and scrubbing over active breakouts can make inflammation worse.

Exfoliation itself is still valuable. It lifts dull, dead skin cells and helps your other products work better. The key is to do it gently and not too often:

• At home: our AHA Power Exfoliant ($59) is named for its alpha hydroxy acids, which exfoliate without scrubbing. Use it as often as your therapist recommends, rather than every day.
• In clinic: a Micro Skin Treatment gives controlled mechanical exfoliation, a professional peel can be matched to your skin, and dermaplaning removes dead skin and peach fuzz with a sterile blade.

What about your body? Our Exfoliation Cloth and Body Exfoliation Buff and Polish Mitt are body products, ideal for prepping skin before a spray tan or wax. Keep them for your body, not your face.

Your morning ritual, simplified

A good morning routine doesn’t need to be long. After a gentle cleanse:

• apply a vitamin C serum, such as our Vitamin C Serum
• hydrate with a serum and day cream
• finish with SPF 50+, every day

In our skincare shop, Step 1 is Cleanse & exfoliate, followed by Step 2 Serums & treatments and Step 3 Moisturise, eye & masks, so it’s easy to build your routine in order. Buying four products? Use code ASI3+1 online and the lowest-priced item is free.

Get a routine made for your skin

The best cleansing routine is the one matched to your skin. In a Skin Discovery Treatment, your therapist assesses your skin and gives you a homecare plan, so you know exactly how and what to cleanse with. It’s usually $180, and new clients pay $99.

From there, a Skin Club keeps you on track with one professional skin treatment every month. Radiance Club is $135 a month (regular value $180) with 20% off Australian Skin Institute retail, and Renewal Club is $220 a month (regular value $275) with 25% off, so restocking your cleanser costs less too. See every option on our memberships page.

Ready to book? Let’s find the right routine for your skin. Book online or visit one of our six Brisbane clinics.