Do you sometimes find that your foaming face wash does not foam up nicely nor does it create a nice thick lather? When you wash your face, do you just quickly create some bubbles and then proceed to wash your face thinking that is sufficient lather? Do you find yourself preferring to use the mousse type or self-foaming facial washes because it feels so much softer on your skin?
Well, I used to until recently, when I was taught how to properly lather up a facial wash.
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How to properly lather up facial wash
- Squeeze a little bit of facial wash into the palm of your hand. About 0.5-1 cm will do.
- Drop a few drops of water in your palm. Don’t pour too much.
- With the fingers of your other hand, rub the facial wash vigorously until it lathers up. Add a little more water if you feel its heavy.
- Repeat step 3 until all you have in your palm is light soft bubbles.
- Then apply to your face and wash as normal.
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If you use soap to wash your face, like I have before with the Yuan Organic Soaps, I wet the soap, run my hands over the soap bar and vigorously rub the tips of my hands in the palm of the other to create a rich lather. You only use very little soap and the bubbles and lather that form is thick and luxurious.
I found that if I lathered up my facial wash properly until they become light foamy bubbles, I would actually use less facial wash and my face actually feels cleaner. Also, because there are so much bubbles, the facial wash felt gentler on my skin and seems to clean my skin better. This is true especially in the evenings. It also rinses off more quickly and I find less residue left on my face.
The other benefit I’ve found from using properly lathered facial wash, is that there is less pulling of the skin when I wash my face. The thick lather sits between your hands and your skin and provides a cushion so you don’t pull on your face so much when you massage your skin.
So, if you are using a foaming facial wash or a facial wash that lathers, or even a facial soap, try this the next time you wash your face. All it takes is a couple more minutes extra but I have found it more beneficial for my skin and we all know that the less we pull on our skin, the less wrinkles will develop! I do this for my bath soaps and shower gels too and its helped me save on the amount I use. Every bit of savings help in these tough financial times!
Do let me know how it works for you. 🙂
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
prettybeautiful says
March 17, 2009 at 9:27 ami always have to force myself to lather the foam a little longer, because im so impatient! even in washing face =/ but i do find that foamy lather works a lot better for cleaning the face thoroughly
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 10:16 amHi prettybeautiful
I think its the bubbles that get right into the pores to clean out the skin – I happen to enjoy the feel of the foam against my skin so I take extra care 🙂
Reese says
March 17, 2009 at 9:37 amSometimes I feel I wash my face because I have to rather than enjoying the whole lathering process and massage the face..
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 10:16 amHi Reese
Aww… I usually only feel that way if I’m tired after a long day. But I usually wash my face in the shower so I do take the trouble to enjoy that little “me” time
Kate says
March 17, 2009 at 12:52 pmI use “foam net” (from Chinese’s pao wang) when I lather my face wash. It works like a bath lily. Just cut a long strip from a bath lily, put face wash and some water on your palm. Rub the net and it foams nicely. To get the foam, just hold the net with two fingers and pull. The foam will gather in your hands.
I include a link to a DIY foam net page. 😀
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 4:57 pmHi Kate
Thanks for the info. I usually prefer to use my hands instead of equipment just in case I forget to clean or wash them out properly. Might end up with more bacteria that way. Still its a good idea for those more fastidious with their cleaning 🙂
Sue says
March 17, 2009 at 12:56 pmgood tip! mostly alot of people doesn’t do this. this is where a lot of dirt/bacteria kiddies still stays on our skin. 🙂 thanks for sharing!
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 4:59 pmHi Sue
Thanks and you’re welcome!
Shay says
March 17, 2009 at 3:30 pmhow abt non foaming cleansing gel?
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 5:00 pmHi Shay
If its a non foaming cleansing gel, this tip does not apply. No matter how hard you try, it won’t foam up.
Lyn says
March 17, 2009 at 3:32 pmI wonder if you have more tips on saving up on other stuff like moisturizers, or serums etc etc… I cant seem to tell if I put enough or more than enough. They seem to absorb into my skin quickly that I dunno if I applied enough..
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 5:03 pmHi Lyn
I don’t skimp too much on serums and moisturisers because to me they are meant to be used for maximum efficiency. Usage and amounts differ from product to product but a general rule of thumb is to dot one dot of moisturiser or serum on your forehead, nose, chin and cheeks (5 in total) then massage it into your skin. If your skin feels dry even after that it might be time to get a more moisturising cream. Hope this helps.
a.min says
March 17, 2009 at 5:24 pmi always use a facial “net” (don’t know what it call actually, or “foam maker”?)to create the foam, it is easier than using hand, maybe you can try this? i bought it at The Body Shop and it already last me few years!
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 5:49 pmHi A.min
I know the one you mean. As I told Kate in an earlier comment, I prefer not to use “equipment” because of cleanliness issues. But if it works for you by all means stick with it! 🙂
June says
March 17, 2009 at 6:21 pmi use dermalogica’s and somehow no matter how much i lather whether on my palms or straight on my face.
i get no bubbles.
ZERO.
and i feel that no cleansing is clean if there’s no bubble.
ParisB says
March 17, 2009 at 6:35 pmHi June
It might just be that the Dermalogica facial wash is not meant to foam? Some cleansers don’t. By the way, its not recommended to lather directly on the face because the pulling and rubbing can cause more harm than good. 🙂
June says
March 19, 2009 at 6:54 pmooo. okie.
lesson learnt.
thanks girl 🙂
ParisB says
March 20, 2009 at 1:41 pmHi June
You’re welcome 🙂
jessica k. says
March 17, 2009 at 7:36 pmthank yuu for sharing this with us! i tend to squeeze more than i should because i always feel that it didn’t lather up enough. shall try it later when i shower. ^^
ParisB says
March 18, 2009 at 9:57 amHi Jessica
You’re welcome! I hope it works for you and it saves money too! 😉
Traclyn Yeoh says
March 17, 2009 at 9:37 pmproper lathering is always important or else the product would not work as good. great information here. thanks!
ParisB says
March 18, 2009 at 9:58 amHi Traclyn
This is what I was told too. The light bubbles clean your pores better and won’t clog it as much.
giddy tigress says
March 18, 2009 at 12:56 amOooh, excellent tip! I’m gonna try using it with my shower gel, because I don’t use the foamy type of face wash on my face.
ParisB says
March 18, 2009 at 9:59 amHiya giddy tigress
Ah yep! I use it for everything including shampoo and shower gel – saves me money 😉
j3nny9irL says
March 18, 2009 at 4:10 amHmm… I have a habit to wet my hands first… Then pour the facial wash or pump it to my hand then lather it and wash my face… It works too hehehe 🙂
But I’m used to facial gels that has no foam just like the Mukti CLeansing Gel. 🙂
ParisB says
March 18, 2009 at 10:00 amHi j3nny9irl
I guess it works the way you mentioned too. What’s important is adding less water instead of more to get a good lather.
Nikki says
March 18, 2009 at 2:13 pmYay Paris! I’m doing this the right way 🙂 Thanks for the lovely post! I’m sure this is beneficial to a lot of people
ParisB says
March 18, 2009 at 3:39 pmHi Nikki
I hope so and yay for doing it the right way! 🙂
beetrice says
March 19, 2009 at 12:27 amLOL…I think I cheated by getting the Tea Tree Oil cleanser with a foam pump – but I’ll definitely give it a go with my other cleanser. 🙂
ParisB says
March 19, 2009 at 10:04 amHi Beetrice
Not to worry – I use a foaming cleanser for the mornings too! 😉
Tine says
March 30, 2009 at 11:04 amYep, I lather too. Uses a lot less cleanser that way. Gotta save at bad times, eh? 😉