“It’s an often skipped, but essential, simple step for achieving radiant skin,” says Davidson. “When your pores are open they are ready to take in the benefits from the next step in your skin-care routine.”
This is perfect for any products that you’d regularly apply to damp skin. If you use a hydrating toner or essence, you can put that on here. The same goes for hydrating serums, moisturizers, or oils. If you want to use active ingredients like retinol or glycolic acid, you can still open your pores with the washcloth trick, but make sure your face is fully dry before you apply them because they work best on dry skin.
For best results, Davidson recommends using a regular washcloth or a muslin cloth, like this one from Eve Lom.
“Simply saturate the muslin cloth with water from the faucet that is warm, but not too hot to the touch. Then, ring it out well to remove excess water,” says Davidson. “We recommend first laying the muslin cloth over your entire face while your cleanser is still on, and holding and pressing with both hands for 10 to 15 seconds. Then, fold the muslin cloth into a square to remove the cleanser in small circular motions, paying extra attention to areas of congestion or dryness on the face.”
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