Beauty Breakdown: Everything You Need To Know About Washing Your Face

Some beauty topics are noticeably more technical than others. Ask me about the burgeoning science of growth factors and regenerative dermatology, and I can nerd out for days (though that's a story for another day). 

Then there are the categories that seem straightforward on the surface but actually contain some subtle distinctions—like, say, washing your face. 

Sure, you may know you need an everyday cleanse, but do you know how long, exactly, you should scrub? Do you know the right cleanser for your skin type? Do you know the best time of day to head to the sink? That, friends, is where the nuances lie.

Some skin care steps may be considered "extra" (masking, toning, steaming, and so on). Washing your face is not one of them. Whether you have a 10-step routine down pat or consider yourself a beauty minimalist, cleansing your skin is always the very first step. 

Even if you don't wear a stitch of makeup that day, "You still need to remove dirt, oils, residues of past skin care products, and air pollutants that may clog pores, cause irritation, and contain free radicals that lead to oxidative damage of the skin cells," board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., previously shared with mbg. Washing daily helps remove that buildup, even if you can't physically see the debris running down the drain. 

Plus, "Impurities on the skin can prevent active ingredients from penetrating," board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann, M.D., says regarding a good cleanse. Even the most potent serums and tonics cannot penetrate pores filled with debris—you need to wash away all the gunk. 

Double cleansing is a K-beauty skin care method, in which you first cleanse your face with an oil cleanser, followed by a water-based face wash. 

That first step easily melts away makeup and sunscreen, which are often oil-based, and dissolves excess oil on the skin (since like calls to like). "Makeup and SPF are usually heavy oil-based products, so it's easy for oil-based cleansers to break that down since the molecular structure is similar," esthetician and skin care educator at Heyday Skincare Glenise Gomez previously told mbg. 

Then by following up with a gentle foaming or milky water-based cleanser, you provide a deeper cleanse and remove any lingering product residue. 

How often you wash your face will ultimately depend on your skin type, activity level, and overall lifestyle. Some prefer to wash twice a day, every day, but i​f you have dry or sensitive skin, you can forgo the morning cleanse if that suits you (a simple rinse with water will do).

If you are only going to cleanse once, experts recommend doing so in the evening to get all that daily gunk off your skin. "If you only want to do it once a day, do it at night so you can take all the pollution off before you go to sleep," says Jeanine Downie. 

Celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas agrees: She previously told us, "Your skin must be clean before bed, so you can repair the skin overnight and not break out more." 

"Ideally, we recommend washing your face for at least 30 to 60 seconds," board-certified dermatologist Divya Shokeen, M.D., FAAD, once told mbg. "This is enough time to remove dirt, oil, and impurities from your skin without over-drying it." 

Since hot water has the ability to strip your skin of its precious oils, experts encourage washing with moderately warm or lukewarm water. Don't worry; you can still dissolve grime and bacteria without scorching your face—that's a total myth! 

We'd be remiss not to mention the following step: Always nourish your skin with hydration after cleansing. Otherwise, any lingering water on the surface of your skin will evaporate into the air, making your complexion even drier than before. 

While washing your face may sound self-explanatory, let me tell you that it's not so simple. How often you wash, the products you choose, and your specific cleansing techniques can all affect how "bare" your face truly feels (that is, stripped completely dry or not clean at all), and it may take some detective work to discover your Goldilocks routine.