Washing our faces is the most crucial step in our skincare routines. By cleansing, we remove all the dirt and grime from our skin. And by doing so, we prepare our skin for the rest of our skincare products. Without properly cleansed skin, there is no point in putting other (expensive) skincare products on. And it seems that a lot of people are confused about the frequency of washing the skin. A question I got a lot lately is: how often should I wash my face? So, let’s answer it.
The importance of washing the skin
Firstly, let’s talk about how essential skin cleansing is. As I said above, if we don’t have adequately cleansed skin, everything we put on afterwards is pointless. The pores will still be blocked, there will still be a layer of dirt or grime, and our skincare products will only sit on top of everything else without being able to penetrate deeper into the skin and do their job.
Think of it this way. Imagine you want to re-stain your wooden table. You will need to clean it first and then sand it down so the stain can penetrate into the wood. If you apply the wood stain on the table without prepping it, the stain will only sit on top of the old one and won’t actually be able to get into the wood.
It’s the same with our skin. We have to cleanse it and occasionally exfoliate (sand) it to give our products a chance to work.
How often should I wash my face?
Generally speaking, it would be twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. We need to cleanse in the morning to remove the dirt and bacteria we picked up from our pillowcases during the night and to remove the remaining of our night skincare. That morning cleanse doesn’t have to be a very heavy cleanse. It can just be gentle but thorough cleanse to refresh the skin and prepare it for the day. You can opt for a cream cleanser or a mild foam for your morning wash.
And in the evening, the best would be to do a double cleanse. It’s a method where you use two different cleansers, one after the other. First, you use a balm or oil to melt your makeup and SPF, and then you use a gel or foam to wash off any remains from the first cleanse. This method will ensure your skin is thoroughly cleansed and, once again, ready for your skincare.
That is only a general guideline and does not have to work for everyone. But it will work for most.
Special situations
There are certain situations or circumstances where you might want or need to clean more or fewer times than twice a day.
For example, on the days when I go to the gym, I wash my face three times. First, I wash it with only water and put a little bit of moisturising fluid on it. Then, when I get home, I do my thorough morning cleanse and my regular morning skincare routine. And in the evening, I do my standard double cleansing routine and my evening skincare.
Or a situation can happen where you come home from work and quickly cleanse and then put new makeup on because you are going out in the evening. And then, after the night out, you (hopefully) do your double cleansing routine. Those two cleanses, alongside your morning cleansing routine, make the three cleanses you did that day.
Or it can be that you’re going for a walk after work and don’t want to keep your work makeup on. In that situation, you can do your double cleanse straight after work and do a small cleanse when you get home or vice versa.
And another possible scenario is that your skin simply doesn’t need washing twice a day. Maybe you only gently splash it with water in the morning and have your thorough cleanse in the evening.
There are millions of different situations where you have to adjust your routine. And that is ok. There is no one size fits all. We all have different lifestyles and routines. And not every day is the same.
What if I overwash or under wash my skin?
Either way, you will notice something in your routine is not working. If you overwash your skin, you might notice tightness, red skin, itchiness and general signs of dehydration. That points out that your skin barrier is compromised, and you need to work on repairing it. That means washing your face less often (if you do it more than twice a day) and replacing your cleansers with gentler alternatives. It also means you need to include more hydrating products and ingredients to repair your skin’s barrier. I wrote a post about how to fix the damaged barrier of the skin.
In contrast, if you under-washing your skin, you might notice the appearance of whiteheads, blackheads and other breakouts. Your skin might be dull, and maybe you don’t see your products working well. If this is the case, you might need to increase the frequency of washing your skin (if you do it less than twice a day). Or, if you are already cleansing twice a day, you might need to change your cleansers.
And if you are unsure which cleanser to choose, read my guide on How to pick the perfect facial cleanser according to your skin type and the Top 5 Best face washes for every skin type.
Conclusion
There is no right or wrong frequency of washing your face as long as it works for you. But generally speaking, most people find that cleansing twice a day works best for them. I would always start by doing it in the morning and the evening and then adjust, considering my skin type and condition.
Alongside the frequency, it is also crucial to have a few good cleansers to alternate depending on your skin’s needs. If you have your cleansing routine nailed, everything else will work much better for you, and you will enjoy the benefits of the rest of your skincare.
How often do you wash your face? What are your favourite cleansers?
