Mom always told you to wash your face. But did she tell you how? Maybe not.

So we sought expert advice, and here's what we learned.

Once a day is often enough.

"People generally do too much," says Dr. Barney Kenet, dermatologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan and author of How to Wash Your Face.

"Trouble comes from over-washing. When you wash, that takes the natural oils out of the skin and leaves the skin dry." More tips from Kenet and other experts:

Try a fruit mask

Mars' book suggests masks for all different skin types, including tomatoes or strawberries for oily skin; bananas, apricots or peaches for regular skin; and avocados for dry skin.

"Never use a fruit you might be sensitive to," Mars cautions. Mash or slice the fruit, place it on the skin for about five minutes, then rinse.

"It feels absolutely wonderful," she says.

Think about the water

Wash with warm water, but rinse with cold so your skin isn't left with the puffy, red open capillaries caused by warm water, says Anne Williams, education director with Associated Skin Care Professionals, a professional organization in Evergreen.

Boulder herbalist Brigitte Mars, author of Beauty by Nature, suggests putting a filter on your faucet to get rid of the chlorine and fluoride in your water.

Protect from sun

"If you're fair (skinned) you need a sunblock," Kenet says. But everyone should consider a daytime moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or more.

Tame the towel

Use your fingers, warm water and cleanser to wash. Williams says washcloths are too rough on skin - only use them when you're exfoliating or trying to remove layers of dead skin, which you shouldn't do more than once a week. As for the towel, "pat it dry," Williams says.

Moisturize while damp

All three experts emphasize using a moisturizer after patting your skin partially dry. This seals in the moisture already on your face, keeping skin from drying out. Williams suggests a toner before the moisturizer. But avoid astringents, she says. The high alcohol content isn't good for the skin.

Consider a consultation

Williams says consulting with a professional will help you determine your skin type and what products will suit it best.

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