How Often Should You Wash Your Face?
After a long day, washing your face and completing your skincare routine may feel like a chore—and a skippable one at that. But your face experiences a lot throughout the day, and the accumulation of everything you’ve done over those 16+ hours needs to be cleansed away before you go to bed.
But how important is washing your face? And how frequently does it actually need to be done?
Keep reading to learn how often you should wash your face for your healthiest skin and tips on building an effective skincare routine.
The Basics of Facial Cleansing
Washing your face may feel like a small thing, but it plays a huge part in your skin’s health. As you move through your day, your skin picks up dirt, creates excess oil, and is exposed to pollution—and that’s not even considering makeup, if you wear it.
Not removing this debris leads to irritated and even potentially older-looking skin, making cleansing essential for healthy-looking (and feeling) skin.
Understanding Your Skin Type and Needs
Much like the rest of your skincare routine, how many times a day you should wash your face depends on your skin type and environment. For example, oily skin and living in hot, humid climates may require more frequent cleansing than those with sensitive skin in dry, cold weather.
Recommended Frequency of Washing Your Face
At this point, you may be thinking, “Okay, so what’s the bottom line? Should I wash my face once or twice a day?”
The general advice from dermatologists is to wash your face twice a day: in the morning, and before you go to bed. But not every skin type needs that morning cleanse.
If you have oily or acne prone skin, washing twice a day is most likely a must, especially for skincare routines for teens. But, if you have dry, mature, or sensitive skin, you may only need to wash once a day. For those skin types, twice-daily cleansing could cause skin irritation or strip skin of its natural oils.
If you’re washing your face once a day, it should always be at night. That’s the best time to remove impurities from the day, allowing your skin to regenerate naturally overnight.
Special Considerations for Active Lifestyles
Beyond your daily skin cleanses, if you’re very active, you may need to wash your face more frequently. If you have acne prone skin, sweat a lot, or wear makeup when working out, you should wash your face post-gym.
If you have dry skin and you don’t sweat much, you’re okay to skip the extra cleanse as part of your skincare routine.
Choosing the Right Cleanser for Your Skin
No matter your skin type, it’s important to use a facial cleanser when washing your face. Using just water isn’t enough to dissolve impurities, excess oils, and makeup.
When selecting a cleanser that works best for you, make sure you choose a formula that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils, like our Glowing Greens Cleansing Gel. This daily-use gentle cleanser preserves skin's natural barrier while gently and effectively cleansing your skin.
The Role of Cleansers in Skin Health
Just like when it comes to your moisturizer and daily SPF, the cleanser you choose matters. Using a plain bar of soap doesn’t work for most skin types, because it’s not formulated to be used on facial skin and can strip and irritate your skin.
Using the right facial cleanser with the right routine can help balance your skin and keep it healthy, while using the wrong cleanser can leave you with uncomfortable dry skin, stripped of its natural oils. Especially if you have dry or sensitive skin, use very gentle cleanser options in your skincare routine.
Myths and Misconceptions About Face Washing
Because there are so many questions about face-washing best practices, a lot of myths have sprung up around facial cleansing. Let’s debunk a couple of them.
Myth: Washing your face frequently is best.
Especially if you have oily skin, you may think that washing your face several times a day is better than the twice-daily recommendation. But over-cleansing your skin can strip your natural oils and cause your oil glands to work overtime to produce more oil, making your skin even more oily.
Myth: Your skin should feel tight after washing.
If your skin feels tight or dry after cleansing, you may be washing too frequently or using a cleanser that’s too harsh for your skin. If this is the case, you could damage your skin barrier and cause irritated, uncomfortable skin.
Proper Face Washing Techniques
You may now know the answer to your “How often should I wash my face?” question, so let’s discuss the best way to wash your face to maximize the benefits of your skincare routine.
To start, if you wear makeup, you may want to add an extra step of micellar water or makeup remover before you wash. After, use lukewarm water to wet your face.
Next, apply a quarter-sized amount of your cleanser to your face using a circular motion. Spend a little more time in areas that tend to collect excess oil and impurities, like your t-zone and jawline. Spend at least 30 seconds on this step.
Rinse well, then pat your face dry with a clean towel. Make sure you don’t rub your skin.
The Impact of Not Washing Your Face
By now, we’ve determined that washing your face is a vital part of having healthy skin. But just how essential is it? The short answer: very.
If you don’t cleanse daily to remove makeup and the buildup of dirt, oil, and pollutants on your skin, you may cause oxidative damage, which could promote collagen loss and even premature aging.
Integrating Face Washing Into Your Skincare Routine
Cleansing isn’t the only part of your skincare routine to consider. Pairing your cleansing regimen with other skincare steps helps promote healthy, vibrant skin.
After you’ve washed your face, replenish your skin with a moisturizer like COOLA’s Great Barrier Cream to reinforce your skin barrier and keep skin healthy and hydrated. And don’t forget to use your favorite SPF every day, of course.
Why Choose COOLA for Your Skincare Needs?At COOLA, we’re committed to using natural, organic ingredients and innovative formulas so you can have your healthiest skin. From cleansers to moisturizers to the best-feeling SPF, you can feel confident that your healthy skin is powerfully protected with COOLA.
