For those prone to blemishes, it's especially important to cleanse the skin first thing in the morning. Jaliman suggests looking for washes with salicylic or glycolic acid, which have been shown to reduce acne.
"During the day, use a foamy cleanser in the morning followed by a good serum, moisturiser and sun block. 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.
So the best bet? A gentle cleanser that's kind to your skin but still tough on impurities. Morning AND evening for normal, dry, mixed and combination skin. Whatever your skin type, cleansing in the evening is important as it helps clear away impurities that build up during the day.
“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.”
In an ideal world, you should wash your face twice a day.
Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, agrees that the morning wash is important, not only to give you a bracing wake-up, but to prime your face for your morning skin-care routine.
Many people tend to skip the toner in the morning. But it's actually a very important step because it balances the pH of your skin and preps it for moisturizing. Look for toners without alcohol, which can severely dry your skin.
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.
Essentially, the double cleanse aims to clean your skin as thoroughly as possible by using the two kinds of cleansers to get rid of the different kinds of dirt on your face. Your face is getting cleaner than if you used only one cleanser that might not fully take off the makeup or sweat or SPF.
“The benefit of double cleansing is that the first cleanser will break down any makeup, remove dirt and excess oils from the day and clean your skin. The second cleanser will address your particular skin type or concern and should have ingredients to hydrate, smooth or exfoliate and treat acne.
If you wash your face in the same place all the time, it makes practical sense to use the same product both day and night. The only difference is that at night, you may want to add an oil or balm cleanser into the mix first, before following up with your regular cleanser, when you do your double-cleansing routine.
Rose water is, indeed, a natural toner. It comes from the Rosa damascena flower, commonly known as the Damask rose, and is created by distilling rose petals with steam. While it's become more popular in recent years, rose water has actually been used for centuries.
Originally toners were used to pH balance the skin after using a cleanser. Since you can easily get pH-balanced cleansers these days, toners are no longer necessary in a skincare regimen, says Dr.
A facial cleanser is a skincare product designed to wash away daily grime like makeup, dead skin cells, excess oil, and pollutants. Cleansing your face each day can help prevent clogged pores. Forgetting to wash your face can lead to a dull complexion due to residue on the surface of your skin.
According to her, it's okay to skip moisturizer when you don't need it, such as when you're in a humid environment that's already full of moisture. "You don't always have to use a moisturizer, especially if you have oily-prone skin or if you've just used an HA serum that helps moisturize," Dr. Cindy explains.
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 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.
Step 3: Serum
A hydrating serum is a great option for morning to ensure the skin is moisturized.
During the day as you're upright, the dermal fluid moves towards your legs, but overnight, when your body is horizontal during sleep, dermal fluid settles back. This swells up your facial skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, like pumping water back into a raisin or rehydrating a shriveled, dried sponge.
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.
Toners restore skin's pH level, provide hydration and treat acne symptoms. Use a toner after cleansing to remove any remaining impurities and residue. Vitamin E and glycerol are ingredients that treat dry and sensitive skin. Salicylic acid and tea tree oil are best suited for oily or acne-prone skin.