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Your skin is the largest organ that your body possesses. It provides protection from the elements and foreign objects, has the ability to heal itself and keeps harmful bacteria from entering your body. It also provides an outlet for bodily waste, via sweat and cools the rest of the body. Your skin is very important to your well-being and it's a good idea to take care of it so it will stay healthy and youthful.

The best way to maintain your skin in optimum condition is to wash it daily. However, a simple scrub with soap and water isn't always the best way to do things. Anyone with sensitive skin knows that some cleansers can be quite harsh and damaging, but even if you have regular skin, you may notice some bumps and redness occurring when you use regular soap to wash with. It's almost always best to use a specially formulated cleanser, particularly on the face.

Your skin has a fairly neutral pH, but most soaps are acidic. This might be fine for cleaning your hands, but in general, a more neutral soap is the best way to go when washing your body. The face requires special attention, because it is exposed to the elements and sun and tends to be thinner and more fragile than the skin on other parts of the body.

A good skin cleansing routine should be gentle. Despite popular opinion, it isn't a good idea to scrub at your face or wash with soap several times a day. These practices can damage your face and dry out the skin. For those with oily skin, washing more often will only cause your body to produce more oil.

Begin your day with a gentle wash. A very basic, neutral pH facial cleanser is fine for this purpose. Rinse very well and pat your skin dry with a soft towel. A good moisturizer is recommended after washing, to rehydrate your skin and help protect it during the day.

In the evening, wash your face again. Really, this evening step can be just a rinse with warm water to remove the grime of the day, unless you use makeup. Makeup tends to clog the pores and leaving it on or not removing it completely can cause zits. So, use a gentle makeup remover or cold cream and then wash your face with a foaming cleanser and rinse well. Pat dry with a towel. For those with dry skin, another application of moisturizer can be useful at night.

A deep clean is a good idea once or twice a week, but shouldn't be done every day. Your deep cleanse routine should include a more serious cleanser and possibly an astringent, which can help remove excess oil and get the dirt out of pores. For a truly deep pore cleansing, try running hot water into the sink and then lean over it, allowing the steam to gently open your pores. Then wash with a foaming cleanser and, if needed, use an astringent. Never use plain alcohol on your face as it is very damaging.

Once you have finished with your weekly deep cleansing, rinse your face well with warm water and dry by patting it with a towel. Apply a moisturizer to rehydrate the skin, especially if you used an astringent and then continue with your regular daily skin cleansing routine for another week.

Having a proper routine is a very good idea for your skin. It will keep it healthy and glowing and the daily washing will maintain the pores clear and free or dirt. This reduces zits and infections caused by dirt being trapped under the skin and causing infections. For anything that was missed, the weekly deep cleanse will help a lot.