Should You Skip Cleanser in the Morning?

This topic divides people, and honestly, both sides have a point. But if you’re Nigerian, living in Nigeria, I think the answer is a lot simpler than the internet makes it seem.

• What the skincare world says

The argument for skipping your morning cleanse goes like this: while you sleep, your skin isn’t exposed to pollution, makeup or the elements. So what exactly are you washing off? Overnight, your skin produces natural oils that support your barrier, and stripping those first thing in the morning can leave your skin more vulnerable before your day has even begun.

For dry or sensitive skin types in cooler, less humid climates, skipping the morning cleanse makes a lot of sense.

• Why that doesn’t fully apply to us

Nigeria is hot. Humid. And for a lot of us, NEPA doesn’t always cooperate…which means sleeping without AC is a very real part of life. By the time morning comes, your skin has been dealing with heat and sweat for hours. That’s before we even factor in the thick overnight moisturizers, facial oils or sleeping masks a lot of us use.

Applying SPF and your morning actives on top of all of that? They’re not going on clean skin. They’re sitting on residue. And that affects how well they actually work.

• The honest verdict

If your skin is dry or sensitive and you sleep in a cool environment with minimal overnight products, rinsing with water in the morning is fine.

But for most Nigerians? A gentle morning cleanse makes sense. Not your most thorough cleanse of the day, save that for the evening when you’re actually removing sunscreen, sweat and pollution. Morning just needs something mild that clears the slate without stripping your barrier.

Think of it this way: your evening cleanse works hard. Your morning cleanse just tidies up.

Hugs and Kisses,

Msglam