I think we can all agree that we have all had moments of weakness when it comes time to wash our faces. When bedtime comes around, our bathrooms can seem like miles away and after a long, tiring day, getting up just doesn’t seem worth the trouble.
Skipping a day or two won’t kill you, but just how important is it to wash your face? If we just stopped altogether, would our skin become our best friend, or our worst enemy?
For starters, I’m sure we all know by now just how crucial it is that we take our makeup off at night before going to bed. Sleeping with our already 12-hour makeup on is only asking for breakouts and uneven skin texture so unless you are okay with clogged pores and unhappy skin it’s best that you take your makeup completely off before slipping into your clean sheets.
If this happens after just one day of not washing your makeup off, ever wonder what would happen if we just stopped washing all together?
The benefits of facial cleansing
A common benefit of facial cleansing is the removal of dirt, oil, and other unwanted debris. Throughout the day, the skin on your face is constantly covered with bacteria, pollutants, viruses, dirt, and old (dead) skin cells.
Daily facial cleaning removes these unwanted impurities to give the skin a fresh, new look making you ready to take on any day. Without washing, your skin would be covered with a thick layer of dirt, grime, and bacteria which would cause the skin to be irritated and therefore lead to breakouts.
Regular facial washing, along with the use of a good moisturizer, is also an important factor in helping the skin maintain a proper level of hydration. Dehydrated skin looks and feels rough, wrinkled, and aged. Cleansing helps manage PH levels of the skin; enabling sufficient water and product retention.
What are the repercussions
We are all guilty of skipping our skincare routines from night to night, and taking your makeup off can sometimes be a huge hassle. Just know that you’re not alone, the struggle is real.
That stubborn black mascara that might have worked wonders during the day becomes your worst enemy by night and taking that off alone can put a real damper on your evening. The benefits are worth it though, and the consequences of leaving your makeup on are definitely not with the time and suffering of brushing it off and leaving it for another day.
Here is what would happen if you decided to start skipping your cleansing routine:
- Get makeup all over your pillows
- Breakouts
- Enlarged pores
- Premature Aging
- Dry skin
- Oily Skin
- Eye irritations
You CAN over-cleanse
Yes, believe it or not, you can over-cleanse your skin. Every time you wash your face, you are also stripping your skin of its natural oils that are needed to maintain hydration and prevent irritation.
If your skin is already naturally dry, skipping your gentle cleanser and only rinsing with water a couple of nights a week can help restore the skin’s natural oils. Over-washing is one of the major causes of dry, irritated, skin especially during the winter months when the air is dryer.
Another method that may help with maintaining hydration and irritation prevention is switching up your cleaner a couple of times a week.
Each cleanser is a little different and each one is formulated to remove something different, so switching up your cleanser every now and then would remove a different type of oil each time, therefore avoiding stripping all of one completely.
The Best Cleansing Products For Your Skin
There’s a lot of exfoliants and cleansers on the market, so it can be hard to find what’s the right one for you. Everyone’s skin is different so there isn’t just one cleanser that works for everyone. When it comes to washing your face, the most important thing is consistency.
We found that it’s most helpful to incorporate washing your face into your nightly routine, so it doesn’t feel like yet another chore you have to do before going to bed.
When cleansing your face, it’s also good to use a good gentle exfoliator a few times a week to help remove all the tough excess dirt, oil, and dead skin a daily gentle cleanse otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach.
These are a few of our suggestions that can be used for a variety of skin types and tones:
- SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
- SkinMedica Sensitive Skin Cleanser
- Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser
- Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser
- SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser
- SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub
