Let’s talk about washing your face. Some self-care habits are so “normal” that we never stop and ask ourselves, “wait, am I even doing this right?”
Take things like washing your hair, brushing your teeth, or shaving your face. These are things you probably did a specific way for years, BEFORE realizing there was actually a technique to each routine.
Face washing is the same way. Most people know they’re supposed to cleanse their skin. But not many people have actually looked into what dermatologists and estheticians recommend.
Like, how often should you wash your face? What kind of cleanser should you use? And are you accidentally making your skin worse by overdoing it?
If you’ve never really thought about it before, you’re definitely not alone. But there’s no better time to figure it out than now. Let’s get into how often you should really be washing your face.
How Often Should You Wash Your Face for Healthy Skin?
When it comes to washing your face, more isn’t always better. In fact, it can actually be bad to wash your face too often.
Cleansing too frequently can strip your moisture barrier, leaving your skin feeling dry, tight, irritated, or extra sensitive. At the same time, not cleansing enough can lead to buildup, clogged pores, dullness, and breakouts.
This is why it’s so important to find the right balance for your beauty routine! Your skin type, lifestyle, activity level, and even the products you use can all affect how often you should cleanse.
The goal is to keep your skin clean and refreshed without leaving it stripped or stressed out.
Here’s how you find your magic number:
Do You Need to Wash Your Face?
Yes! Washing your face is an essential part of personal hygiene. It’s not enough to just rinse off in the shower.
Throughout the day, your face collects oil, sweat, dirt, bacteria, sunscreen, and other debris that can get trapped in your pores. A dedicated cleansing routine helps remove all of that to keep your skin fresh, clear, and balanced.
How Often Are You Supposed to Wash Your Face?
Generally, most people should wash their faces twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening. (Hence the reason most of us have morning skincare routines and nighttime skincare routines.)
However, the frequency can vary from person to person. It all depends on your skin type!
Oily Skin
If you have oily skin, washing your face twice a day is usually best. Your skin naturally produces more sebum. This can mix with sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells, clogging pores and triggering breakouts. to clog pores and trigger breakouts.
A consistent cleansing routine helps keep excess oil under control, preventing buildup from sitting on your skin all day.
Dry Skin
If your skin is chronically dry, do a full cleanse at the end of the day. But in the morning, stick to a really mild cleanse with just water or a really gentle soap. Over-cleansing can strip away the little natural oil your skin already has and make dryness even worse.
Combination Skin
Combination skin usually does best with twice-daily cleansing. Since some areas of your face are oilier while others are dry, the goal is to keep your skin balanced without over-drying certain spots. Gentle cleansers that remove buildup without stripping the skin tend to work best.
Sensitive Skin
You should still be washing your face twice a day with sensitive skin. Just be mindful of the type of cleanser you’re using. Look for an oil-based or ultra-gentle product with added hydrating ingredients to do the job.
Harsh cleansers, strong fragrances, and over-exfoliating can leave sensitive skin red, irritated, and reactive.
Acne-Prone Skin
Wash your face twice a day with acne-prone skin. But you can add in another cleanse after sweating or workouts to help prevent excess oil, bacteria, and pore-clogging buildup from sitting on your skin for too long.
Mature Skin
Mature skin still needs regular cleansing, especially because dead skin cells don’t shed as quickly with age.
This buildup can leave your complexion looking dull, rough, or uneven. Washing your face twice daily with a hydrating cleanser can help keep your skin fresh and smooth without leaving it feeling dry or tight.
When Should You Wash Your Face?
In the Morning
Even while you sleep, your face can collect sweat, natural oils, bacteria, dead skin cells, and skincare residue from the night before. It’s even worse if you haven’t cleaned your pillowcase recently. So, it’s best to do some kind of morning cleanse!
At Night
This is the most important cleanse. When you wash your face in the evening, you’re getting rid of all the dirt, oil, sweat, makeup, sunscreen, and bacteria your skin collected throughout the day.
That way, you’re not carrying all of that to bed and letting it sit on your skin for hours overnight. That could definitely clog pores and contribute to irritation and breakouts.
After Sweating or Workouts
Sweat by itself isn’t actually bad for your skin. But when it mixes with oil, dirt, makeup, and other buildup sitting on your face, it can seep into your pores. Then, that damp environment can be a breeding ground for bacteria. So, keep it fresh by cleansing anytime you sweat.
After Wearing Makeup
Removing makeup before bed is really important. You should wash your face every night, anyhow—even if you don’t wear makeup. However, you want to make sure you thoroughly clean everything off and remove residue after wearing cosmetics all day.
After Swimming or Spending Time Outdoors
After swimming or spending a lot of time outside, it’s a good idea to cleanse your skin. Chlorine, salt water, sweat, sunscreen, pollution, and environmental debris can all sit on your face and potentially irritate your skin or clog your pores. A gentle cleanse helps remove all of that buildup and refreshes your skin.
When Your Skin Feels Extra Oily or Congested
Your skin can sometimes tell you when it needs a reset. If your face feels especially greasy or congested, you may have excess oil, dead skin cells, or product buildup sitting on your skin.
A gentle cleanse can help freshen things up and keep your pores clearer without over-stripping your skin barrier.
When your skin feels this heavy, it may even be a good time to deep-clean your pores.
How to Wash Your Face Properly
Step One: Apply a cleansing oil or balm to dry skin.
Double cleansing is the best way to get a thorough clean—regardless of your skin type. Start with a cleansing balm (or other oil-based cleanser) and put a dime-sized amount on your fingertips.
Step Two: Massage the product into your face for 30 to 60 seconds.
Next, massage the cleanser into your skin for about a minute. Always use gentle, circular motions, pulling upward and outward. We’re not trying to get extra wrinkles while we cleanse!
Step Three: Rinse off the oil cleanser with lukewarm water.
Rinse the cleanser off your face with lukewarm water. You can use your fingers again or use a washcloth to remove any remaining product residue.
Step Four: Cleanse your face again with a gentle, water-based cleanser.
That was the oil-based cleanser; now it’s time for the water-based cleanser. (This is why it’s called a double cleanse.) Use a gentle, oil-free facial cleanser or micellar water. Work it in with your fingertips.
Step Five: Rinse, pat dry, and follow with your skincare routine.
Finally, rinse all that off with lukewarm water, too. Then, pat your skin dry with a bamboo disposable towel. It’s the most gentle and hygienic way to get the job done! From here, just carry on with the rest of your skincare routine.
Interested in learning more? Check out our guide, “Do You Exfoliate or Cleanse First?”
What to Wash Your Face With
Oil-Based Cleanser: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
This cleansing balm melts away makeup, sunscreen, oil, and buildup without making your skin feel stripped afterward. It leaves your face feeling soft, clean, and hydrated. It’s perfect for step one of a double cleanse!
Water-Based Cleanser: OSEA Ocean Cleanser
Here’s a gentle cleanser that helps remove leftover residue and refresh your skin after your first cleanse. This one feels lightweight and fresh while still being hydrating enough for everyday use.
Use code PINKSEAWEED for a discount on your OSEA order!
Soft Cloth: Bamboo Viscose Baby Washcloths
These bamboo viscose baby washcloths help gently remove cleanser and buildup without irritating your skin or causing unnecessary friction. They’re especially great for reactive skin because they feel much softer than standard washcloths or towels.
Disposable Towels: The Skinny Confidential Face Towels
The Skinny Confidential Face Towels help reduce the bacteria and buildup that can collect on regular bathroom towels. Using a clean towel every time can be especially helpful when dealing with breakouts, irritation, or a compromised skin barrier.
Wash your face twice a day for the best results.
A good cleansing routine doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to work for your skin. Pay attention to how your face feels after cleansing because your skin will usually tell you when something is off.
If it feels tight, dry, irritated, greasy, or congested, your routine may need a few adjustments. Once you find the right balance, your skin will usually look clearer, feel healthier, and become much easier to manage long-term!
