The Best Face Wash Routine for Early Mornings

Why is a good face wash routine important

As far as skincare routines go, one could argue your daily face wash routine is the most important of them all. Your face is constantly exposed to the elements throughout the day. This exposure dries our skin and collects a ton of dirt which should be washed off daily. With less protection, our skin can start to age prematurely making us appear older than we are.

To achieve great skin you cannot simply rely on good genes, a daily skincare routine is essential to long-lasting, young-looking skin. Face wash routines are important for skin care because they help wash away the oil and dirt build-up on our skin. Our face is likely to build up the most due to exposure during the day.

Washing your face daily will help to clear the skin of all impurities that build up throughout the day. This will result in fresh and clear skin. If you are interested in a more robust skincare routine check out this article.

What to look for in the best face wash routine

Skin type

It is crucial to know what your skin type is before committing to any face wash routine. First off skin types generally fall into a range of dry to oily skin. Oily skin is caused by excess sebum (natural skin oils) which occurs naturally. Sebum is actually good for our skin but too much can cause problems.

Dry skin is caused by a lack of sebum and water (medically termed xerosis) and this is caused when we lose fats in our face that help to produce the oils that protect our skin. If you have skin problems, consult a dermatologist to understand which type you have, this can help you determine the best skincare routine to solve the problem.

Avoid hot water

Hot water is bad for your skin. It can damage it and dry it out which is the opposite of what you want to happen in your face wash routine. Whenever you are washing your face or even showering try to use lukewarm or cool water. Hot water can wash away our natural oils which can result in irritated skin.

Don’t use soap on your face

Traditional soap, such as a bar of soap, should not be used on your face. They consist of ingredients that could irritate or dry out your skin and should only be used on certain parts of your body. Instead, opt for a facial cleanser that is designed for your skin type. Additionally, most soaps include fragrances to make you smell better. These fragrances will dry out your skin and should be avoided when washing your face.

Be gentle

We often think it’s important to scrub deeply when washing our faces but the opposite is true. While our skin is tough it is also sensitive in some places, including our face. When applying cleanser or rinsing your face be sure to gently glide over the surface. This will get all the oil & dirt off and keep you looking fresh.

Morning and night

Most experts recommend washing your face no more than two times a day. The best times to do that are in the morning and before bed. Before bed is especially important as you don’t want to be sleeping with all the dirt of the day on your face.

Nighttime is also important because you want to remove any makeup or other products on your face. In contrast, it’s wise to also wash your face each morning before applying sunscreen or moisturizers. Check out some more morning habits to help make your day better.

Consistency

To have the best face wash routine one must focus on staying consistent. Consistency means doing it every day and sticking to the routine no matter what. Whether you are traveling or going through a rough time at work, keep it up! Even if you miss a day, don’t let that get you down, start again.

Ingredients

Keep an eye on the ingredients in the products you use. Many skin care products have various chemicals that might solve a short-term problem but create longer-term damage, such as clogging pores or drying out our skin. Read the labels. Do some research and whenever you can try to find natural or organic products.

What products to use for the best face wash routine

Facial cleanser

Facial cleansers are a very important part of any face wash routine. There are so many options available to choose from. It’s best to find the product that works best for your skin type, which might mean trying quite a few different ones out. Facial cleansers help to gently remove the oil & dirt built up on the skin. It’s a great product to use in the morning and night before applying sunscreen, moisturizer, or night creams.

Our Recommended Facial Cleanser: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

CeraVe produces some of the best face wash products out there. The key to a good face cleansing is being gentle. This foaming cleanser is perfect for those looking to remove dirt, excess oils, and other pollutants that collect on your skin throughout the day.

Exfoliate (1 – 2 times a week only)

Removing oils, dirt, and dead skin cells is an essential part of any skincare routine. Using an exfoliating face wash or scrub on your skin can do wonders but try to keep it to 1 or 2 times a week and not make it a daily thing. Exfoliating your skin helps clear pores because it penetrates deeper into our skin. This can help make the skin appear cleaner and fresher.

Our recommended Exfoliate: Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

While exfoliating should not be a daily activity, this product is highly recommended. It is fragrance-free and currently one of the more popular exfoliates available on the market. Kiehl’s has been a leader in skin care for years. This product includes Amazonian White Clay which helps deep clean to remove dirt trapped in your pores.

Toner

Using a toner is not necessary for every skincare routine especially when it comes to face wash routines. But for many, it has become an essential part of their routine. Toners are used right after cleaning the skin to add an extra layer of protection to the skin. This will hold in moisture, reducing skin dryness while also blocking outside elements. Toners help to temporarily reduce the appearance of pores on the skin, while also tightening the skin, producing a more youthful, vibrant look.

Our recommended Toner: Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner

Many users will use this toner twice a day as it is very gentle on the skin. If you miss any dirt or makeup when cleansing your face the toner will finish the job before you apply a daily moisturizer. Being Alcohol-free helps reduce the impact other toners might have that dries out your skin.

Moisturizer

Once you have washed your face, it’s also important to add a layer of protection. If you decide to skip the toner, don’t forget to add a moisturizer. This adds a small layer of protection to the skin, trapping moisture and blocking outside elements. Using an SPF moisturizer at the start of the day or night cream before bed is highly recommended.

Our recommended moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer

This is one of the very best moisturizers available on the market today. It is perfect for a long day in the office if you are expecting minimal sun exposure. If expecting sun exposure look for a moisturizer with at least 30 SPF

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a crucial part of all the best face wash routines. Sunscreen protects our skin from exposure to the sun which can lead to rapid aging and severe dryness or burning. Some recommend sunscreen every day. It does not have to be used every day however it is recommended to use it before spending long periods in the sun.

Our recommended sunscreen: Avène 30 SPF sunscreen

This is one of the most highly recommended sunscreens available. There are many options for sunscreen but most choose this one as it’s light, non-sticky, and protects you from the sun for hours.

The best face wash routine explained

The best face wash routine will be different for everyone but there are some main steps that you will want to follow to achieve the best results. What makes everyone’s routine different is that we all have different types of skin and prefer different products. We will break down our recommended Face wash routine but by no means is this set in stone. The whole idea is to find what works best for you. So feel free to add additional steps to your own routine and don’t be afraid to

Step 1: Rinse your face with cool water

Rinsing your face with cool water will remove the first layer of grime built up throughout the day. It also helps moisten your skin before you use a cleanser to remove the dirt, grime, and pollutants that are harder to remove. Cup your hands together and fill them with cool tap water and then splash it over your face 1 – 3 times and that’s all you need. Make sure your hands are thoroughly washed before you do this.

Step 2: Cleanse with your favorite cleanser

While we recommend CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, you are free to choose whichever one you prefer. Be as gentle as you can as scrubbing your face too hard can lead to skin irritation and damage, the opposite of what you are looking for. Try this face wash headband to hold your hair back while cleansing.

Step 3: Apply a toner (optional step)

Toners help remove any excess dirt, oils, or makeup you might have missed while cleansing your face. We list it as optional as it’s not an essential part of a face wash routine but definitely recommended. Try to find products that are alcohol and fragrance-free as these will have a lesser drying effect on your skin.

Step 4: Apply an eye cream (optional step)

Eye creams come highly recommended as they help to reduce the signs of aging. Reducing the look of bags under our eyes will help give us a more youthful appearance.

Step 5: Apply moisturizer

Finally, after washing your face you want to finish up by applying some kind of moisturizer. This is a very important step as it helps hold in the moisture on our skin while also adding a minimal layer of protection from the elements. If you are going to be exposed to the sun for a short period of time, use a 30 SPF moisturizer. Additionally, if you find you will be spending a long time in the sun, then try using sunscreen.

We are intentionally keeping this as simple as possible. We shouldn’t be scrubbing our faces or deep cleaning daily. The key is to be gentle on your skin because it can really take a beating when out for a long day.

Final Thoughts

Skincare is an important part of life. We hope you learned something about the best face wash routine in this post. As we grow older our complexion changes. We develop wrinkles and other signs of aging and this is most apparent on our faces. Our face is one of the most exposed parts of our body. It is easy to collect dirt, build up oil and get sunburned. That is why a face wash routine is so important. A face wash routine is very simple. The purpose of it is to remove excess dirt and oil and add a layer (or two if you use toner) of protection for your day. If you successfully build a great face wash routine into your day you will certainly see benefits as you grow older.