Is it really necessary to wash your face in the morning? The easy answer is no, according to some skin experts who maintain that if you've only been sleeping with a serum and night cream on your skin, then there's no need to wash your face and remove all that goodness.
It's important to cleanse your skin both morning and night. However, Dr. Zeichner does emphasize the importance of never skipping a night wash more than skipping a morning face washing session. “Best practice is to wash your face twice daily,” he explains.
While Sturnham is critical of over-cleansing, too, she maintains that a morning cleanse is nonetheless crucial for healthy skin. “Your morning cleanse should be light, hydrating and balancing. A good cleanser at this time of day is an essential 'prep' step, to get your skin in a good place.
While expert opinions are somewhat mixed on which parts of the routine are expendable, all generally agree that doing absolutely nothing to your skin in the morning is unwise.
It's not necessary to wash your face with a cleanser every morning. Rinsing with lukewarm water will likely be sufficient. However, depending on your skin condition and your nighttime skincare routine, it can be beneficial to wash it with a suitable cleanser.
Step 1: Double Cleanse
Double cleansing is a staple of the Korean skincare routine. "I do believe double cleansing is a must, since there's a build up of sweat, oil, and grime throughout the night from your pillow that needs to be properly cleansed in the morning," Chen says.
Those with very dry skin or eczema will find that water-cleansing helps to retain the skin's natural moisture. However, persons with oily, acne-prone, or combination skin might need soap or liquid cleanser to dissolve excess oil which often clogs pores and causes breakouts.
A morning skin care routine is a set of steps you take every day to care for your skin before starting your day. Following this routine is essential because it helps protect your skin from the sun, pollution, and other environmental stressors that can damage and age your skin.
That's not to say it's bad if you wash your face only once a day—more on that below—but if you're new to skincare and looking for a general rule of thumb, twice a day is a good place to start.
Your skin uses the time that you are asleep to heal itself from the damage of the day. Getting a good night's rest gives your skin the chance to improve. This is often why you may notice your skin looking fresh in the morning, ready to take on the day!
Acne isn't caused by neglecting to wash your face. Other factors, like bacteria or changing hormones, cause this skin condition. Yet regular cleansing is a key step in your acne treatment routine.
"Some people may just not be genetically predisposed to breakouts or may produce less [oil],” says Batra. If that sounds like you, you may actually find your skin looks better when you ditch your cleanser.
By now it's clear that skipping out on your skincare routine is okay sometimes. When moisturizer or eye cream is occasionally missed, your skin won't be harmed in the long term (you just might miss out on the benefits or have to deal with flaky skin).
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests washing with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water when you wake up, before you go to bed, and after you sweat, Washing—or even just splashing—your face with cold water can have a few potential benefits, like reducing puffiness and irritation.
Skincare is absolutely most effective at night. This is because the skin absorbs and replenishes while you sleep.
Most skincare professionals suggest moisturizing twice a day: once in the morning and once at night. This ensures your skin's moisture will remain constant both throughout the day and while you sleep, so you can always look forward to supple, healthy skin.
There really is nothing wrong with using tap water to cleanse your skin, unless you have extremely sensitive skin. Unliked filtered water, tap water contains a variety of minerals and other substances, which could cause a skin reaction for people with sensitive skin types.
Naturally glowing skin is typically skin that is healthy and hydrated. People can work towards this by gradually implementing a skin care routine, as well as by making changes to their diet or lifestyle where necessary. Smoking, alcohol, and UV light can all damage skin health, so avoid these where possible.
“Glass skin is a term for exceptionally smooth, even-toned and lustrous skin that's so flawless it has the appearance of glass,” says skin care blogger and K-beauty expert Jude Chao. “It's simply a clear and elegant way of describing a certain type of enviable complexion,” she adds.