French skincare secret: Why skipping morning wash could benefit you

Morning and evening skincare routines form the foundation of healthy and radiant skin. However, according to French women, it may be beneficial to skip one step in the morning that might seem the most important. Discover their method for nourished skin, and you might consider trying it too!

Among women in France, a widely practiced skincare rule is not washing the face in the morning. To many of us, this may seem almost absurd, as we commonly cleanse our facial skin immediately after waking up. However, French women skip this step not due to laziness or a lack of self-care, but for quite the opposite reason.

They believe that washing the face after a night's rest, especially with strong cosmetics, disrupts the skin's protective layer. The sebum produced during sleep is thought to act as a filter that guards against dirt and bacteria. Many cleansers, they argue, contain harsh ingredients that strip away essential lipids. Their mantra is: the fewer steps in skincare, the better.

French women generally use very gentle cleansing techniques. Most of them spray thermal or micellar water on their face, then gently pat it with a towel or tissues to remove excess moisture. This process aims to refresh the face without stripping away its protective barrier. They then move directly to the next steps in their skincare and makeup routines. French women also tend to avoid scrubs, as these can heavily exfoliate the skin and lead to irritation.

A common issue in skincare is performing cleansing steps in the wrong order or not choosing products suited to your skin type. We should be particularly mindful of this. First, ensure that your hands are clean before touching your face, as unwashed hands can spread bacteria and reduce the effectiveness of other products, leading to imperfections over time.

The next step is makeup removal, which helps attract impurities and makeup like a magnet. You can use micellar water or cleansing milk, then rinsing your face with water. Then, choose a cleanser to eliminate any remaining dirt. The final step is applying a toner to balance the skin's pH. Properly prepared skin is then ready for a moisturizer or serum.