from the desk of the groomed man
HOW OFTEN SHOULD MEN WASH THEIR FACE?
It might not be something you put much thought into, but men should be washing their face twice a day, morning and night. However, it’s not always one ‘one size fits all’ scenario for everyone. Regular face washing helps remove dirt, excess oil and prevent acne and ingrown hairs, leaving you with a clean and healthy complexion.
There are some basic variables to consider when deciding how often you should use a men’s face wash. These include but are not limited to:
- Whether your skin is oily, combination or dry and sensitive.
- Lifestyle and environmental factors.
- The type of men’s face wash you use.
Oily skin types and regular face washing
The reality for many men is that they have excess oil caused by an overproduction of sebum, which can leave the skin looking shiny, greasy and prone to more breakouts. Due to higher testosterone levels, men are more likely to experience increased sebum production. Typically this declines as we age, but it isn’t uncommon for men with oily skin to still have difficulty controlling it.
Men with oily skin should be cleansing their faces with a high quality men’s face wash both morning and night. Washing your face more than this can lead to over-washing the skin, causing dryness and triggering the skin's sebaceous glands to excrete oil as a way to compensate. If you’re extremely active, it’s important to wash your face after exercise to remove sweat, dirt and oil.
The activated charcoal in our men’s face wash helps control oil production while absorbing dirt, and helps balance the skin's pH. It makes an ideal cleanser as it’s effective without being overly harsh on the skin.
Combination skin types and regular face washing
Men who experience combination skin will need to approach daily face washing based on their current situation. It’s not unusual for men with combination skin to experience enlarged pores, acne and excess shine along with dry, sensitive and irritated patches of skin.
Cleansing with a gentle face wash is key to rebalancing the skin. It’s important to cleanse the skin morning and night to control excess oil in the T-Zone (chin, nose and forehead) without leaving the skin feeling tight. If you’re experiencing dryness due to changes in climate, you might scale back to once a day and then a second cleanse with just water. A great way to get rid of dry patches is to include a men’s face scrub twice a week to remove dead skin cells, making sure you follow up with a quality men’s face moisturiser that effectively hydrates the skin and is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
We recently wrote an article on how often men should use a face scrub which compliments your face wash routine.
Dry sensitive skin types and regular face washing
If you’re like me, and you suffer from dry, sensitive and dehydrated skin, it’s important to cleanse with the right product and adapt depending on your skin's needs. Men who experience dry and sensitive skin typically suffer from excess oil and water loss, so a focus on cleansing once a day and always applying a men’s face moisturiser is key to fighting dehydrated skin.
If you shower in the morning, wash your face with lukewarm water. Men with dry and sensitive skin should especially avoid hot showers as it strips the skin’s natural oils and can leave it in worse condition which is the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve. In the evening, wash your face with a gentle face cleanser and then follow up with your moisturiser to protect the skin barrier and prevent water loss.
Over time as your skin adapts to your grooming routine, you may find washing your face twice daily works fine no matter your skin type as long as you understand what your skin needs based on the conditions it’s under. It's also important to wash your face properly.
Now you know more about how often you should be washing your face, why not transform your men's skincare routine with our Australian made face care products.