Washing your face is one of the best things you can do for it. Washing removes dirt and sebum to unclog pores, preventing blackheads and pimples. That's good for a few reasons. First, nobody likes zits. Second, clogged pores can yield to wrinkles and fine lines over time. And third, it doesn't feel nice to have dirt and sebum on your face! But how often should you wash?
The idea of washing your face is to remove dead skin cells and grime from the day so that your skin can breathe and stay healthy. But if you're washing too often, you could be stripping your face of the oils it needs to keep itself moisturized and protected.
A combination of different things will influence how often you should wash your face, like your skin type, lifestyle, or even your age. The most important thing is to have a regular regimen. If you do that, you shouldn't have any problems with your skin, and the acne will not build up. How often you wash your face is dependent on several factors:
Male vs. Female Skin
According to the National Library of Medicine, Men are less prone to breakouts and have thicker skin so they can go a couple of hours longer in between washes. On the other hand, women have thinner skin and are more prone to breakouts. They should wash their faces at least twice daily, as the American Academy of Dermatology suggested.
Your Age
When you get older you tend to sweat less and produce oil slower, so washing you face frequently isn't as important. However, washing your face should be a daily habit if you're in your teens, 20s, or 30s.
Skin Type
How often you should wash your face depends on what your skin type. If you have oily skin, for example, you should wash your face twice a day—but if you have dry skin, you might need to do it once a day only!
Here's a quick breakdown of how often people with different skin types should wash their faces:
Combination Skin
Combination skin is a bit of a paradox. The skin is dry in some areas and oily in others, so it can be hard to find the right products and routine for your face. If you have combination skin, washing your face at least twice a day is important. Your skin can get oily in some areas and dry in others, so the key is to be consistent with your cleansing routine.
Oily Skin
It's true that oil is a natural part of your skin's surface and does protect it from environmental damage, but too much oil can cause acne and clog pores. So you want to keep your face clean without stripping away too much oil.
Wash your face twice daily with warm water and mild soap or cleanser (no harsh scrubs). Dry your face gently with a soft towel after washing so you don't strip away any natural moisture in the process. Try not to use products with alcohol or astringent ingredients, which can irritate the skin even more than oil does.
Dry Skin & Sensitive Skin
It's tempting to want to scrub away all of the dirt from your face twice a day. But if you have dry and sensitive skin, you should only wash your face once a day—and even then, only with a mild cleanser.
When you wash too much or use the wrong products for your skin type, your skin will become irritated and inflamed. This can lead to permanent damage like wrinkles and sagging. So be gentle with your skin!
Acne-Prone Skin
If you're a person who struggles with acne, washing your face often is important. But if you wash too much, it could irritate your skin and make your acne worse. If you don't wash your face often enough, the bacteria that causes acne can build up and cause more outbreaks.
Try using a gentle cleanser that's free of harsh chemicals and fragrances. This will help keep your skin clear without leaving it dry or irritated. So, the best thing to do is to wash twice a day. If you're using a cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which helps reduce breakouts, don't use them more than once a day (or every other day if you have very sensitive skin).
Why should you NOT over-wash your face?
While it might sound counterintuitive, the more you wash your face, the more you disrupt the natural oil balance in your skin. This can lead to a number of skin problems.
Firstly, the natural oils in your skin will be stripped away, and you'll have to use more products to compensate.
Secondly, over-washing can cause irritation which can lead to acne breakouts.
Finally, overwashing could lead to dehydration on your face which can cause breakouts or oil production later in the day as your body tries to compensate for the loss of sebum (natural oil produced by our bodies).
What happens if you don't wash your face frequently enough?
Well, it depends on what kind of skin you have. If you have oily skin, it will become more oily as the excess oil can't be properly washed away. If you have dry skin, it will become drier and flakier than usual. If you have sensitive skin, it will get irritated and redder than usual.
But even if your skin isn't sensitive, some things happen when you don't wash your face often enough:
- Your pores get clogged with dirt, dead skin cells, and oil from your hair. This can lead to acne breakouts or blackheads if they're not cleaned out regularly.
- Your makeup won't last as long because it doesn't stay put when there's all that extra oil sitting on top of it!
- Your face can start looking dull and grayish because all of the dirt on your skin is blocking the natural glow that comes from within.
- You can look older and tired because of the dead, dull cells that build up on your face when it's not washed regularly.
Wrapping Up
Doubtlessly everyone's daily face washing schedule should be different, depending on their skin type and the kind of environment they are living in. Though this might seem like a humdrum part of life, it's one that we all need to pay attention to. You might not think about having bad skin or acne today, but remember, you'll take care of your skin for decades to come. If you want to avoid breakouts later down the line, it helps to practice preventative measures now. Whatever you do, just make sure you know your face-washing routine.
There is one exception.
If you feel that your face is sweaty and dirty, don't worry! You can always make an exception to the schedules mentioned above. Just wash your face one more time.
Wait! Before you go.
Washing your face is important but so is keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. Our One & Only Facial Oil helps you do just: hydrate and heal your skin. Plus, it's smells divine.
