Washing your face may seem like a simple daily ritual and an essential practice for a healthy glow. But, can you overdo it? According to skincare experts, over-washing your face can be just as troublesome as not washing your face enough.
Proper face washing gets rid of excess oil, dirt, and other impurities that build up on your skin throughout the day. And according to Dr. Michael Somenek, MD., a double board-certified plastic surgeon, "It also helps unclog pores that are blocked, and provides your skin with the necessary hydration to prevent it from becoming rough, dry, and wrinkled." In other words: It'll help keep acne and fine lines at bay.
No matter what skin type, you want to wash your face at least once a day, in the evening, to remove any dirt and grime that builds up on your skin throughout the day. Whether or not to cleanse again in the morning is up for some debate among skincare experts. According to Athena Hewett, aesthetician and founder of Monastery Skincare, "There isn't a need to rewash our face in the morning as there isn't anything to remove such as makeup or sunscreen. The natural oil our bodies produce is good for our skin and provides a first defense barrier for the external factors of the day."
According to Loretta Ciraldo, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, "Twice-a-day cleansing removes the pollutants and irritants that our skin is exposed to 24/7 -even when we sleep". She cites indoor pollution, oils, and irritants that build up on your pillowcase as reasons why you want to wash your face in the morning.
While there are differing opinions, I will share what has been my experience to maintain clear, hydrated skin that allows my Restoracell products to work best.
At age 65, I am very concerned about keeping my skin hydrated and minimizing the natural oils' depleting. But, I work out every morning and feel I need to cleanse post-sweat. My solution is not to use a cleanser or soap but French Micellar Water (and I love Bioderma available for $14.99 on Amazon). It does not contain fragrance or preservatives that can strip the skin of oils. It is gentle on the skin and does not cause dryness; it even moisturizes the skin. I apply it with a 100% cotton pad or a microdermabrasion cloth. While you can leave Micellar Water on your skin, I choose to rinse it off to have a clean foundation for my Restoracell products that I immediately apply after drying.
At night, I do a full cleanse with Restoracell's Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. Its non-foaming formula removes dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities without stripping my skin barrier. If I have worn mascara that day, I use a 100% cotton pad soaked with Micellar Water to remove mascara and any eye makeup. (It is essential to saturate the cotton pad and press and hold over the eyelid for a few seconds before swiping downward and away in the direction of the lashes to protect the gentle eye area.) Now my face is ready for serum, eye cream and moisturizer, and a good night's sleep.
Note for men: My husband read this blog and pointed out that he shaves with the Restoracell Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser in the morning and uses the Micellar Water to refresh his face at night.