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How Often Should You Wash Your Face?

Washing your face twice a day is key, whether you’re combatting splotchy skin as a teen or dealing with sun spots and a few more candles on your birthday cake. ...

Washing your face twice a day is key, whether you’re combatting splotchy skin as a teen or dealing with sun spots and a few more candles on your birthday cake. 

Face washing can leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day, or clear away a long day of dirt and grime before bed. This duality is just one of the many reasons why dermatologists recommend washing your face twice each day as part of your skincare routine. 

If you aren’t well-versed in the world of skincare, it may come as a surprise that simply wiping off your makeup after work and calling it a night isn’t quite getting the job done. However, it’s never too late to change your ways. We can guarantee that once you see the natural glow of rejuvenated and clean skin, you’ll never go back!

Why Is It Important To Wash Your Face?

Your skin is the largest organ your body has, and it just so happens to be the most exposed, too! Think of it like this: after you’ve been exposed to the elements, your face is full of gunk and grime. Not only can your pores become clogged from outside exposure to germs and grime, but they also experience their own natural build-up. Some examples of this are dead skin cells and sebum. 

This build-up can lead not only to breakouts (which we’ll touch upon shortly), but even infection if you have any open cuts or pimples. 

What Should I Know About Exfoliation?

Dead skin cells come to the surface as your skin goes through its natural regenerative process. The buildup of dead skin cells can contribute to dry and dull-looking skin, even bringing about other issues like breakouts. 

Exfoliation can help clear this dead skin out of your pores and make way for fresh and clear skin. Buffing away these cells through exfoliation not only makes room for the fresh skin underneath to shine through but also helps support even texture to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

Should All Skin Types Exfoliate and Cleanse Regularly?

While we advocate for washing your face twice a day, sensitive skin may only be able to withstand exfoliation once every couple of days. Listen to your skin — if you experience irritation, it is likely a sign that you are over-exfoliating. 

If you have sensitive skin or dry skin, it may take some trial and error to find exfoliating ingredients that work for you without stripping too much moisture from your skin barrier. 

NuFACE Prep-n-Glow wipes work as an exfoliating agent while also cleansing your skin and hydrating with hyaluronic acid. Begin any face-washing routine with these wipes, and simply swipe them to remove makeup, grime, and oil (bye-bye, oil-blotting wipes), then flip them over to reveal micro-breads for a gentle buff. 

These wipes pair well when followed by your normal gentle cleanser (like a glycolic acid solution or an oil-based cleanser) and some water. Rub your cleanser in, and then rinse for a fresh wake-up call! 

We recommend repeating these two beginning steps at night as well, especially after you’ve spent the day sweating and touching your face. This ensures you have a clean palette to continue your routine.

How Often Should Oily or Acne-Prone Skin Be Cleansed? 

As compared to dry or sensitive skin, oily skin and acne-prone skin tend to result in more breakouts due to an overproduction of sebum. This excess oil comes from your sebaceous glands, and when it is made in excess, your face begins to look shiny or greasy. 

One of the best ways to keep sebum, and oily skin, in check is to wash your face twice a day — just like other skin types. If you have particularly oily skin, a non-comedogenic cleansing oil may also help remove oil that your regular face wash can’t.

Twice-daily face washing is the golden standard for cleansing because it helps keep your complexion fresh and clean without stripping too much moisture — which can result in even more sebum being produced, thus making oily skin even worse. Cleansing twice a day can remove pore-clogging debris and grime while still supporting a healthy balance of natural oils on your skin.

For further support, you can apply salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide products during your toner step. Whether they have been prescribed by a board-certified dermatologist or they’re over-the-counter, incorporating these ingredients into your washing routine can help clear blemishes and impurities. 

Should My Morning and Night Routines Differ?

Morning and night skincare routines do have a few key differences. In the morning, you should finish off your routine with sunscreen or a moisturizer that contains SPF. In the evening, you can skip the SPF and may instead reach for retinol or other potent actives. 

Whichever schedule you follow, make sure to keep your retinol focused on the second washing routine — they don’t work as well under UV rays. Serums, like our Super Peptide Booster Serum and Super Vita-C Booster Serum, can be incorporated before moisturizer as well for an extra dash of radiance, dark spot correction, and fine line smoothing. 

Is Over Washing Your Face Possible?

Yes, it is possible to clean your face too many times in one day. Natural oils are there to protect your skin, adding to its barrier and keeping away any unsavory germs or dirt. When you go beyond double cleansing, you strip away at your skin’s natural state, and you can open the door to other issues. Stick to a decent cleaning twice a day, and you’ll see brighter, glowing results without the introduction of thin or chapped skin.

This is another reason why moisturizer is so important. You want to add back in the hydration you’ve lost from a sometimes-rough skincare step. Washing your skin with hot water can be too abrasive on the skin, and cold water is not powerful enough to give a good cleanse. Stick with lukewarm water, and always use a gentle washcloth. Micellar water is another safe bet, a purified version of your tap that is often foaming and gives an extra boost to the cleansing routine. 

The Bottom Line

At NuFACE, we know that there is a lot more to the process than simply keeping up with face washing. That is why we’ve developed our line of microcurrent devices, which give in-depth corrective treatment to fine lines, wrinkles, and unsculpted features. With their help, you can achieve the youthful look of your dreams! However, the first start is always a fresh face and a clean base!

Apart from consistency, good quality cleansers and applicators make all the difference in your skin. Make sure you’re always purchasing FDA-certified, aesthetician-created, clean products, just like NuFACE produces for the optimal cleanse!

Sources: 

How to safely exfoliate at home | AAD

Face washing 101 | AAD

Here's the Right Order to Apply Your Skin Care Products | Cleveland Clinic

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