"The fewer products you use on your face, the better," says Michele Green, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist. "You don't want to overcomplicate things for your skin, especially since your face is so delicate. Giving your complexion a break from skin-care products will let your skin breathe and rest."
“Eliminating all products can potentially wreak havoc on your skin, so this is something that I don't recommend,” she says. “For example, if you stop washing your face with a cleanser, dirt, debris, makeup, and oil can build up, resulting in more breakouts.”
When you don't wash your skin, it becomes dry and rough feeling. The excess dead cells that would normally be washed away get stuck to the skin, causing it to look grey and dull. Your pores will get and stay clogged, which can cause acne and enlarged pores.
"As long as you know how your skin works and how it responds to products, skipping your makeup and skin-care products for a few days is absolutely okay," says Dr. Green.
The benefits are real – removing dead skin and buildup for smoother skin and clearer pores – but most dermatologists will recommend chemical exfoliants over scrubs to prevent damage to the protective barrier of your skin.
Rachel Nazarian, a Manhattan dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group. “Results are only seen through consistent use,” she explains. Generally, aim to use a product over at least six weeks, once or twice daily, to notice a difference.
Not possible, said Dr. Nazarian—at least not without some work. "Clear skin is possible, but not necessarily entirely through life without changing your regimen.
"But you can absolutely overdo it. Too much of a good thing – like over-exfoliating your skin with multiple acids and/or mechanical beads – can result in redness, irritation, dryness, and worsened breakouts.
Ideally you can begin around age 12 with just the basics, using a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. During puberty, you may have to switch your cleanser to an oil control one if you suffer from acne and pimples. You can also incorporate spot treatments with salicylic acid to address specific issues.
As a general rule, you should change your moisturizer and sunscreen (which you should be using year round) twice a year: once from winter to spring, and once from summer to fall, since these are the times of year when your hydration levels and sun exposure will change, Cho says.
Allowing your skin to breathe will help you to feel more fresh and radiant, while also helping to keep any unwanted skin problems at bay. Make sure that you are following a proper skin care routine including cleansing and exfoliation to give your skin the tools it needs to breathe and rejuvenate.
You could experience dryness, breakouts, or dermatitis.
As Dr. Kikam explains, a one-night break from your face wash routine won't cause too much damage, but it is important to rid your skin of dirt before dozing off.