Why Washing Your Face Twice a Day Might Be Too Much (Especially for Dry or Sensitive Skin)
Let’s talk face-washing!
Somewhere along the way, we were all told that washing our face twice a day—morning and night—was the gold standard. Cleanse, tone, moisturize, repeat. Every. Single. Day.
But here’s a little skin-loving secret I share often in my treatment room:
If your skin is dry, sensitive, or reactive, washing your face twice a day might be doing more harm than good.
I know…this goes against everything skincare commercials taught us in the early 2000s. But the truth is, over-cleansing can strip your skin’s natural barrier, leaving it feeling tight, flaky, or even more irritated. And if you’ve ever washed your face in the morning and felt like you needed to slather on five layers of moisturizer just to feel normal again… you’re not imagining it.
Why You Might Want to Skip the AM Cleanse
If your skin feels calm and balanced when you wake up, and you didn’t go to bed with a full face of makeup or heavy night creams…you might not need a traditional cleanser in the morning at all.
Instead, try this:
Rinse your face with lukewarm water only
Follow with a gentle hydrating mist or toner and your moisturizer
Your skin worked hard overnight to repair and rebalance itself. Why undo all that progress the moment you wake up?
But What If You’re Oily or Acne-Prone?
Even if you’re on the oilier side, you can still benefit from a gentle approach. Over-washing can trigger more oil production as your skin tries to compensate for what’s been stripped away.
Instead of stressing about how often you wash, try focusing on what you’re using. Look for cleansers that support your skin’s natural barrier. Skip anything with harsh sulfates or strong exfoliants, and really tune in to how your skin feels after rinsing. It should feel soft, calm, and hydrated—not tight, dry, or squeaky clean.
My Personal Take (From Behind the Spa Table)
When clients come in with red, dry, or sensitized skin, my first question is often, “What are you using to cleanse?” Nine times out of ten, they’re either using something too harsh or cleansing more often than they need to. Once we scale it back, their skin almost always starts to calm down.
You don’t need to do more to have beautiful skin. Sometimes, you just need to do less—but better.
Gentle Cleanser Favorites
If you’re looking for a cleanser that supports your skin barrier, here are a few I’ve used in my treatment room and genuinely love:
🧴 Face Reality Barrier Repair Cleanser
🧴 Circadia Amandola Milk Cleanser
🧴 Green Envee Soothing Herbal Cleanser
Your skin doesn’t need to feel stripped to feel clean. If your current routine leaves you dry, red, or a little cranky in the cheeks, consider switching to a once-a-day cleanse. In the morning? Let your skin rest. It deserves a slow start too!
