It’s the big question—how often should you wash your face? Do you need to wash it less often if it’s very dry? What about acne? Should you be cleansing more often to quell breakouts? Here’s your answer—wash your face twice a day, in the morning and at night. After cleansing, use your toner and then apply moisturizers/night creams/serums/etc. If you become very sweaty during the day, give your skin an extra cleanse. For example, if you went for a run or were outdoors during a heatwave. Remember—bacteria thrives in sweat. This includes p.acnes, the bacterium that causes acne.

OILY SKIN However, if your skin is simply extra-oily in the middle of the day, it may be time to look into your a.m. and p.m. routines to see if you’re using the right products to control shine read this>. It shouldn’t be necessary to wash up several times a day. ACNE-PRONE For those of you struggling with acne—it’s not happening because you’re ‘dirty’ and you don’t need to wash your face more often than other people. The key, as always, is simply crafting your skin care regimen to suit your needs (and help treat and prevent breakouts). Acne Facial Cleanser> DRY SKIN Dry skin is a little trickier. You must wash your face at night. The day’s dirt, dead skin cells, pollution, and (for some) makeup can wreak havoc on your complexion if you go to bed without giving your skin a gentle cleansing. Also—why waste the opportunity to apply a hydrating night cream and/or serum? The issue of morning cleansing is where things get divisive. However, if you’re using the correct skin care products for your skin, cleansing twice a day should not cause your face to feel tight and flaky. We say—wash up in the morning, too. If your face is still super-dry after moisturizing, it might be time to re-evaluate your skin care regimen. Skin Care for Very Dry Skin>