I don't wash my face, am I disgusting?

[EmmaFaye29]

After years of trying different cleansers, toners and moisturisers, I realised that all they do for my skin is dry it out and make it look worse/more oily. I now use nothing. Water gets on my face in the shower but that is it. I'll use a bit of moisturiser in the winter if I feel I need it. My skin honestly looks and feels 100x better but I feel what I'm doing is somehow "wrong" and a bit grose. Anyone else?

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

I wash my face less now that I don’t wear make up much. If I have work make up I vaguely try to remember.

I read Caroline Hiron’s regime once and thought “how exhausting” not to mention the expense and hassle! Her skin looks dreadful to me so I am becoming more convinced as I age that skin probably prefers to be left alone

Most of these "experts" are all about selling product unfortunately.

I dont think you are gross, but I know that I would be if I didn’t wash my face with something.

My skin is so greasy that washing with just water would be like trying to clean the roast potato pan with no detergent.

Horses for courses innit. I like playing around with skincare too.

I’m sorry but I laughed at the poster who proudly announced she used nothing but water on her face, but uses Femfresh to wash her genitals.

Vile stuff that shouldn’t be anywhere near ones vulva.

And Pukkatea yes your skin is a barrier but also has the capacity to absorb - hence why we use transdermal medications...

@ThursdayLastWeek

I dont think you are gross, but I know that I would be if I didn’t wash my face with something.

My skin is so greasy that washing with just water would be like trying to clean the roast potato pan with no detergent.

Horses for courses innit. I like playing around with skincare too.

Horses for courses as you rightly say.

Despite what I posted earlier I've had to put my DH on Clearasil scrub. It's working wonders for him!

I’ve done this since my teens: I got terrible acne when I used products which disappeared when I reverted to using water only. I put a bit of moisturiser on when it’s needed nowadays and my skin is great.

I'm mid thirties, may I ask how old you non-make up wearers are?

Late 40s. At the age when my peers were experimenting with makeup I just wasn't bothered about my appearance. As I got older my eyesight got worse so applying makeup was very difficult. Basically I can't be bothered with the time and expense. It clogs your pores, creates waste that we don't need and is an extra thing to do whether it's taking it off or putting it on.

I'm nearly 40. I have good skin and I don't like the way it looks with make up on. If I'm dressing up I might go for some mascara and a dusting of powder to remove any shininess. I can't remember the last time I wore any though.

You know what I meant. Aren’t you the one who eschews SPF. I was actually trying to indicate that I’m not a rabid pusher of SPF either - I am a skeptic - but that hats don’t go all the way to protecting your skin either. I also agree that staying out of the sun is the best thing you can do which I said in my post. But hey, thanks for your needlessly aggressive reply.

No, I don't know what you meant. I have no clue what 'so chemical' means. I'm also puzzled when people refer to something as 'chemical free'. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen. The air we breathe is mainly nitrogen and oxygen. Much of our food is some combination of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in various compounds. Everything on earth is made up of chemicals. Everything is a chemical of some sort or another. So what does 'so chemical' mean?

I am wary of using SPF because it sometimes causes my skin to react in odd ways. That would be the effect of specific chemicals on my skin, but not because one is somehow 'more chemical' than another. Except possibly if you're referring to the difference between physical blockers and chemical blockers and their different actions, in which case oddly it's the zinc oxide based ones that cause me more problems.

I’m the worst non washer, I wear make up most days use mascara remover and shea butter as a moisturiser last thing at night and first thing on the morning. Always told I’ve great skin and I’m in my 50s.

I wash my face with a damp cloth in the shower or with some body wash if I've been wearing makeup.

I think air quality makes a huge difference to how dirty your skin and hair get. If I in London I really notice how dirty my face and skin get and even my contact lenses.

Where I live the air is lot cleaner. Exfoliation is good from time to time though.

I reckon it doesn't matter much what we do and it's all down to genetics.

That’s the only rational explanation. Genetics blesses you with good skin; or does not.

I never exfoliate my face.

Surely there’s a difference between good skin and clean skin!

If I don’t use soap on my body I won’t immediately break out in boils but that doesn’t make it clean.

jane I think you might have something there. Skincare and makeup seems so complicated now as well, seems like there's now hundreds of products they try to convince us are 'essential'. I can't keep up with it, even if I wanted to.

@MilerVino

I'm mid thirties, may I ask how old you non-make up wearers are?

Late 40s. At the age when my peers were experimenting with makeup I just wasn't bothered about my appearance. As I got older my eyesight got worse so applying makeup was very difficult. Basically I can't be bothered with the time and expense. It clogs your pores, creates waste that we don't need and is an extra thing to do whether it's taking it off or putting it on.

Mid 30s.

Time consuming, expensive, I think most young women look absolutely ridiculous with it on, especially if they've tried contouring etc, its so obvious - it makes me feel dirty, like your skin can't breathe.
I was incredibly lucky my father drummed it into me how I didnt need to conform and the best thing I could do is be comfortable in my own skin, my own face etc..
I carried it with me.

Although I know with a bit of slap, I can go from everyday ok looking, to something a bit more special, but I also love showing up somewhere. Where people are used to seeing me bare faced, and seeing the shock at how different I look done up.

It makes me feel so much more special.

Yes, I do think it’s gross to not wash your face or only wash it with water. You (hopefully) wouldn’t wash your body with just water, so why do some think it’s ok to do that with your face?!

Well this is definately not me. I use lots of lovely products. I love my evening ritual. If I only used water or soap my skin would be tight and dry. I hardly ever "wet" my face. I remove a Balm Cleanser with a warm flannel but it's only damp I'd say.

I'm really happy with my skin, I think it looks healthy and it feels good to me so happy with my routine.

Whatever works for you!

I just wash my face with water and use moisturiser after!

Same here, I do moisturise but I only use water on my face other than that and whatever shampoo lands there while in the shower

I rarely wear make up and never use moisturiser. I have quite oily skin so I dislike the idea of putting any sort of cream on it. I cleanse my skin after I have been to work or travelled on the train, but otherwise just use water when I shower.
I am a bit lazy about sunscreen though which I know will be bad for my skin.

My DD is 14 and taken in by loads of insta influencers peddling skincare uses various expensive skincare products. She spends ages doing her "skincare routine" and lectures me for using products that are apparently too harsh, and not wearing moisturiser.....but I'm sure her skin looks worse than it did before she started using so many products. Of course I dont mention it because at that would be mean, and at her age, she might be prone to spots whatever her skincare regime was, but I worry she is wasting time and money on stuff that isnt really benefitting her skin.

I gave up make-up for a good while. Giving it up made no difference whatsoever to the condition of my skin, and I had to admit to myself in the end that I just looked crap without it. I don't have bad skin per se, I just have a pale, fairly sallow complexion and a tendency to dark circles under my eyes, neither of which improve, however much water and sleep I get. I do wear less than I used to though, which looks more natural.

@Fizbosshoes

My DD is 14 and taken in by loads of insta influencers peddling skincare uses various expensive skincare products. She spends ages doing her "skincare routine" and lectures me for using products that are apparently too harsh, and not wearing moisturiser.....but I'm sure her skin looks worse than it did before she started using so many products. Of course I dont mention it because at that would be mean, and at her age, she might be prone to spots whatever her skincare regime was, but I worry she is wasting time and money on stuff that isnt really benefitting her skin.

Children are under SO MUCH pressure to use products nowadays thanks to influencers.

Hope your DD finds what works for her soon. It's such a self/conscious age...

I used to wear lots of make up, certainly every day. I've barely worn any for 2 years now, maybe once a week a bit. It made no difference to my skin condition. What does make it glow is a good cleanse, serum and moisturise. I wake up glowing if I've invested the night before.