“I don't even know,” Diaz admitted. “I literally do nothing. I like never wash my face.” The actress continued, saying she owns “a billion products” but uses them only about twice a month.
In a conversation with GQ, Salma Hayek said, “My grandmother taught me to never wash my face in the morning. It's not disgusting, guys.”
Whether it's not knowing which type of cleanser to use (28%) or simply being too tired (61%), Americans skip washing their face for a number of reasons. “Cleansing is essential for healthy and hydrated skin, but it's a step that tends to cause confusion.
According to a recent study, almost half of Americans wash their face wrong, if at all. In fact, 55 percent of people say they don't cleanse their face each day, a statistic that my dermatologist would definitely shake her head at.
"Not washing your face could cause the buildup of oil and dirt that may lead to acne, more prominent pores, and inflammation," she says.
Neglecting to wash your face can have drastic effects on your skin. If you have oily skin and stop washing, you might start to experience more breakouts. For those with dry skin, your face might start to look more dull and dry.
How often you wash your face can also make a difference in your appearance. But failing to cleanse your face regularly can lead to various issues like super oily skin, blemishes, and breakouts. “Not washing enough can lead to clogged pores and acne.
Your pores will appear larger and your skin will look dull and textured, instead of having a radiant, youthful glow. Cleansing helps increase hydration, remove unwanted impurities, and maintain clear, radiant skin. In fact, your skincare products work best on a clean face.
Washing your face doesn't necessarily speed up the process of aging. However, the way you wash your face and the products that you use may damage your skin. Damaged skin looks dry, unhealthy, and can be prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Over-exfoliating is an example of a good intention gone wrong.
If you don't wash your body, it makes it easier for germs that cause actual skin infections to flourish. If you didn't wash at all, dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and oil would start to accumulate, and infections or ongoing skin conditions can become more serious, more difficult to manage, and harder to undo.
By cleansing with water only, you're less likely to over-strip the skin's natural oil and therefore reduce the risk of damaging your skin barrier. Cleansing your face with water only not only reduces the oil-stripping action but also the physical rubbing action, which would reduce irritation to the skin.
And if you're you're not doing it frequently enough you might notice a buildup of skin cells and clogged pores, which could result in acne. How often you wash your face often depends on your skin type and your goals, but on average, you should be washing your face one to two times per day, she says.
The Origins of the Face Cleanser
The face cleanser has its origins in ancient Greece, where women would regularly wash their faces with a mixture of ashes and water. This practice continued throughout the Roman Empire, with women using facial scrubs made from milk, honey, and olive oil to cleanse their skin.
“I wash my face with a foaming cleanser. I need it to foam!” she told W Magazine. So, I switched from my regular face wash to the Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser. After much trial and error, Kim believes that the foaming process really helps clean out all that dirt that settles on you creases and pores.
Having clean, healthy skin is so important to me, it's an essential part of my routine. I use the Augustinus Bader Cleansing Balm morning and night to cleanse my skin before I apply our Power Serum and Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer. Selfie by Victoria Beckham for W magazine. Do you have a favorite sunscreen?
“I literally do nothing. I like never wash my face.” The actress continued, saying she owns “a billion products” but uses them only about twice a month.
While over-exfoliation can cause inflammation and wrinkles, when you exfoliate correctly, you can actually use exfoliation to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging. Skin has a harder time naturally exfoliating as you get older.
Prolonged periods of not washing can cause cause buildup on the scalp, damaging hair and even impeding its ability to grow, Lamb said. Grime from dirt, oil and hair product can show up within four to six days for people with finer, straighter hair.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
It protects your skin's natural barrier
Your skin works hard all night building its own natural barrier against the world (a layer of helpful oils keeps skin soft), so why strip it all away as soon as you wake up with a face wash? “Washing your face in the morning can strip your natural defense barrier,” says Carlen.
It's best to wash twice a day—morning and night—if you can. However, you can forgo the morning cleanse, if that suits you. But you should always, always wash your face before bed: "If you only want to do it once a day, do it at night so you can take all the pollution off before you go to sleep," says Downie.
Zeichner typically recommends washing your face twice per day, in the morning and before bedtime. But going to bed with clean skin is a must.
If you only clean your face with water in the morning, you will improve the condition of your skin and prevent problems such as premature aging or irritation. Plus, your money is better invested in a quality, natural moisturizer than in a variety of products designed to rebalance your skin after cleansing.