Especially when you're young, and your skin seems to forgive a lot, thorough facial cleansing is a step in your skincare routine that you might occasionally neglect. After a night out, it's easy to just fall into bed – even I, who should know better, have a few memories of doing just that. You can always catch up on cleansing in the morning, right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple and can actually stress your skin out. Why?
What Happens When You Don't Cleanse Your Skin at Night
Throughout the day, various pollutants accumulate on your skin, including fine dust and nitrogen oxide from vehicles and industry. These can irritate your skin and cause oxidative stress, leading to inflammatory processes and premature aging.
Makeup residues are also bad news for your skin. They can mix with your skin's natural oils and clog your pores.
For skin that's already out of balance—like sensitive or acne-prone skin—this is a big burden and can further irritate and worsen your condition. And this applies regardless of age!
Over time, and if you repeatedly neglect cleansing, these pollutants and makeup residues can also lead to hyperpigmentation, making your skin tone uneven and blotchy.
To Help Your Skin Recover at Night
Your skin enters a crucial regeneration phase at night, recovering from the day's stresses. Cell renewal and collagen production are most active at night. Your skin also gets better blood circulation, which aids in detoxification. It makes sense to support these processes rather than hinder them. Evening cleansing sets the perfect foundation for this.
Cleansing – What to Keep in Mind
1. Always use a cleanser that suits your skin condition. For example, a cleanser for sensitive skin should be fragrance-free, while a cleanser for oily or acne-prone skin should avoid comedogenic oils that can clog pores.
Determine Your Skin Condition
If you're unsure about your skin condition, use ourSkin Solutions Care Guide. We explain the different skin conditions and help you find products that create the perfect skincare routine for your skin.
2. Eye makeup is often challenging to remove, and the area around your eyes is very delicate. Instead of your facial cleanser, use specific eye makeup removers. Eye makeup removers are gently formulated and effectively dissolve stubborn makeup residues, like waterproof mascara.
3. Do you use a washcloth or towel to remove your cleanser? Make sure to change them frequently, especially if you have acne or sensitive skin. Changing them daily is even recommended, as they can harbor microorganisms like fungi and bacteria that can further irritate your skin.
4. If you don't already, add a toner to your cleansing routine. It removes any remaining cleanser residues and perfectly prepares your skin for the next steps in your skincare routine.
5. For oily or acne-prone skin, cleanse your skin at least morning and night, ideally multiple times a day. For all other skin types, it's usually sufficient to thoroughly cleanse your skin at night with a cleanser and just use lukewarm water in the morning before applying your day cream.
Take care, Verena
