Some skin care steps may be considered “extra” (masking, toning, steaming, and so on). Washing your face is not one of them. Whether you have a 10-step routine down pat or consider yourself a beauty minimalist, cleansing your skin is always the very first step.
Even if you don’t wear a stitch of makeup that day, “You still need to remove dirt, oils, residues of past skin care products, and air pollutants that may clog pores, cause irritation, and contain free radicals that lead to oxidative damage of the skin cells,” board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. previously shared with mbg. Washing daily helps remove that buildup, even if you can’t physically see the debris running down the drain.
Plus, “Impurities on the skin can prevent active ingredients from penetrating,” board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann, M.D., says regarding a good cleanse. Even the most potent serums and tonics cannot penetrate pores filled with debris—you need to wash away all the gunk.
As for the type of wash you should use? Well, we’ll get to that in a bit.
