Yes, you can wash your face after sleeping, but whether you should depends on your skin type and routine.
Why You Might Wash Your Face in the Morning
- Environmental debris: Your skin can accumulate dust and other environmental debris overnight (Quora). Washing removes this.
- Oily skin: If you have oily skin, morning cleansing can help remove excess sebum accumulated during sleep (Quora).
- Post-workout: If you exercise in the morning, washing your face afterward is crucial to remove sweat and prevent breakouts (Byrdie).
- Retinol use: If you use retinol at night, morning cleansing is recommended by some experts (Saatva).
Why You Might Skip Morning Cleansing
- Sensitive or dry skin: For those with sensitive or dry skin, simply splashing water on your face might suffice. This avoids stripping away protective lipids (Health.com).
- Minimal product use: If you only used serum and night cream overnight, cleansing might be unnecessary (Vogue Scandinavia).
How to Determine Your Routine
Consider these factors:
- Skin type: Oily skin might benefit from daily cleansing, while sensitive or dry skin might tolerate just water.
- Products used: If you use heavy products at night, morning cleansing is more likely necessary.
- Activity level: Morning workouts necessitate cleansing.
The approach suggested by Stull (Health.com) for sensitive/dry skin is to simply use water, avoiding harsh cleansers that strip the skin’s protective barrier. For others, a gentle cleanser might be more appropriate. The Reddit thread (r/AsianBeauty) mentions an alternative approach for some: gently wiping away dust and residue with a tissue.
