Even if your skincare regimen lasts no longer than 60 seconds, chances are you’ve been washing your face morning and night on autopilot for years. But unlike brushing your teeth twice daily, this cadence isn’t exactly gospel. While some guys could use the extra wash, others would do just fine—better, even—replacing one of those cleanses with a simple splash of water.
So which camp are you in? Your skin type has a lot to do with it—but so do your workouts, the weather, and what you slathered on your face the night before.
When a single daily cleanse will suffice
One grooming rule worth sticking to? Washing your face every night, without fail. “By the end of the day, oil, dirt, sweat, and other impurities have had time to build up on the skin, making it important to wash your face with a gentle cleanser before bed,” says Whitney Hovenic, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and co-founder of SPOOGE.
Your morning cleanse is more negotiable. According to Antony Nakhla, MD, a double-board certified dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, and founder of Eighth Day, splashing your face with water is enough for those whose skin is dry or sensitive. The same goes for drama-free “normal” skin, assuming you didn’t layer on any actives (like a retinoid) before bed. “Washing skin that has nothing on it just strips the oils it needs,” he says.
Some guys are prone to overcleansing—think washing three-plus times daily, using harsh bar soaps, or using strong products (like acne washes and exfoliants) too often, all of which leave your skin worse for wear. “This strips lipids faster than skin can replace them, and the skin responds by overproducing oil or turning reactive,” says Dr. Nakhla. Your face will tell you if you need to scale things back. Revise your strategy if your skin gets red or feels tight after washing, and if it’s basically begging to be replenished with a moisturizer straight away. “If your face feels squeaky, stripped, or uncomfortable, that is usually a sign to rethink either the cleanser or how frequently you are using it,” says Dr. Hovenic.
When twice-daily cleansing is the right move
If your skin is oily, acne-prone, or you used an active ingredient the night before, Dr. Nakhla says to stick with your morning cleanse. Ditto if you’re a hot sleeper or live in a hot or humid climate, as sweat mixes with sebum to create buildup. That said, your cleansing schedule might also change with the seasons. A twice-daily cleanse might make more sense during a sweltering summer, whereas indoor heat in the wintertime can make your skin drier and render a morning refresh less necessary.
Then there are your workouts to consider. Sometimes your face-washing schedule has less to do with the clock than when you work up a sweat. If a workout leaves you drenched, you should follow up with a thorough cleanse, especially if you’re acne-prone. “Sweat itself is not ‘dirty,’ but when it sits on the skin alongside oil, sunscreen, bacteria, and debris, it can contribute to irritation and breakouts,” says Dr. Hovenic. But what if you squeeze in a run at lunch and don’t have a cleanser handy? Rinse your face at the very least. You could also consider packing a hypochlorous acid spray—which has antibacterial properties—in your gym bag or at your desk. “I would still consider it a bridge rather than a replacement for cleansing,” says Dr. Hovenic, “because a spray is not going to remove oil, sunscreen and buildup the way a cleanser can.”
