Mistake 1: Not using water
Many people just moisten their hands, put cleansers on their fingers and apply it to dry skin. But cleansers are designed to work with water. Water is what cleans skin and the cleansers and soap just enhance its effects. Be sure your face is dripping wet before you start to wash.

Mistake 2: Scrubbing too aggressively
Superabrasive cleansing sponges or puffs can irritate your skin as well as cause broken blood vessels. The same holds true for mechanical facial scrubs made from nutshells, pits from fruits or other irregularly shaped particles; these should be used twice a week at most (or not at all if you have dry skin or rosacea or if you are using topical prescription medications such as Retino-A, which can make skin hypersensitive).

The best way to buff is to put a gentle chemical exfoliant like glycolic or salicylic acid on a cotton pad or your fingers and massage it into your skin.

Mistake 3: Rinsing too fast
The purpose of a cleanser is to bind to the skin’s oil and debris so that it can be removed when you rinse. If you don’t rinse well, you may leave irritants on the skin. Splash your face 8 to 12 times to ensure a clean finish.

Mistake 4: Treating your face the way you’d treat your body
Deodorant body bar and liquid hand soap contain detergents and chemicals that strip oils and are not meant for delicate facial skin. Look for gentle, soap-free cleansers or anything made just for your face.

Mistake 5: Spending too much time washing up at the skin
Cleansing more than twice a day and for more than two minutes at a time is a definite no-no. Too-frequent washing can dry and irritate your skin or stimulate oil production, which can result in clogged pores and breakouts. Even if you hit the gym at a midday, just rinse your skin with water and save your cleanser for morning and night.

Source: Health and Nutrition