LHOOQ Journal Vol.21
Should you use cleanser in the morning? The difference between water-only washing and how to decide based on skin condition
Should you use a cleanser for your morning face wash, or is water enough? Rather than deciding on a single rule, it’s important to look at your skin when you wake up. We take a simple approach to morning cleansing, considering everything from sweat and sebum produced during sleep to last night's skincare and how your skin feels in terms of dryness.
Your skin retains sweat and sebum even in the morning
Even while you sleep, your skin produces sweat and sebum. Additionally, oil or skincare products used the previous night may remain on the skin's surface.
On the other hand, some people may feel dryness if they cleanse more than necessary starting from the morning. The key is not to fixate on "I must use a cleanser" or "I must use only water" every morning, but to observe your skin condition for that day.
Days to wash with water vs. days to use cleanser
Touch your skin upon waking to check for stickiness, sweat, and dryness. You don't need to complicate the decision-making process.
- On days with little stickiness and a feeling of dryness, focus on using lukewarm water.
- On days when you have sweated a lot or are concerned about sebum around the forehead and nose, use a cleanser.
- On days when you feel a significant amount of residual oil from the previous night remains, wash gently with lather.
Skin condition changes with the seasons and your sleeping environment. You don't need to continue the same washing method today just because you did it yesterday.
For morning face washing too, don't remove too much—just what is necessary.
If you use a cleanser, do it quickly without rubbing
If you use a cleanser in the morning, the basics are the same as at night. Lather the soap well and wash by spreading the foam, without rubbing your skin directly.
Start from the forehead and nose area where sebum is a concern, and avoid washing the cheeks and mouth area—which are prone to dryness—for too long. Avoid hot water when rinsing and do so carefully with lukewarm water.
Let the post-wash feel be your guide for the next morning
If you feel strong tightness after washing, review the washing time, water temperature, friction, and frequency of cleanser use. Conversely, if stickiness remains after washing, try adjusting your morning routine slightly.
The right morning face wash for you is not about rules, but about finding what works based on how your skin feels after washing.
From cleansing to moisturizing, keep it simple with three items.
Don't make your morning care the same every day
On humid days, days when you're dried out by air conditioning, or mornings after sweating in your sleep—skin condition is slightly different every day.
That is precisely why you should neither overdo your morning face wash nor fixate on one method. Choosing the cleansing method your skin needs that day leads to simple care.
Look at your morning skin and choose how to wash.
Water only, or with a cleanser? Don't turn it into a binary rule—use only what your skin needs today. Make your daily face wash simpler.