Skin Cleansing

It's a cruel world sometimes. The tastiest foods are bad for your health, the finest things are bad for your wallet and long, hot showers are said to be tough on your skin. Are they?

By Jonathan Atteberry

Your mother was right: The world is a dirty place, full of germs and other icky substances. She was also right to remind you to wash your face every day. But what would happen if you didn't?

By Tom Scheve

Everyone has his or her own cleaning routine. Some prefer baths, while others enjoy a shower; some cleanse once a day, but others may wash infrequently. But is there one way to clean yourself that's better than others?

By Chris Jones

Sometimes, the lure of a beautifully packaged beauty product with a list of exotic ingredients is the siren call that leads you to the cash register. But if it's time to pinch pennies, what do you need to look for in a facial cleanser?

By Tom Scheve

A bad sunburn will leave you wondering how to get dressed or move, let alone clean yourself. What's the best way to wash sunburned skin?

By Julia Layton

While many people are comfortable using just soap and water to wash their faces, others rely on the use of a washcloth. Do washcloths clean any better? And are there any disadvantages you should be aware of?

By Jonathan Strickland

If your skin becomes red, itchy and swollen after using a skin cleanser, you may be having an allergic reaction. What ingredients cause such a reaction, and how can you avoid them?

By Martha Barksdale

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus, right? Does that mean we need two separate face scrubs taking up space in the shower, too?

By Robert Lamb

Do you know what unusual skin care ingredients might be in your beauty products? See this gallery for unusual skin care ingredient pictures.

You may have noticed that "cocamidopropyl betaine" keeps popping up on the labels of your skin care products. But what exactly does this cleanser ingredient do?

By Sarah Siddons

You might think you know everything there is to know about washing your face, but there are ways to make your routine more effective. What techniques are right for your skin?

By Sarah Siddons

If the idea of bathing a squirming, slippery baby sounds intimidating, these tips can help. Learn proper techniques for holding your baby, and discover why tub baths aren't recommended for newborns.

By Sarah Siddons

If your skin is dull, flaky or oily, you may need to exfoliate. Exfoliating allows you to remove dead cells from the surface of your skin to reveal the bright, new skin underneath.

By Jamie Palamon

The term "noncomedogenic" is usually one of many words you might see listed on the packaging of skin care products these days. But what's so special about it that it can keep your skin from breaking out?

By Sarah Siddons

No-rinse facial cleansers might save you a little time in your daily skin care routine if you're on the go. But are they any different from regular facial cleansers?

By Amy Bassett

Getting rid of extra dead skin cells can prevent blemishes on your body and give your skin a soft glow, but exfoliating too often can do damage. How much exfoliating is too much?

By Alexander Page

Exfoliating your face can help your skin stay soft and blemish-free, but how often you scrub away dead skin cells should depend on your skin type. What's the right amount for you?

By Elizabeth Whitmore

You may use your bath sponge for weeks or months, but during that time it becomes a comfy home for bacteria and mold. How can you tell when it's time to throw the old sponge out?

By Sarah Siddons

Using a small towel to scrub your face might seem like a harmless practice, but you could be introducing bacteria onto your skin. Find out how to tell if your washcloth is unsafe.

By Sarah Siddons

With the green movement coming into full swing over the past few years, there's been a big increase in skin care products being marketed as "organic." What exactly is in these products, and are they any better for you than traditional ones?

By Sarah Siddons

If soap leaves your skin dry and irritated, you may need a soapless skin cleanser. Soapless cleansers are gentler on skin and just as effective at removing dirt and oil -- but how do they work?

By Christina Pander

If you have blemishes on your chest, back or arms, you have body acne. Body acne can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable problem, but there are ways to treat it.

By John Barrymore

You may have heard that eating chocolate can cause acne, but can satisfying your sweet tooth actually cause pimples?

By Elizabeth Whitmore

If you drift off to dreamland without removing your foundation and mascara, it's time for a change of habit. Sleeping with makeup on can be damaging to your skin.

By Elizabeth Whitmore

You may have heard that certain foods -- such as chocolate or shellfish -- cause acne. But while these are myths, you may be surprised to learn that milk and dairy products can cause breakouts.

By Alexander Page