Whether you wear makeup or not, cleansing your face should be a vital part of your everyday routine. However, it’s very possible to cleanse too often, and it can do just as much damage as not washing your face at all. In fact, washing your face twice each day is the maximum—any more than that is overkill. Learn how to tell if you’re over-cleansing your face so you can start making adjustments as necessary.
Your Skin Feels Dry or Tight
If your skin feels dry or tight, you might be overdoing it. When you have blemishes or clogged pores, using an oil-free, decongesting cleanser makes sense; however, it could do more harm than good. These cleansers can dry out your skin and make your skin feel tight, especially around your mouth and nose.
Increased Oil Production
When you have oily skin, it can be tempting to wash your face every chance you get. Cleansing too much—especially with harsh products—puts your skin barrier under attack. In fact, washing more than twice each day can strip your skin of its natural oils, called sebum, which prompts your body to produce more sebum to compensate.
Adult Acne Development
It’s a normal instinct to reach for the cleanser more often when you have a few pesky breakouts or blemishes; nevertheless, the extra sebum production that comes with over-cleansing can cause your adult acne to worsen. Washing your face twice each day with a facial cleanser for acne-prone skin is the best way to combat unwanted breakouts.
Rashes or Skin Inflammation
When you over-wash, you risk damaging your skin’s barrier. As a result, the barrier will no longer protect you from environmental irritants and acne-causing bacteria. Unfortunately, you’ll become increasingly susceptible to redness, inflammation, and painful rashes.
Knowing how to tell if you’re over-cleansing your face can save you from suffering the consequences of a damaged skin barrier. To alleviate your symptoms and repair your barrier, only cleanse in the evening and switch to a gentle cleansing oil instead of a harsh, drying product. And don’t forget to moisturize!