“You should wash your face in the morning for various reasons,” she says. “Bacteria can accumulate throughout the night and, also, you should prime your skin by cleansing it for your morning skincare routine, not to mention to remove your nighttime creams and serums used the night before.”
Having two different cleansers for morning and night sounds unnecessary, but Jaliman says it's good to mix it up. “You can use a salicylic acid–based cleanser in the morning to unclog pores and avoid acne and a glycolic acid–based cleanser at night to exfoliate your skin and get rid of dead skin cells,” notes Jailman.
Cleansing in the morning is important because it rids the skin of excess oil and impurities that build up while sleeping, and cleansing at night is important because it ensures the skin is cleared of makeup, oil and dirt from the day.
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.
“You should wash your face in the morning for various reasons,” she says. “Bacteria can accumulate throughout the night and, also, you should prime your skin by cleansing it for your morning skincare routine, not to mention to remove your nighttime creams and serums used the night before.”
Cleanser
Zeichner sees no reason you can't skip a morning wash if you cleansed your face well the night before and slept on a clean pillowcase, Dr. Howe recommends you play it safe by rinsing with at least water in the morning (that goes double for anyone using sun-sensitizing actives like retinol or glycolic acid).
Have no fear – we've done our share of research, and the answer is clear: post-shower is definitely the way to go.
Daily: Cleanser – No matter how much you skimp on your skin care routine, you should always wash your face at least once a day. Those with oily or combination skin may benefit from twice daily washes (morning and night) while drier skin may be fine with just a nightly wash.
Use Salicylic Acid in the morning and Retinol at night. Those with more sensitive skin may need to use these products on alternate days, or reduce Salicylic Acid use to once a week or as and when needed.
At night, use a creamy cleanser to gently remove topical impurities to keep the skin hydrated," Dr Chhabra explains. Try Dermalogica Essential Cleansing Solution or Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser. Tip: Keep in mind the weather conditions while traveling to choose your cleanser type.
Starting your nighttime skincare routine at 7pm or 8pm will make you less likely to skip it. Even if you do not wear makeup every day, you might have touched your face all day long and that makes it the dirtiest part of your body. Cleansing the skin at night will help avoid bacteria from spreading and causing acne.
All of this wears at your skin cells and your skin's collagen." The answer: You need to cleanse and moisturize properly every morning with products that will protect your skin from these harmful external factors. Then at bedtime, the focus shifts. "At night, your skin repairs and recuperates.
While nighttime skincare is incredibly important, morning skincare is just as crucial. Between pollution, sweat, and sun exposure, our skin goes through a lot each day—and it's important to take the time to prep and protect it for what's ahead.
Generally, aim to use a product over at least six weeks, once or twice daily, to notice a difference. Tip: With any skin-care product, apply in order of consistency — from thinnest to thickest. For example, cleanser, toner (if you use it), serum, and then moisturizer.
Whether you choose a gel or a cream cleanser, a dime-sized amount is all you need. For foaming cleanser, one pump should get the job done. Miami dermatologist Alicia Barba, MD, suggests washing once in the morning and twice in the evening if you wear makeup, or only once at night if you don't wear makeup.
1. Do Wet Your Hands and Face First. If you're going to use a rinse-off facial cleanser, wet your hands and splash your face with water before applying the cleanser to your skin. It'll help you work a good lather to grab onto that dirt and oil before rinsing.
Some experts suggest that the best time for your nighttime skincare routine is just before going to bed. However, you may end up with more moisturizer on your pillow than your face. The skin needs at least 10-20 minutes for products to get properly absorbed into the skin.
You may be using unnecessary products. "Some people may just not be genetically predisposed to breakouts or may produce less [oil],” says Batra. If that sounds like you, you may actually find your skin looks better when you ditch your cleanser.
Everyone should wash the night's bacteria and pillow gunk from their faces in the morning. But, for those with oily skin, morning cleansing is a particularly important step. Jaliman suggests cleansing with a powder or glycolic- or salicylic-acid-spiked cleanser (rather than a cream) and toning the skin as well.
It's still advisable to wash twice a day and use a gentle formula “that removes impurities, deep cleans pores, helps remove makeup, and leaves the skin feeling refreshed, clean, and hydrated,” says Tim. Also, don't overlook foaming cleansers.
When you go to bed at night, your skin finally gets the chance to repair, rejuvenate, and undo all the daytime damage. Your skin actively produces new skin cells and improves your skin's texture. When your pores are clogged, your skin does not get the chance to breathe and carry out its overnight repair process.
Plus, the skin repairs itself at night so you're disrupting this process when you sleep with a dirty face. TL;DR: Always remove your makeup and wash your face before going to sleep. Skipping these steps will damage your skin.
Day or Night
One of the most popular Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs), salicylic acid is an ultra-common ingredient in many acne fighting products, and is well-suited for both day and night.