The Importance of Cleansing

I know, I know - cleansing your face can be a real chore at times, especially after a night out when you come home late, your tired and you just want to collapse into bed. I get it, I really do. But face cleansing is oh so important when it comes to caring for your skin. It’s a routine you should adopt to ensure your complexion is looking and feeling at its best – everyday.

Cleansing is an important step in promoting a fresh, healthy complexion. (Image credit: Canva)

AM or PM or both?

The need for cleansing at night is a no-brainer, especially if you wear makeup. Face makeup like foundation, blush and bronzer, as well as eye makeup like eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara, simply has to come off so your skin can properly go through the natural processes that take place while you sleep. Your skin repairs and renews itself while you're in dreamland and it needs oxygen to do that. This natural process is hampered if you sleep with makeup on. Leaving makeup on overnight can also disrupt your skin’s natural exfoliating process, clog your pores and cause breakouts and puffiness. And those things remain – even after you get rid of the ‘panda eyes’! It can leave you feeling and looking less than your best all day long. Yeah . . . been there, done that! But, even if you do not wear makeup, think of all the grime and dirt that accumulates on your face throughout the day, including dust, smoke and other environmental pollution. 

But, what about cleansing in the morning? Surely, if you’ve cleansed your face at night, there’s no need to wash it again in the morning. Ummm . . . nice try, lazy bones! I know some people who do nothing to their face in the morning. Others simply opt for a splash of water and, while that’s certainly better than nothing, optimally, you should properly cleanse your face when you get up in the morning. Why? Think about where you lay your head at night. Resting on your pillow. Maybe tucked under sheets or blankets. Bedding is a haven for things like bacteria, dead skin cells and the dust mites which thrive on those dead skin flakes. We often sweat onto our pillows, too, especially on warm nights. Cleansing your face in the morning removes all of that icky stuff and also helps you to awaken, ready for the day.

Importantly, every time you cleanse your face, it’s another opportunity for you to hydrate your skin and feed it with nutrients available from the other skincare products which naturally follow your cleanser, including facial oils, serums and moisturisers. Night-time face cleansing rituals can also be a great way to wind down before bed. I truly believe that one of the most-important anti-ageing steps you can take for your complexion is to follow a skincare routine that includes hydrating and nourishing organic skincare products – morning and night – and it all starts with cleansing.