Last reviewed: June 2026

Washing your face correctly is an important step in supporting healthy-looking skin. An effective face cleansing method helps remove excess sebum, SPF, makeup, and daily impurities while helping maintain the skin’s natural moisture barrier¹. Cleansing the skin appropriately and choosing a cleanser suited to your skin type can help maintain skin balance without over-drying or disrupting the skin barrier.

Whether you have dry, oily, sensitive, or uneven skin, Eucerin offers dermatologically developed cleansers designed to cleanse effectively while respecting the skin’s physiological balance.

Facial skin is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of the body and is regularly exposed to external stressors such as UV exposure, pollution, and temperature changes². At the same time, the face contains a high concentration of sebum-producing glands, which can contribute to excess oil, buildup, and skin imbalance³.

Proper cleansing can help:

• Remove SPF, makeup, and impurities.
• Reduce excess oil and buildup.
• Support the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
• Prepare skin for moisturiser and skincare treatments.

A structured face cleansing method helps ensure the skin is effectively cleansed without disrupting its natural moisture barrier⁴. This routine can be used morning and evening, with cleanser choice and technique adjusted according to skin type and daily exposure to SPF, pollution and excess oil.

Understanding when to cleanse the face helps ensure the skin’s needs are met at different times of day. Morning and evening cleansing serve different purposes and work together to support overall skin balance¹.

• Morning: Removes overnight oil, sweat, and natural skin buildup, helping to refresh the skin before daytime skincare application.
• Evening: Removes SPF, pollution particles, makeup, and daily impurities that accumulate throughout the day.

Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning your routine. This helps reduce the transfer of dirt, oil, and bacteria to the skin, supporting a more hygienic cleansing process.

Moisten the skin with lukewarm water before applying cleanser. Water that is too hot or too cold may increase skin sensitivity and affect overall comfort during cleansing¹.

Apply an appropriate amount of cleanser to your hands and gently distribute it over your face using your fingertips. Always choose a cleansing face wash or gel suited to your skin type to ensure effective cleansing while helping to maintain the skin’s natural balance.

Gently massage the cleanser across the skin using circular motions, avoiding the eye area. A cleansing duration of 20-60 seconds is generally sufficient to help lift SPF, excess sebum, and daily impurities without over-cleansing⁴.

Rinse the skin thoroughly with lukewarm water until all traces of cleanser are removed. Leaving residue on the skin may affect comfort and is particularly important to avoid in sensitive or breakout-prone skin types⁵.

Gently pat the skin dry using a clean, soft towel. Avoid rubbing the skin, as friction may increase the risk of irritation, particularly in dry or sensitive skin⁶.

Apply a moisturiser while the skin is still slightly damp. This helps support the skin’s moisture barrier and maintain hydration following cleansing.

Cleansing is generally recommended twice daily, once in the morning to remove overnight oil, sweat, and natural skin buildup, and once in the evening to remove SPF, makeup, excess sebum, and daily environmental impurities. However, individuals with very dry or sensitive skin may prefer a gentler morning cleanse or adjust frequency based on skin comfort and environmental exposure⁴.

While cleansing is essential for healthy-looking skin, more frequent washing does not necessarily provide better results. Over-cleansing or excessive scrubbing can strip the skin of its natural oils, potentially leading to dryness or causing the skin to produce more oil in response. Maintaining a consistent twice-daily routine is generally sufficient for most skin types⁷.

Choosing a cleanser suited to your skin type is an important part of an effective face cleansing routine. Different skin types require different cleansing approaches to help maintain skin balance without causing dryness, tightness, or excess oil production¹.

Eucerin offers dermatologically developed cleansing solutions designed for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and uneven skin types, helping support effective cleansing while respecting the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

Eucerin DermatoCLEAN Cleansing Gel is a mild daily cleanser enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and Gluco-Glycerol that gently yet effectively removes impurities, excess sebum, and makeup. Its fragrance-free formula helps support the skin’s natural barrier and maintain the skin’s pH, making it suitable for daily use on all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Oily and blemish-prone skin benefits from consistent cleansing that helps reduce excess sebum, unclog pores, and minimise buildup without disrupting the skin barrier. Choosing the right cleanser depends on whether the priority is daily oil control, blemish correction, or post-blemish marks.

• Eucerin Dermopure Clinical Purifying Cleanser is a gentle daily cleanser formulated with Salicylic Acid (BHA), AHA, and PHA to help reduce excess oil, unclog pores and refine skin texture. Its minimal fragrance-free and soap-free formula helps purify blemish-prone skin without drying it out.
• Eucerin Dermopure Clinical Correcting Cleanser contains 2% Salicylic Acid alongside AHA and PHA to help reduce excess sebum, correct blemishes, and help improve the appearance of post-blemish marks. The serum-concentration formula is non-comedogenic, oil-free, and suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin.

Skin with uneven tone or dark spots benefits from gentle daily cleansing that helps remove impurities while supporting a more even-looking complexion and improved skin clarity.

Eucerin Anti-Pigment Cleansing Gel is a daily-use cleanser with a 2% AHA Complex that helps improve skin radiance and even out skin tone. It removes dirt, oil, and impurities while maintaining the skin’s natural moisture balance, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth. When used regularly, it supports a brighter, more uniform-looking complexion.

Beyond a basic face cleansing method, timing, duration, and technique can influence how effectively impurities such as SPF, excess sebum, and pollution are removed from the skin⁴. Using the correct approach helps ensure effective cleansing without over-stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

Double cleansing is a two-step face cleansing method designed to help thoroughly remove makeup, SPF, excess sebum, and environmental pollutants from the skin, particularly at the end of the day.

The first step typically uses an oil-based cleanser to help dissolve sunscreen, makeup and oil-based impurities, followed by a water-based cleanser such as a cleansing gel or face wash to help remove remaining buildup and leave the skin feeling clean and balanced⁴.

Double cleansing is most suitable as part of an evening skincare routine, especially for individuals who wear makeup, long-wear SPF, or experience higher levels of daily environmental exposure. It is not always necessary in the morning and should be adapted according to skin type, with simpler cleansing routines often being sufficient for dry or sensitive skin.

Most skin types benefit from cleansing for around 20-60 seconds[8], depending on the cleanser type and the level of daily buildup, such as SPF, oil, or makeup. This timeframe helps ensure effective removal of impurities while maintaining a gentle approach to cleansing.

The 60-second cleansing rule refers to gently massaging cleanser into the skin for up to one minute to help support more effective removal of impurities without excessive scrubbing⁴. Shorter cleansing times may be more suitable for sensitive or dry skin, while slightly longer cleansing may be helpful when removing heavier makeup, SPF, or excess oil.

Clean fingertips are generally the most effective tool for facial cleansing⁷. They allow controlled pressure and even distribution of cleanser across the skin while minimising friction.

Using fingertips also helps reduce the risk of irritation compared to cleansing brushes or abrasive tools, which may disrupt the skin barrier if used too frequently or with excessive pressure.

Many face cleansing issues are caused by everyday habits rather than product choice alone. Using the correct face cleansing method and avoiding common mistakes helps support the skin’s natural moisture barrier and maintain overall skin balance.

Common face cleansing mistakes include:

• Using water or temperature incorrectly, such as washing the face with water only or using hot water instead of lukewarm water, may lead to incomplete cleansing or increased dryness and sensitivity.
• Over-cleansing or incorrect frequency, including washing the face more than twice a day, or only cleansing in the morning or evening, which may disrupt the skin’s natural balance.
• Using unsuitable products or techniques, such as using harsh soaps instead of a gentle facial cleanser, or using a cleanser that does not match the skin type (dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin).
• Inadequate removal or aftercare, such as not fully removing makeup or SPF, skipping moisturiser after cleansing, or rubbing the skin too aggressively, may affect skin comfort and hydration.
• Incorrect exfoliation habits, such as exfoliating too frequently, which may increase sensitivity and weaken the skin barrier over time⁷.

Face cleansing is most effective when it is consistent, gentle, and tailored to your skin type. When performed correctly, it helps remove daily impurities, while supporting the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

For most skin types, cleansing twice daily is generally appropriate, with adjustments based on individual needs such as dryness, sensitivity, oil production, and environmental exposure. Factors such as water temperature, cleansing duration, and product type can all influence overall skin comfort and cleansing experience. Eucerin offers dermatologically developed cleansers designed for different skin types to support a consistent daily cleansing routine.