One of the most hotly debated questions in the beauty world is most definitely: “should I wash my face in the morning, or not?” It’s a topic that it seems everyone has an opinion on, be they beauty editor, dermatologist, skin therapist or just plain skincare junkie. We can’t give you a definitive answer, but we can help break down the pros and cons of a few different kinds of approaches. Oh and no matter your skin type, you DO need to wash your face at least once a day — in the evening to remove any dirt, makeup, oil, and grime that’s built up on your skin. That’s non-negotiable.

So should I skip my morning cleansing routine, or not?

Unlike just rinsing your face — which is the practice of using water to remove any grimy feeling contaminants or sweat without an actual cleanser being involved — properly washing your face in the morning does require some sort of additional product.

Unlike at night, your skin doesn’t require any kind of double cleanse. But using a gentle product to cleanse your skin in the morning can make it feel nice and soft, as well as giving you a few extra minutes of ‘me time’ before the rush. This is when you reach for gentle, non-stripping formulas, like a cream, oil or balm.

If you prefer a cream cleanser, Trilogy’s certified natural, fragrance-free Very Gentle Cleansing Cream is a great choice. It delicately removes make-up without drying or irritating sensitive and reactive skins. Plus, it contains ingredients like natural spring water combined with chamomile and camellia oil, both rich in essential fatty acids, to gently cleanse and refresh even the most irritated of complexions.

If your skin has a tight and dry feeling, you know you’ve gone overboard, and it can also feel sensitive or shows signs of sensitivity with reddish, dry patches. This is when a gentle cleansing oil is a great addition, as cleansing oils don’t disrupt our natural oil barriers so you can’t over wash. An award-winning favourite of many, Tailor Skincare’s Oil Cleanse kicks impurities out with cold-pressed New Zealand hazelnut and kanuka oils, whilst organic sunflower oil and vitamin E  gently nourish and protect delicate complexions. It feels just gorgeous on the skin and leaves it feeling plump, glowy and ready to receive the day!

And if I have oily skin?

If you have really oily skin, a cleanse in the morning is an absolute must – but not one that strips the skin and messes with the ph. Your sebum can build up overnight, but you don’t want to strip everything back so much that your skin over-produces oil to try and compensate.

For many, using oils on the face may seem counterintuitive, especially those who associate it with breakouts and the like. Well the situation is quite the opposite, and we at CBC love our cleansing oil offerings. Trilogy’s certified natural Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil is a silky emulsifying cleanser that removes all traces of grime using a combination of Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, sweet almond and papaya oils. It doesn’t strip moisture from the skin and is very gentle around the eyes.

If you’re an oily type and using an oil to cleanse your skin is just a step too far for you right now, Trilogy’s certified natural Balancing Gel Cleanser is a clarifying soap-free face wash specifically designed for oily and combination skins. Formulated with purifying witch hazel and willow bark extracts for gentle and effective botanical cleansing, it doesn’t strip the skin thanks to the addition of pure plant oils to tone and hydrate. Key power-packed ingredients include pure, wild-harvested, Certified Organic Rosehip Seed Oil and the aforementioned Willowbark: a multifunctional, rejuvenating extract with cleansing, astringent, anti-inflammatory, soothing and conditioning properties.

The verdict?

It all comes down to preference, and if you want to use water and a muslin cloth to wash your face in the morning, that’s cool too. At the end of the day, whether you need to wash your face in the morning is all up to you. One thing though: There’s no need to wash your face more than twice a day. Please!