Ok, hear me out on this.
Since high school, I was led to believe that I needed to wash my face twice per day, every day. I was taught that this would prevent acne, remove oil, and give me clearer skin.
So, for the last 25 years or so I have religiously washed my face morning and night. Every. Damn. Day.
Until recently when I was researching face wash in search of a replacement for my beloved paraben-rich brand (sigh). In doing so, I came across an interesting theory…
You only need to wash your face once per day, before bed. WHAT.
The theory is that if you cleanse your face thoroughly before bed, you should then wake up with pretty clean skin. Your skin is not exposed to outside contaminants, environmental stressors, or pollutants while you sleep.
It is clean, moisturized, and, if you’re following along here, resting on a silk pillowcase (more on that here).
So there shouldn’t be a need for cleansing and, according to experts, stripping the natural moisture and destroying your skin’s barrier in the process. Yikes.
I’m down to try anything that simplifies my daily routine. I was in.
For the last two months, I have washed my face only once per day in the evening.
I follow the skincare regimen that I share here and apply the morning products without rinsing or washing beforehand.
Weird, I know. It felt a little strange for me at first too. I washed my face in the shower every morning and avoiding this step in my routine definitely threw me for the first week or so.
But let me tell you… my skin reacted quite differently to this change in habits. While I was feeling like I had a dirty secret every day, my skin was glowing. Like dewy, clear, radiant-style glowing.
With a sometimes oily t-zone, I worried that the lack of morning cleansing might lead to increased oil by the end of the day. Not the case.
Now, if you’re a person who cannot wake up without a splash of water to the face, splash away. But don’t use a cleanser. Experts say that a splash of warm water can open pores, potentially increasing absorption of serums and lotions.
But if you can go without it, I say skip it. The moisture your skin has retained overnight is super valuable throughout the day.
So what face wash should you use for that once daily wash?
My favorite is the Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash. The name does not lie, it really is fantastic.
Buy on Amazon | $28
This wash is super gentle. It is formulated with naturally-derived ingredients including soothing aloe, brightening sugarcane, moisturizing rice seed and cleansing coconut-derived surfactants.
It is sulfate-free, paraben-free, and always cruelty-free. The scent is citrusy and fresh. It works great for all skin types, including combination and temperamental.
And, yes, it will remove your makeup.
So don’t be afraid to simplify your regimen and eliminate the morning wash. Be brave and give it a try for 30 days and see how your skin reacts. Leave me a comment and let me know how it went!
