Is washing with water enough?

[tarmactreacle]

I was listening to my friends talking about their skincare routines. I just wash my face with water morning and night then stick on a bit of Body Shop youth serum and their foundation and that's it.

I wear a bit of make up - foundation, powder and lip gloss but it's all pretty much worn off by bedtime as I never touch it up during the day

Is water enough or should I get a cleanser (and toner whatever that is supposed to do?)?

I’ve only ever washed with water and a bit of simple bar soap if my face is actually dirty.
I don’t use any lotions or potions other than Nivea SPF 50 sun cream (the normal one you put on your arms and legs) on my face daily from April to October.
I don’t look any worse than anyone else my age, a few fine lines when you look closely but no wrinkles and Very rarely get spots.

Wet a cotton pad and rub it over your face. Look at it. Then you'll know

Gosh I need to wash my face with soap. Then I might just use a facial wipe if I haven't used makeup and I can still see the dirt on it!

people who say they only wash with water? are you seriously telling me you remove mascara so you’ve only used tubing your whole life? and foundation with water? and what about when you’ve exercised in sunscreen say a marathon and there’s white and salt traces? from the sunscreen and sweat? this is when my skin really benefits from a good cleanse? or you’ve assisted with surgicals and sweated? just water? I am not the most style and beauty person and I have sensitive skin but I cannot see the logistics of only ever washing with water

I just use soap.

I don’t wear any makeup so don’t need to get it off.
Like I said I use simple soap when it needs washing but most days it really doesn’t - I’m not in the habit of running. I walk a lot day to day as my exercise so don’t really get that sweaty on my face, but if I do that’s one of the times I’d use soap.

I only wash my face with water and then put E45 on it. I don't wear make up though. I find any kind of soap or cleanser makes my face burn and very dry.

I don't even 'wash' my face as such. Ie with a flannel at the sink. I will sluice water over it from the sink as i wash my hands when I feel the need, and when i am soaping up in the shower I will run soapu hands in around my neck and cheeks, some times a wipe over with a flannel if I'm using one, rely on the shower water and overflowing shampoo to the rest.
I don't get spots, skin looks ok to me.....
I also don't wear make up, and only very occasionally put moisturiser on my face.

If you're wearing make up, you need to use something other than water really. It might look like there isn't much make up left but there will be oils and make up. It's a bit grubby on your pillows and bedding I'd think. Water won't take off oil based make up, even water based make up needs a bit more cleansing I find. You could try micellar water if you want to keep it simple still.

I have acne so I also use a Skin & Me treatment after washing but just use a gentle cleanser and moisturiser from The Ordinary. If I'm wearing 'night out' make up (v rare 😂) I'll use a balm to get the most off first.

But if your routine works for you, don't feel that you need to change it!

You can't remove make up with water. Your skin must be really suffering. Personally I use a Micellar water first, then a gentle face wash. Serum and moisturiser to follow. It takes all of two minutes.

@Riverswims I don’t wear mascara or foundation or any other makeup apart from lip balm so water is adequate. I don’t like putting lots of products and chemicals on my face.

You should cleanse with good cleanser wipes, toner and cream before bed. Then as you do now in the morning. I have done this since I was 18 and have no wrinkles at all. I am 75 next month.

I think it’s down to genes you know, my mum is a similar age to you and she has always done the same as me, water, soap when needed and sunscreen. That’s where I learned you don’t need to buy in to you need this and that.
She also has no wrinkles and good clear skin.

Water really isn't enough, you need a proper cleanser.

Wouldnt work for me as I have major bacterial issues but I do think we mess about with our skin too much

Absolute rubbish- you have been conned by the beauty industry.
Real soap when needed, water the rest of the time.
How many of your husbands use a multi step cleansing routine. I’d guess not many, is there something that means men don’t need it but women do - seems unlikely doesn’t it.

If I put ‘real soap’ on my face, my face would fall off. I’m very pale and freckly so need proper sunscreen, which needs removing with proper cleanser. Delightful of you to tell other people they’ve been conned though 🙄🤦‍♀️

Well we don't 'need' it as such but your skin will definitely age better if you look after it properly.

My face would not be clean with just water, I use Elemis superfood

A lot of people don’t wear make up and most women I know never wear foundation. I wear mascara but would only wear foundation a few times a year for a special occasion.

I do cleanse my face as I find water makes it dry but only once in the evening and I don’t have a skincare routine as such with lots of layers and potions (my teenage dc does and I don’t know what half the stuff is and she certainly doesn’t need it.)

Thanks everyone. I'll get myself to Boots tomorrow and pick up a gentle cleanser

I use Simple cleanser, they do a natural one, then copious splashing. Soap alone makes it feel a little tight.

Since I hit my 40s its more dry so I got into using an oil cleanser which feels an absolute dream to use. Its like going to a spa.

I use these, activated by water only. I was sceptical to start with but face is very clean afterwards, even if I've had makeup on

I use cleanser morning and night and would feel very odd and uncomfortable if I didn’t do this. Water alone definitely would not work for me. Even those of us who wear minimal make up still have dirt, sweat, SPF and general pollution clogging and affecting our skin every single day, even when we may not see or feel their effects immediately. This is cumulative and ageing, and also leads to dull, lacklustre skin over time. I use Squalane cleanser by The Ordinary in the morning, which is lightweight and rinses off easily, followed my moisturiser and SPF. At night I prefer Elemis collagen cleansing balm on my mature skin (I am 60), followed by a custom formula by Monderma for accelerated skin turnover.