Duh! Like really? Do you have any confusion about that? Of course, you should use face wash before scrub because that’s the ideal skin care routine suggested by dermatologists.
But do you want to know the truth?
There is no hard and fast rule as to whether you should use a face wash first or a scrub first!
The truth is, both the products have their own benefits and using either of the two at the beginning of your skin care routine serves different purposes.
While using a face wash first will help to clean all the environmental debris and dirt, oil and makeup from the face and clear the pores so that the scrub gets a clean base for exfoliation, using a scrub first will help to deep clean the dirt and exfoliate the dead skin cells and then you wash the dead skin cells with the help of a face wash.
So you see, both the methods work fine and have their own positive sides.
Table of Contents
What is a face wash meant for?
Basically, a face wash is a cleaning liquid that helps to clean up oil, dirt and makeup from the skin. That said, face washes come in different variations like foaming washes, gel washes, water-based washes and cream washes, each designed for specific skin type and aids in specific skin concerns.
Besides clearing your face of all dirt and grime, face washes also have skin-loving ingredients like pro amino acids, pro vitamin B5 and vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl acid, etc. that help to target skin concerns and maintain a healthy barrier of the skin, giving it a supple, smooth and refreshing look.
What is a scrub meant for?
A scrub is basically an exfoliating agent that has physical granules made of walnut shell granules, apricot granules, sea salt granules, etc. that help to take off the dead skin cells and open up pores (allowing them to breathe) thus making your skin, youthful, rejuvenating, smooth and supple.
There are also nowadays chemical scrubs, better known as chemical exfoliators or peels that help to clear dead skin cells without being harsh on the skin physically. Though chemical exfoliation has its own drawbacks and are more harsh to the skin.
Which is better for the face, a scrub or a face wash?
If you talk of which is gentler on the skin, a face wash or a scrub, then definitely a face wash is much gentler to the skin than a scrub.
A scrub, both physical and chemical, will work in a harsh way, pulling the dead skin cells and thus damaging the natural barrier of the skin. Scrubs also open up pores, which can lead to breakouts and acne.
Face wash on the hand, is a blessing for the skin, wherein it helps to gently lift off all dirt and toxic products from the skin, letting your skin breathe and also maintains the skin’s natural barrier.
Which should you use first in the skin care routine, a face wash or a scrub?
Like I said there is no perfect rule for this. You can literally use any of the two products first and it won’t make much of a difference.
Yet, a face wash is recommended to be used as the very first step of the skin care routine for a good reason that it provides a clean base for the scrub to work it’s way deep into the pores and the dead skin cells thus making a way for better absorption of the next products such as serum, essence and moisturiser.
The final assessment!
While the internet is grooving over the 3 step cleansing routine of the Koreans, why don’t we do a better job?
Let’s use an oil based face cleanser first to remove the makeup and dirt from the face, then a scrub to exfoliate and then again a water-based lor a foaming cleanser to remove the dead skin cells and rest any left over residue!
If you liked my suggestion, do try it and stay tuned with me so that I know my tips are working great for you!
Till then……
Keep it simple, keep it fashionable!
