What should you do morning and evening?
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Morning | Wash with a gentle cleanser, or use water alone if your skin is dry or sensitive. Apply moisturizer while skin is damp, then sunscreen. |
| Evening | Cleanse to remove the day's dirt and makeup. Apply moisturizer while skin is damp. |
| After heavy sweating | Wash your face as soon as possible, even if you have already washed twice that day. |
| During extended time outdoors | Reapply sunscreen every two hours. This does not require repeating your whole routine. |
Choose sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and apply it to your face, neck and ears. A combined moisturizer and sunscreen can cover both steps. Moisturizing helps keep water in the skin; apply it after washing, especially if your skin feels dry or itchy. Consistency matters more than a crowded shelf, even if the shelf has excellent branding.345
Should your skin type change the schedule?
For oily or acne prone skin, use a cleanser morning and evening. Combination skin usually follows the same schedule. If washing leaves your skin dry or irritated, switch to a gentler cleanser or use a thicker moisturizer. For dry or sensitive skin, keep the evening cleanse and try water alone in the morning. If you wash only once daily, make it the evening wash, after you are finished with the day's activities. Washing more often removes more natural oils and can leave skin drier.2
How should you wash your face?
- 1Wet your face with lukewarm water.
- 2Apply a gentle cleanser without alcohol using your fingertips. Avoid scrubbing or using a washcloth or sponge.
- 3Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.
- 4Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Use a light touch around your eyes.
If you wear makeup, try a cleansing balm, cleansing oil or micellar water first, followed by a gentle cleanser. Double cleansing is an option for removing makeup, not a requirement for giving the bathroom more bottles. Without makeup, a second cleanse can add unnecessary drying. There is no universal rule that washing must take exactly 60 seconds; the cleanser and your skin type affect how long to wash.2
Should you use treatments every day too?
A daily routine does not mean every treatment needs daily use from the start. For an adult introducing retinol for aging skin, a cautious starting schedule is once every three days at bedtime, increasing toward nightly use as skin tolerates it. Watch for redness, significant peeling or irritation rather than increasing automatically. Introduce one new product at a time so you can assess tolerance. Tweens generally need only gentle cleansing, moisturizer and sunscreen; acne treatments for younger skin should be chosen with a dermatologist.45
Does showering count as skincare?
A face washed in the shower is already washed, even if the sink feels left out. Body washing has a separate schedule: once daily is a general starting point, with adjustments for activity, weather and dryness. Keep showers warm rather than hot and under five minutes. Pat dry and apply a fragrance free moisturizer afterward to help retain water in your skin.26
When should you change the routine or get help?
Dryness, itchiness, irritation or scaling are reasons to reassess how often you wash, especially your shower routine. Avoid a product that triggers irritation. Have a doctor check a new rash that burns or itches, and promptly report a rash that develops while taking medication. A dermatologist can help identify the trigger if you cannot work out what is causing the reaction.16
Where this answer comes from
- 1Skin and Hairhealth.harvard.edu
- 2How Often Should You Wash Your Face?health.clevelandclinic.org
- 3Face washing 101aad.org
- 4Winning the skin gamehealth.harvard.edu
- 5A dermatologist’s guide to skincare from growing up to glowing upaad.org
- 6How Often Should You Shower?health.clevelandclinic.org
