How often do you actually need to wash your face?

That’s a question that we get quite a lot.

And the answer tends to disappoint a little bit, because.. It depends. 

We could end the post right here and there, but that wouldn’t be very helpful, would it?

So allow us to explain our (lame) “it depends” answer: 

It depends on your skin type, your skin concerns, how much you exercise, whether or not you’re wearing sunscreen (which you always should, btw), etc. 

We’ll say this, though: Washing your face twice a day is a good way to keep up a good skincare routine. However, one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to skincare, so let’s take a look at the science that goes into washing your face. 

We’ve asked our skincare professional Stine Alva to give us a full run-down of the mystery that is washing and cleansing your skin.

Let’s get into it 👇

What is the best way to wash your face?

The general recommendation is to wash your face twice a day: In the morning and in the evening. 

“In the morning, a cleanser is primarily used to remove dirt and sweat that has built up through the night, as well as preparing your skin for the rest of your morning skincare ritual. In the evening, a cleanser is used to remove dirt that has built up throughout the day, as well as remove product leftovers from either makeup or sunscreen,” Stine says. 

The thing about cleansing twice a day is that this routine supports the majority of skin types and general skin concerns. 

If you have oily and acne-prone skin, you’ll likely have no problem following the twice-a-day-(keeps the oil away)-routine. Actually, people with oily or acne-prone skin can have a tendency to over-wash their faces (scroll down a bit if you want to read more about over and under-washing your face). This is mainly due to the fact that dealing with acne and excess oil can feel greasy and dirty, leading to most people wanting to wash it off. 

If you have combination skin, cleansing twice a day is still advised. However, since you’re likely to experience some dryness to your skin with this skin type, try and notice how your skin is actually feeling. The recommended routine would still be to cleanse morning and evening, but you may need to find a gentle cleanser then. 

If you have dry or sensitive skin (or eczema or psoriasis), washing your face twice a day would still be our recommendation (so sorry for sounding like a broken record). However! Washing your face twice a day when having sensitive or dry skin can lead to some irritation and eventually more dryness and redness. So if this is the case for you, try scaling back on the cleansing or find a super gentle cleanser, like a balm containing humectants like glycerin (and without alcohol and harsh cleansing agents like SLS’s). 

Okay. 

So far, so good. 

But there’s more. 

Sweaty occasions may call for a third wash during the day, as sweat being left on top of your skin potentially can cause breakouts (and we don’t want that). If you wear makeup, remove your makeup before exercising - a simple micellar water will do the trick and then follow up with your cleansing routine after. If you’re working out in the morning, you can skip the cleanse and postpone your skincare routine until after your workout. Simple as that. And good job for working out in the morning, you machine.

Oh, and speaking of makeup: If you’re wearing makeup (or sunscreen, which of course you always are), a simple gentle cleanser may not be sufficient. This is where double cleansing becomes interesting. The concept behind double cleansing is to first cleanse your face with an oil based cleanser to dissolve the makeup and the sunscreen and then follow up with a water based cleanser to do the actual cleansing of your skin. Double cleansing isn’t a necessity, but some people find it to be an efficient way to get rid of stubborn products on the face. 

Can you over or under-wash your face?

As promised, we’ll talk about the risks of potentially over or under-washing your face. 

Generally, under-washing your face isn’t the worst that could happen, according to Stine: 

“Skipping your cleansing routine once or twice is fine. But eventually, short and long-term effects will start showing up on your face. Worst case scenario if you don’t wash your face or skip a cleansing is that you are more exposed to getting breakouts due to the oil, dirt and makeup that is building up and potentially clogging your pores. Furthermore, your pores are more likely to appear larger and your skin will look more dull and textured, rather than have a  radiant, dewy, and healthy look. Finally, your skincare products are just more efficient if you remember to wash your face first. To be honest, it’s a waste of money and time applying your expensive serum or moisturiser, if your skin hasn't been prepared in the form of a cleansing routine.”

That’s some brutally honest advice for you, right there. Thanks Stine.