How To Exfoliate Your Face With A Washcloth

Benefits of Washcloth Exfoliation
You probably already have a collection of washcloths in your home. Some of them may be quite old, and these are actually the best washcloths with which to exfoliate. The nubby texture is a natural exfoliant; it performs the same task as those specialized cleansers, at a fraction of the cost.

How to Exfoliate with a Washcloth

Some of the benefits of knowing how to exfoliate with a washcloth include:

• Perfect for sensitive skin: Anyone with sensitive skin knows that she can’t take a chance on just any kind of product. Some of the exfoliants on the market will irritate sensitive and/or acne prone skin. Exfoliating with a washcloth, with or without a cleanser made for this skin type, is a natural and gentle way to slough off dead skin cells that hide a fresh complexion.
• Inexpensive: Although there are exfoliating products at every price point, you still can’t beat the price of an item you already have at home. If you need to purchase new washcloths, leave the fancy, plush brands on the shelf. Choose inexpensive cloths that feel a little rough to the touch.
• Great for DIY types: Maybe you’re not the type to head to a spa for facials and mud baths; you prefer to do your pampering yourself. Washcloth exfoliation can give you good results. Plus, for women who love to whip up natural skin care concoctions at home, you can mix up a simple mask to use after you exfoliate as part of your own at-home facial.
• Natural: Exfoliating products can be helpful in revealing beautiful skin, but they can also contain a lot of chemicals. If you live a simpler, greener lifestyle, you may want to avoid all of those.
• You control amount of pressure: When you exfoliate at home, you control the amount of pressure you apply to your face, instead of worrying that an esthetician is being too harsh. Once you get to know your skin, you’ll know where you need to exfoliate more and which areas require gentle handling.

How to Exfoliate with a Washcloth
If you’re ready to get a glowing complexion the easy, simple way, here’s how:

• Thoroughly wet a washcloth with warm to hot water.
• Wring it out and apply cleanser of your choice if desired. You can also use only water.
• Lay the washcloth flat and fold it over your hand.
• Begin at the forehead and rub in small circles, applying pressure with your hand.
• Move down to the cheeks, continuing to rub in circles.
• You may find it necessary to concentrate on the base of the nose, where a lot of oil accumulates.
• Continue exfoliating, moving to the chin. Again, some people have a buildup of oil glands, making it necessary to focus more in this area.
• Rinse the face if you used a cleanser.
• Pat dry with a clean towel.

Exfoliating the Body
You can use this same exfoliating technique on the body, particularly on rough areas like the elbows and knees.

Exfoliating Tips

• Avoid the eye area.
• Use baby washcloths for ultra sensitive skin.
• Use a washcloth once or twice, and then use a new one.
• Don’t scrub harshly, even in oil-prone areas.
• Avoid rubbing pimples, as this can irritate them and make acne worse.

Simple At-Home Skin Care
Once you know the basics of exfoliating with a washcloth, you may never want to use expensive products again, particularly if being natural appeals to you. Good skin care is sometimes little more than a simple routine, and it doesn’t get much simpler than using a washcloth.