Most people think that washing your face is only important at night, when it’s time to remove makeup and wash away pollution with a double cleanse. Take it from me— I went six months without washing my face in the mornings (on a dermatologist’s advice, to be fair). It worked for me at the time, but now that my skin has recovered and my skin barrier is in top shape, I noticed that my morning skincare routine wasn’t quite delivering the results I expected. I even started incorporating more potent ingredients, but I didn’t see results as transformative as I’d hoped; in fact, quite the opposite happened: my skin was becoming overwhelmed.
Then I heard pharmacist Marta Masi emphasise the importance of washing your face with soap and water every morning and it dawned on me: I’d been washing my face with just water for far too long. Is washing your face with water in the morning enough? That’s when I decided to consult with facialist Cristina Galmiche, an expert in traditional skin cleansing, whose center on Núñez de Balboa I visit fairly regularly.
Are you sure your skin is really clean when you wake up?
“There’s a common misconception that after cleansing your face before bed, your skin is spotless in the morning. But overnight, toxins, product residue and sweat build up, which can clog pores and cause oxidation,” says Galmiche. In other words: even if you don’t see any dirt, it’s still there. And if you don’t remove it with a good morning facial cleanse (using water and a facial cleanser), your skin can’t breathe, the active ingredients in your creams won’t penetrate as they should and that much-desired glow simply won’t appear.
Benefits of washing your face thoroughly when you wake up
- Removes sweat, sebum and nighttime residue
- Prevents blackheads and acne breakouts
- Oxygenates the skin and stimulates microcirculation
- Improves skin texture and radiance
- Enhances the effectiveness of serums and creams
- Strengthens the skin barrier
Morning facial cleansing isn’t just another step; it’s the foundation, especially if you use skincare products with active ingredients like vitamin C, glycolic acid or hyaluronic acid. They need well-prepared skin to work effectively. Furthermore, since dirt isn’t always visible, many people believe their skin is clean when they wake up. But sweat, sebum, oil from the hair and residue from night creams are still there and if we don’t remove them properly, they can lead to blemishes, uneven texture and a dull complexion.
