Should You Wash Your Face In The Morning?

If you're anything like me, you've believed for years that washing your face every morning is a must for clearer, healthier skin. Lately, I've been second guessing myself and my beauty regimen, and I'm not alone: the ladies at Allure were asking each other "Should you wash your face in the morning or will the water dry it out?" Yeah, it's a hot debate and the answer may surprise you.

I heard, and believed, a lot of things about why it was important to wash my face every morning. I thought the bacteria from the pillowcase would cause clogged pores, or the sweating and weird skin rejuvenation happening at night would mean a nasty layer of dead skin and gunk that needed to be washed off promptly in the morning. I thought that, without washing, my makeup wouldn't go on as well or last as long.

Of course, I'm tempted by extra minutes of sleep every morning no matter what the consequences, so when I found out that, according to Allure (who asked a doctor after a hot debate), there really is no wrong morning routine, I jumped for joy.

"There's really no reason to wash your face in the morning, especially if you thoroughly cleansed the night before," said dermatologist Ranella Hirsch. Boom! Extra sleep for everybody!

"But, at the same time, there's nothing wrong with cleansing the face every morning, as long as you're not over-stripping the skin with harsh, drying cleansers. It's just a matter of personal preference." So, it looks like we all win.

And about that bacteria lurking in your sheets and the potential for breakouts?

"I wouldn't really worry about that," she said. "It's one of those 'problems' that isn't actually a problem; if you're breaking out, there's likely a larger cause."

Turns out, there is only one hard and fast rule when it comes to washing your face. "If you're using a moisturizer in the morning, you need to splash some water on your skin first," Hirsch said. "Moisturizers are like Saran wrap for your skin—they lock in dampness to keep you hydrated and glowing."

Oh, and, FYI: it's best to choose a moisturizer with sunscreen, to prevent future damage.

Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45, $13.59, ulta.com

Now go on and enjoy those super precious extra minutes of sleep!

Image: Fotolia