Its better not to wash your face in the morning

Question

To wash or to not wash your face—that is the question. Does it just depend on the skin type and genetics or could it benefit everyone not to wash your face in the morning?

Comments

You did a really good job! I liked how you started off saying what sebum is, I personally didn't know what this was. Then, you explained that this might be true for many people but not all and included another article by a dermatologist that better explained and went into more detail about the specific types of skin and what it met for you.

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This is an excellent response to this claim! I also definitely questioned how this claim could be used with different skin types and whether this idea is a one-size-fits-all solution.  Something that could make this fact check/comment even stronger is an additional source or personal testimony. Great job!

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this claim depends on your skin type. if you have dryer skin, you may not need to wash your face in the morning. however if you have oily skin and skip washing your face in the morning, your face is likely to feel more greasy. while this does apply to some skin types and nightly skin care routines, it depends person to person. additionally, it is true that sebum helps protect your skin and washing your face removes that layer of protection.

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I have heard this claim surface many times before, however, I believe when to wash your face and when not to wash your face entirely depends on an individuals skin type. Personally, the once a day face washing technique is not beneficial for my skin type, but I could see how it might work for others. I found the Vogue article did bring up several strong points, such as when they stated that "Cleansing your skin in the morning removes the delicate layer of sebum that your skin produces overnight to protect itself from external factors, like pollutants or bad bacteria.” However, since Vogue Magazine tends to lean more towards fashion, pop culture, lifestyle, etc., it would have been great to further back up the claim using an additional, more scientific source. It would add more credibility to the original claim made and increase the specificity.

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I like this fact check! It's nice that you pulled directly from the article to acknowledge its strong points but also acknowledge the lack of additional scientific sources in provides. In order to support your own claim, however, that the benefits of when to wash your face depends on skin type, I would recommend doing some light research and trying to find some articles and data that support your counter claim.

Answer 1

This claim is hard to be fully fact-checked as skin and skin care is subjective. Each person has a different skin type and routine in order to achieve the desired skin type. There is no overall skin care routine that works for everyone. Another unreliable fact about this claim comes from the source. The source is coming from vogue which is a fashion and beauty brand, not a medical grade website. A more reliable source would be "Cerave" which is a reliable skincare brand. This brand states "Washing your face in the morning helps remove sweat, dirt, excess oil, and bacteria that can build up on your skin’s surface overnight." There is a lot of contradicting information surrounding skincare so the claim might not be fully inaccurate, however its also not 100% true so the claim is misleading.

Comments

Skincare is super subjective, and what works for one person might mess up someone else's skin entirely. The fact that Vogue isn’t a medical source makes it less reliable, even if they offer popular advice. On the flip side, brands like CeraVe, which are dermatologist-driven, tend to give more fact based tips. It’s wild how even reliable sources can conflict, even though it makes figuring out what actually works pretty frustrating. How do you think people should figure out their skincare routines with so much mixed info out there? Would you say trial and error is the best bet, or is there another way?

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I agree that skin care is incredibly subjective which is why its important to know your skin type and how your habits affect it. With this fact check I think linking CeraVe would be more helpful for us so we could read more about your evidence. I believe I know what article you're referring to however and I remember from it that they quoted the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Both sources believe that washing your face in the morning is actually beneficial. I agree that the original claim is misleading as there are more professional claims done opposing their claim.

Answer 2

According to Vogue, washing your face in the morning gets rid of the protective layer your skin has created overnight after putting on cleansing products. On the contrary, washing your face in the morning is important because overnight your skin builds up bacteria that should be removed in the morning. According to CeraVe, "Washing your face in the morning is important because it removes sweat, excess oil, and bacteria from the night, while evening cleansing removes dirt, oil, makeup, environmental pollutants, and other impurities that build up throughout the day." I believe there are benefits to either washing or not washing your face in the morning and it mainly depends on your skin type.

https://www.cerave.com/skin-smarts/skincare-tips-advice/should-you-wash-your-face-in-the-morning#:~:text=Washing%20your%20face%20in%20the,breakouts%20and%20other%20skin%20concerns.

https://www.vogue.com/article/french-pharmacy-morning-cleanse

Comments

It really comes down to skin type. The balance of washing or not in the morning depends on what your skin actually needs. What works for someone with oily skin might be completely different for someone with dry skin. The bacteria argument makes sense, but I’m curious if leaving that protective layer intact overnight could ever backfire for certain people. What do you think about combining a gentle rinse instead of a full wash for people worried about stripping their skin?

Answer 3

This claim is based on a French method that says you should avoid washing your face in the morning to avoid removing a layer of sebum that is healthy and beneficial to your skin. While yes, it is nice to wash your face in the morning to remove and dirt or germs that built up the night before, however washing your face in the morning could also have its drawbacks like it could also dry out your skin. I would say it depends on the person if they want to wash their face in the morning or not. While it could be beneficial for a lot of people I wouldn't say it's necessary. 

https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/does-washing-you-face-in-the-morning-ruin-your-skin

Answer 4

This fact isn't really true or false because it kind of is up to the persons skin care routine.  For many people, not washing their face in the morning can actually be beneficial. Overnight, the skin works to repair itself, forming a protective barrier with natural oils and moisture. Some dermatologists and skincare experts suggest that skipping a morning cleanse helps preserve this natural barrier, which can reduce dryness and irritation. This approach may work particularly well for people with dry or sensitive skin​. But, there are situations where a morning cleanse might be advisable, such as for individuals with oily or acne prone skin, as bacteria and oil can accumulate overnight. In these cases, a gentle cleanser may be helpful. 

Source: https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/does-washing-you-face-in-the-morning-ruin-your-skin 

Answer 5

According to this article, washing your face in the morning is not necessary. French pharmacist Natacha Bonjout, who has worked in the industry for more than 15 years, is quoted discussing her personal skincare regimen. But when I first looked at her initial Vogue talk, she didn't provide any scientific justification for this recommendation. There was a trial that examined washing your face multiple different times a day located on the National Library of Medicine. They discovered that washing only once a day can really make acne worse. And on Cerave they claim washing your face in the morning helps with removing bacteria. I feel that this can go both ways and it all depends on everyones skin type.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17014635/

https://www.cerave.com/skin-smarts/skincare-tips-advice/should-you-wash-your-face-in-the-morning#:~:text=Washing%20your%20face%20in%20the,breakouts%20and%20other%20skin%20concerns

Answer 6

Analyzing the claim “It is better to not wash your face in the morning”, I have found the claim to not be valid. Fact checking it, the main source of the claim comes from a Vogue article. Although Vogue is a source knowledgeable on beauty, they are not a scientific source. Thus, there is no actual research, science, or evidence demonstrated in this article. The line of reasoning for this claim comes from Natacha Bonjout, a French pharmacist who owns her own skincare company, “Bonjout Beauty”. Furthermore, Natacha’s claims may be in an effort to sell more of her beauty products. This can be seen in the way the article suggests an alternative to washing your face in the morning as using Natacha’s “newly launched eight-in-one Le Balm Skin Savior Solid Sérum”. Obviously, Natacha’s brand capitalizes off this claim, decreasing its credibility. To further fact check, I found an article from US dermatology partners, “one of the largest dermatology practices in the country”, which explains you should wash your face at least one to two times a day. The amount you need to wash your face can vary depending on factors like how much someone exercises. Though there are variables in how often a person should wash their face, nowhere in this dermatology-written article does it mention it being harmful to wash your face in the morning.

https://www.usdermatologypartners.com/press-media/dont-be-gross-heres-how-often-you-should-wash-your-face/  

Answer 7

Whether this view is correct or not depends on the person. This article mainly comes from Vogue, so it's hard to be sure about the information given. In the article, the pharmacist suggests not washing your face in the morning because it gets rid of the fragile sebum layer that your skin produces overnight. This sebum layer can protect your skin from external factors like pollutants or harmful bacteria. But this method might not work for everyone. According to this article in Health magazine, there are specific ways to take care of your skin for different skin types. 

                                                                                                           https://www.health.com/skin-types-8405765#toc-how-to-care-for-your-skin-type

Answer 8

According to the article from Vogue, it states that "Cleansing your skin in the morning removes the delicate layer of sebum that your skin produces overnight to protect itself from external factors, like pollutants or bad bacteria." This point makes the claim for the statement of why one should not wash their face in the morning. According to the National Library of Medicine, the active role of the sebum is to protect the skins natural oils, keeps skin smooth, fight bacteria, and control inflammation in the skin. Although PubMed Central supports the functions of the sebum, it also mentions that over cleansing the skin can lead to stripping and loss of natural oils. In an article from the New York Times, it states that all skin is different meaning not one certain way of facial cleansing is not the best way for everyone. I think that the title of this claim is exaggerated because despite not cleansing the face in morning can be affective for some people, everyone has different skin types, textures, and needs that differ from person to person. The evidence from the articles support the claim that it can be beneficial to only cleanse the face at night, the main flaw I see in this is the misleading title.

PMC3051853 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/09/style/wash-that-face.html

Answer 9

The claim this article makes is that the sebum your face produced overnight will not only benefit your skin but also protect it. According to research done by the American Academy of Dermatology, which is fact checked by licensed doctors, sebum does benefit your skin, but overproduction and underproduction can have drawbacks on an individual. They also recommend washing your face in the morning and before bed, which does contradict the opinion of vogue. According to MedicalNewsToday, which draws most its facts from the AAD, the amount of times a person should wash their face depends on the individual, for instance if someone has oily skin it is recommending they wash their face more frequently than someone with drier skin. In conclusion, this article isn't wrong, but exaggerated it's claim which created a misleading narrative.

Answer 10

No matter what your skin type is, you should wash your face in the morning because it helps get rid on any oil build up, sweat or dirt. According to CeraVe, "The AAD recommends washing your face in the morning, before bed, and after sweating -- regardless of your skin type. According to the AAD, cleansing your face in the morning serves an important purpose: It washes away bacteria, sweat, and dirt that can settle on your face overnight." You can decide whether or not to wash your face if your skin feels too dry in the morning, however it is recommended.

Comments

I can see you did some research to support your response, but you didn't link the sources that you got your information from. I also have concerns that your evidence is coming from a company trying to sell their product (face wash) because they are likely to promote using their product as often as possible. It would've been great to see information from more credible sources.