Recently, a debate broke out in the beauty corner of Allure HQ over whether or not it's necessary to wash your face in the morning. On one side were the editors—like me—who savor their sleep and had heard from someone's cousin's roommate that cleansing in the morning was bad for skin. On the other side were the editors who couldn't fathom putting makeup on a "dirty" face. Realizing this difference of opinion couldn't be solved West Side Story style, I consulted dermatologist Ranella Hirsch for answers.
"There's really no reason to wash your face in the morning, especially if you thoroughly cleansed the night before," says Hirsch. (Ah ha! I win!) "But, at the same time, there's nothing wrong with cleansing the face every morning, as long as you're not overstripping the skin with harsh, drying cleansers. It's just a matter of personal preference." (Oh.) But, what about the big bad bacteria that lurks on your pillowcase, waiting to clog your pores unless you wash your face? "I wouldn't really worry about that," she says. "It's one of those problems that isn't actually a problem; if you're breaking out, there's likely a larger cause."
The only time Hirsch does instruct her patients to wash their faces, though, is before they put on moisturizer. "If you're using a moisturizer in the morning, you need to splash some water on your skin first," she says. "Moisturizers are like Saran wrap for your skin—they lock in dampness to keep you hydrated and glowing." Not sure which one to choose? We can help you find the best morning moisturizer. (Spoiler: They all have a hefty dose of sunscreen in them.)
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