Face Cleansing: Complete Guide for Every Skin Type

Have you ever looked in the mirror at the end of the day and felt that your skin was almost “suffocating”? It is not just a feeling. Every day, an invisible but tenacious layer made up of fine dust, airborne particulate matter, oxidized sebum, and sunscreen residue settles on the face. If it is not removed properly, the skin loses its ability to regenerate as it should. Good facial cleansing is therefore not simply a matter of hygiene, but the first treatment in your routine.

In this guide, we’ll look at how to wash your face properly, turning a mundane action into a step that genuinely affects blackheads, enlarged pores, and excessive shine.

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Why cleansing is the real starting point

Many people invest in expensive serums and then complain that “skincare doesn’t work.” The problem is almost always at the start: the skin is not truly clean. Throughout the day, sebum, makeup, sunscreen, pollution, and fine dust accumulate, creating a physical barrier that hinders the absorption of active ingredients.

The 60-second method. If you wash your face in ten seconds, you are not cleaning it—you are just wetting it. Massaging the cleanser for a full minute gives the product time to dissolve the oily bonds in impurities and stimulates microcirculation. It is the single change that delivers the greatest results at no cost.

Without thorough cleansing, the complexion looks dull and pores become clogged, leading to blemishes even in adulthood.

Which products to use

Effective cleansing is not based on a miracle product, but on a logical sequence that respects skin physiology. There are two types of impurities on the face: oil-soluble (sebum, makeup, sunscreen) and water-soluble (sweat, dust). Different tools are needed.

1. The oil cleanser

This is the affinity-based step, and the most effective for removing everything greasy. Cleansing oils dissolve excess sebum and sunscreen without affecting the hydrolipidic film. This is the step that makes the difference for anyone struggling with blackheads.

2. The rinse-off cleanser

It helps remove water-soluble residues and pollution particles left on the surface. It must be gentle to avoid causing dryness.

If the skin has many impurities, the alternative is Cleansing Active Mousse, with the purifying action of burdock and salicylic acid.

What to avoid

Avoid overly harsh or "degreasing" cleansers: when the skin is stripped of its natural oils, it responds by producing even more sebum as a defense. This is known as the rebound effect, and it is why people with oily skin who wash their face frequently often make the situation worse.

Makeup-removing wipes do not cleanse: they move dirt across the surface of the face and cause irritation through friction. Micellar water used without rinsing can leave surfactant residue that, over time, makes the skin more reactive.

Double cleansing, step by step

Evening is the critical time. It is not just a matter of removing makeup, but of removing the buildup from the entire day.

1. Apply Cleansing Gentle Oil to dry skin.
2. Massage for at least 60 seconds, giving the product time to dissolve sebum and sunscreen filters.
3. Emulsify with a little lukewarm water until it forms a light milk, then rinse.
4. Apply the Detox or Active cleansing mousse, depending on your skin.
5. Rinse thoroughly.

In the morning, the mousse alone is sufficient: the skin has not accumulated makeup or SPF, so only the overnight sebum needs to be removed.

The next steps

Exfoliation

Once or twice a week, to remove dead skin cells and clear comedones. An enzymatic exfoliant or one with mandelic acid is preferable to mechanical scrubs, which can cause irritation.

Targeted serum

For a mattifying effect and to target sebum and blemishes, use Acnerebal Serum. For an antioxidant and brightening effect on a dull complexion, use FeruliC + HA Serum.

Hydration

Acnerebal Cream keeps the skin matte and even. If the skin tends to become red, it is better to choose a soothing formula.

The complete protocol for blemish-prone skin is in the routine guide for oily skin and enlarged pores.

If you use sunscreen, you need to take extra care

SPF 30 and 50 products are formulated to adhere to the skin and remain effective for a long time: that is their strength, and it is also why they are not removed by superficial cleansing. If they remain in the pores, they reduce the effectiveness of subsequent treatments. In this case, double cleansing is not optional: the oil phase dissolves the filters, while the foaming phase washes them away.

How often to deep-cleanse your skin

A common mistake is to think of deep cleansing as an occasional event. Basic cleansing—simple in the morning, double in the evening—should be done every day. The more intensive weekly treatment, with a gentle peel or a purifying mask once or twice a week, helps boost cell renewal.

Frequently asked questions

Can salicylic acid be used in summer?

Yes, it is not photosensitizing in itself. However, because it removes superficial dead skin cells, the new skin is more exposed to UV rays: applying sunscreen every morning is essential.

Can I wear makeup if I have blemish-prone skin?

Certainly. The important thing is to use non-comedogenic products and remove makeup thoroughly every evening. Makeup residue mixes with sebum and forms new comedones overnight.

What’s the difference between daily cleansing and weekly treatment?

Daily cleansing removes environmental dirt and the day’s sebum. Weekly treatment works on keratinized layers, promoting cell turnover and refining skin texture.

I have oily skin—do I really need to use a cleansing oil?

Yes, and it’s not a paradox: like dissolves like. Cleansing oil removes excess sebum much more effectively than an aggressive foaming cleanser, without stimulating the sebaceous glands or triggering rebound oil production.

The difference-maker

It’s not the serum that changes your skin. It’s how clean your skin is before you apply it.

If cleansing is done incorrectly, active ingredients work less effectively and results don’t appear. Effective skincare doesn’t start with treatment—it starts with cleansing.