Do I really need to wash my face?
3 Down and Dirty Reasons Washing Your Face is Important
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Fairface Podcast transcript / show notes
Introduction
Hello! Welcome back to a new episode of the Fairface podcast. Thank you so much, as always, for being here! I really hope you are doing well!
The sunshine is currently pouring in my window this morning, which is a welcome sight, since we've had a long stretch of rain, after we had our snow episodes, so it's really nice to see the sun shining, and the blue sky. I seriously can't wait to get outside and take a walk so I can soak in some of that sunshine and Vitamin D while I actually can!
She Doesn't Wash Her Face
I had been wondering what topic to share with you this month, and then something happened yesterday, that pointed me in the exact direction I needed to go.
I had just finished texting with someone close to me who doesn't wash her face (I won't tell you who, so I don't out her identity). She hasn't washed her face pretty much her whole life.
Does she have nice skin anyway? Yes, she does, actually. And to my knowledge, she hasn't had acne issues or any other skin problems throughout her life.
But, lately, she has been dealing with dry skin and asked me for my advice, and what skin care products I was using so maybe she could try them too.
Keep in mind I have sensitive skin and Rosacea, so my product recommendations are literally mild enough for even a baby to use, so I knew she would be able to use them without a problem, and only see the benefits.
Start Washing your Face with These Products
1. Wash with Vanicream Gentle Cleanser (because that's the one I use and love) and
2. Use my favorite soft face cloths, Fairface Delicates made with double-sided, soft flannel
3. And after washing, slather her face with CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (because it has ceramides that help protect your skin barrier, that's what I started using in December when my face was getting a little dry, and it did wonders and I'm still using it).
I pretty much told her that if she would try this simple routine for a few weeks, her skin would start looking and feeling better pretty quickly. Keep in mind this was for a nighttime routine, but if for the morning, I would have added a sunscreen for sure.
I had to laugh, because this was her response to me, "but I have never washed my face and my skin has always looked great."
And then she went on to ask, "so, if I don't wash my face at night (see she's still trying to avoid washing her face) and I put the moisturizer on, that already has moisturizer on it from the morning and foundation on it, will the moisturizer really do anything?" (remember we're trying to help bring moisture back to her dry skin)
My answer, was, "you never want to put a moisturizer over the top of your leftover day and/or make-up, and sleep on it. The end. (yes, that was for dramatic effect, like a mic drop)
But then I continued anyway..."Any moisturizer you apply on dirty skin will just trap all the gunk underneath it and can age your skin and cause break-outs."
"Just wash your face and apply your cream and trap that moisture into your clean skin...And P.S., sleeping with your make-up on could be what's drying out your skin."
And she wrote back that it was probably the dry air from the cold climate and running the heaters 24/7.
And that's where we ended.
Do I think she stopped listening to me?
Yes. I think I lost her at, "wash your face" because I know that's not the answer she wanted...because she just doesn't like doing it, I don't know why.
Do I think she'll wash her face? I would say there's a 50/50 chance...well, maybe more like 70/30 chance she won't. Because I don't think she sees the value in it, because she's never washed her face and still has had clear skin, so why start doing that now?
However, there is a current skin issue, which is dryness, that we're trying to help, so this is different.
Do I Really Need to Wash my Face?
To answer the question,
Do I really need to wash my face?
The short answer is yes.
But, lets get to the WHY it's important to wash your face.
Why it matters.
Who knows, maybe I'll even convince her.
Why is it Important to Wash My Face?
The best way I can think of to explain why it's important to wash your face, is to give you a tangible example.
Let's pretend everything looks like dirt.
Let's say you go outside and work in the garden and get your hands in the dirt, and as inevitably happens, dirt also ends up on your face when you rub the sweat off your forehead or try to move the hair out of your eyes, or as it always happens to me, suddenly my nose itches as soon as my gloves are deep in the dirt. Anyway, you get it, dirt ends up on your face and you can actually see the dirt on your face and skin.
You wouldn't then go inside and climb into bed without washing that dirt off your face, right?
That actually reminds me of the scene in the movie, Fun with Dick and Jane, when he actually did get into bed covered in mud...have you seen that movie? It's an older one, but just as funny every time I watch it.
If you could see pollution on your skin, the same way you see physical dirt on your skin, you would wash it off.
If left-over make-up looked like dirt, instead of our skin color, people would be more likely to see a reason to wash their face.
If the dead skin cells, dust and bacteria on your skin looked like dirt, you would wash it off.
But because we generally can't see the pollutants, bacteria, and dead skin cells, it may not appear that there's really anything at all to wash off. But that simply isn't the case.
3 Down and Dirty Reasons It's Important to Wash Your Face
1. The truth is, even if you can't see it, there is something on your face you need to wash off. The end. (drop the mic for dramatic effect)
I keep picturing someone with mustard dripped on their face, like after eating a hot dog and just walking around with it instead of wiping it off. Pretend you have mustard on your face and wash it off.
The 2nd quick and dirty reason, for why washing your face matters, is
2. Your skin can absorb what is on it.
So if you go to bed (or wake-up in the morning) without washing off the dead skin, bacteria, dirt, pollutants, make-up, etc., all those contaminants can seep in thru your skin and age it - causing things like wrinkles & age spots and cause breakouts and other possible skin irritations.
I remember hearing on a skin care podcast, that just because you can't see damage to your skin right now, by sleeping with your make-up on, it doesn't mean it's not happening. Generally, you will see the effects from that later in life, start to appear on your skin.
Dr. Jaber, a NYC Dermatologist was quoted as saying sleeping in your make-up is a really bad idea. Specifially, “It can significantly increase breakouts, acne, skin dryness, and irritation.” (the healthy . com)
Sleep is a wonderful time for skin cell growth and repair. I feel like it's kind of magical. While you're asleep, the blood flow to your skin increases, collagen is rebuilt and damage from UV exposure is being repaired. All of this helps to reduce signs of aging, and for your skin to recover and rejuvinate. It's pretty amazing.
Give your skin a clean slate to do all its healing and rejuvination. There are even skin care products that can help boost collagen production and aid in the skin cell repair, that do their best work on clean skin.
That takes us to #3 - the quick and dirty fact why you should be washing your face number 3 is that
3. Dirty skin blocks what can nourish it.
"Skin is best nourished when it's clean." - Shannon Sorensen, Founder and CEO Fairface Washcloths for sensitive skin
I have learned a lot about a healthy skin barrier, and what I know, is that it's important to keep the outer layer of your skin healthy, so it keeps the important things in and keeps the harmful things out.
Like an invisible crack of a dry, damaged skin barrier that lets pollutants in and lets the much needed moisture evaporate out. We want to keep your skin barrier strong and in tact and healthy so all the pollutants stay out and we keep that precious moisture in our skin.
So, do I really need to wash my face? The answer is yes.
WHY do I need to wash my face?
Let's do a quick recap:
1. Because there is something on your face you need to wash off (even if you can't see it).
2. Your skin can absorb what is on it, so, in basic terms, wash off the bad stuff.
3. Dirty skin essentially blocks what can nourish it, so keep it clean.
Do you wash your face?
I'm not trying to shame anyone who doesn't, tho I am suprised when people tell me they don't. I just want to help educate, so we know why it is so important and beneficial to our skin.
Be sure to listen to our next podcast episode, where I share 8 tips for healthy face washing, so that is a great next step to listen to after this.
As a quick recap, here are the
Gentle products I recommended, especially to those as a first step into the world of face washing:
1. Vanicream Gentle Cleanser, a nice creamy and gentle face wash
2. Fairface Delicate Washcloths - soft, gentle flannel washcloths for your face that are really soft and soothing and non-irritating
3. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, which can lock in that much needed moisture and has the ceramides which helps to protect and repair your outer skin layer, the skin barrier
I'd love to hear what your face washing routine looks like and how it's going for you. Have you always been a face washer? I have, myself, but I also know some who aren't.
I hope that at least I have helped you see why washing your face is important and I would love to hear what you think about it.
You're welcome to send me a message, I'm over on Instagram a lot or Facebook, @FairfaceWashcloths and I'll be sure to get back to you.
And as always, thank you so much for being here! I really do appreciate it! Take care and I'll see you next time!
xo Shannon
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