A Facialist Is Begging You To Ditch This Skin-Care Step the Day You Turn 35

By the time you hit 35, there’s an entire checklist of ingredients that dermatologists say are non-negotiables in your skin-care lineup. SPF in the morning for sun protection (duh), a retinol at night to fend off fine lines and wrinkles, and peptides to stimulate collagen production, to name a few. But as you’re adding these products into your routine to prep for your 35th birthday, there’s one practice that celebrity facialist and master esthetician Angela Caglia wants you to remove from your regimen altogether: Washing your face in the morning.

Why? “It strips the skin of its natural oils, which we need to look younger and have healthier skin,” she says. This sentiment rings true no matter how old you are—and there are certain dermatologists who recommend skipping an a.m. face wash at any age—but it becomes especially important around the time you hit 35.

“When your skin ages, the outer layer becomes a little bit thinner and that’s why it becomes more fragile,” Diane Berson, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in New York City previously told Well+Good. “It’s less likely to retain moisture, which is why it becomes dry and flaky and itchy. And there’s been damage to the collagen and elastin in the dermis which makes it wrinkle.” Because of this, you’ll want to do whatever you can to help your skin maintain hydration, which means cutting that oil-stripping morning face wash from your routine.

If you absolutely must give your skin a once-over in the morning, swap your usual cleanser for a micellar water, a gentle alternative that will help get rid of any dirt and debris without drying out your complexion. Better yet, just give your skin a splash with some good, old-fashioned tap water. And of course, you’ll still want to take the time at night to give your skin a thorough lather and rinse with a cleanser. “That’s the most important time to remove all of the dirt, pollution, makeup and apply skincare to regenerate your skin while sleeping,” says Caglia.

To enhance your skin’s hydration even further, pros suggest following up your cleansing step (or lack-thereof) with ingredients like ceramides and glycerin, which will strengthen your skin barrier in order to help it retain moisture and keep from drying out.

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