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Face wash is not optional.

We talk a lot about actives, but the truth is simple: if the skin is not properly cleansed, everything you put on top has less impact.

During the day and night, sebum, sweat, pollution, SPF, makeup and bacteria build up on the face and sit there if you don’t remove them well.
Most dermatologists still recommend washing the face at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser that fits your skin type.

For acne‑prone skin, one clinical trial even showed that washing twice a day worked better than washing only once, without pushing people into that “stripped” feeling.

For me, this “2x gentle cleanse” rule is the base of any routine: it keeps breakouts in check, helps the barrier, and makes your serums and creams worth the money.

Cleansing culture in 2026: barrier and habits.

The good news: many people are now obsessed with barrier care, hydration and “skin health” rather than only quick fixes.

The less good news: a big part of them still skip a real face wash and rely on wipes or micellar water as their main cleanse.
Everyday habits matter as much as products.

Pollution particles and traffic fumes stick to our skin and can trigger inflammation and more blemishes. Pillowcases collect oil, sweat, hair products and bacteria and press all of that back onto the face every night.

Add phone screens, hands on the chin all day and dirty makeup tools, and you quickly see why a proper cleanse twice a day is not a detail, but a hygiene step.
My own rule is: I can play with textures and trends, but I don’t negotiate on washing my face morning and night with a cleanser that respects my skin.

Step 1 – Everyday face wash: same step, different personalities.

Here are the face washes I actually use and test, all doing the same job (clean skin) in slightly different ways.

I like to choose based on my mood, my makeup level and how sensitive my skin feels that day.

Oh My Cream – Gelée Nettoyante

This is my “I want to enjoy my cleanse” gel.

The texture is a jelly that turns into a soft foam with water, it rinses quickly and leaves the skin clean but not tight.
The formula is soap‑free, with gentle coconut‑derived surfactants and a mix of cranberry and ginger extracts plus zinc to help purify and regulate excess sebum.

There is a light citrus‑essential‑oil scent that makes the step feel like a small ritual, not a chore.

I reach for this on days when I wear a normal amount of makeup or SPF, and my skin feels combination rather than super sensitive.

ZO Skin Health – Gentle Cleanser

This is my “best quality” cleanser and part of my beauty bag on-the-go thanks to the travel size option.

The gel turns into a fine foam and removes makeup, oil and pollution without that squeaky feeling.
Inside, you have mild surfactants like sodium lauroyl oat amino acids plus glycerin to protect hydration and respect the barrier.

It is fragrance‑free, suitable for all skin types (even more reactive or post‑procedure), and just feels very balanced on the skin.

When my skin is stressed or I’m using actives like retinol, this is the cleanser I trust the most.
This was also part of my “most used products 2025” featured here.

Heimish, All Clean, Gentle Exfoliating Gel Cleanser

Heimish All Clean Gentle Exfoliating Gel Cleanser is my “K‑beauty, low‑pH, do‑a‑bit‑more” option.

The texture is a clear gel that foams lightly with water and stays close to the skin’s natural pH, so it feels gentle instead of harsh.

I discovered it as a sample from the K-Beauty Moida boutique and really appreciated trying it as a more innovative cleanser formula.

The twist is that it also brings mild exfoliating acids into your wash step, which helps remove dead surface cells while keeping the skin soft and comfortable.

I used a travel size for a few weeks and liked it as a daily “cleanse + mild exfoliation” step, especially on days when my skin felt a bit dull or slightly congested.

For heavier makeup, I still prefer to remove most of it first (with wipes or micellar), then go in with this gel so it can really work on the skin instead of just fighting through foundation.

Bioderma – Créaline (Sensibio) Gel Moussant

Bioderma is my “pharmacy, sensitive‑skin, no‑frills” cleanser.

It’s a clear gel, fragrance‑free and soap‑free, with a very light foam that is extremely well tolerated.
The formula is designed for sensitive skin, with a D.A.F. complex to increase tolerance and moisturising agents to help protect the skin’s lipids.

I like to apply it on dry skin and massage first, then add water and rinse: it’s a very soft cleanse, perfect on days when my skin is reactive or when I’ve used more active treatments the night before.

Like the Heimish, it’s great for daily use, but for full‑glam makeup I still prefer to remove most of it first.

Step 2 – Polish: exfoliating scrub, and skin texture.

Retinol speeds up cell turnover, which is great for texture and fine lines, but it also means more dead cells on the surface. If you never exfoliate, that layer can make the skin look dull, flaky and more clogged, even when the routine is otherwise perfect.
That is why I like to add a polishing step a few times a week, especially when I’m using retinol or when my skin looks grey and uneven.

ZO Skin Health – Exfoliating Polish

This is one of the best scrub‑type products I’ve ever tried.

The grains are extremely fine, so they polish the skin deeply but evenly instead of scratching it.
After a short massage, my skin feels incredibly smooth and you can feel that all the obvious dead skin has been removed.

This kind of mechanical exfoliation, when used with care, helps light bounce better on the surface and allows serums and moisturisers to sink in more evenly.
I like to use it in the morning , after cleansing, about 1–3 times a week depending on how my skin feels.

Step 3 – Hydrate and support the barrier.

Once the skin is properly cleansed (and sometimes polished), hydrating steps can really do their job.

Moisturisers, serums and sheet masks all work better on a clean, gently exfoliated surface because they don’t have to fight through layers of oil and dead cells.
Current research shows that hydrating masks and barrier‑focused formulas can significantly increase skin moisture, improve barrier function and soften texture.

So if you like sheet masks, think of them as part of your barrier care, not just a cute extra: you are literally giving the skin more water and support after everything it faces during the day.

What about Wipes and micellar water?

As a makeup artist, wipes are part of my kit and always will be. They are fast, portable and a life‑saver on set or backstage. But they are not a full face wash.

MAC – Gently Off Wipes + Micellar Water

These are the wipes I trust the most in my professional kit. – but I am afraid they have been discontinued…

They are biodegradable, infused with micellar water and designed to remove makeup, dirt and oil while staying gentle on the skin.
The fabric feels soft, the formula is alcohol‑free, and they’re tested for sensitive skin, which is important when you are removing and re‑doing makeup on the same face several times in a day.

I love them because they melt down foundation, lipstick and liner quickly, without leaving my models with red cheeks before we even start skincare.
But this is the crucial point for both wipes and liquid micellar water: they are removers, not real cleansers.

Why micellar needs a follow‑up cleanse:

Micellar water uses tiny surfactant molecules (micelles) that attract makeup, oil and pollution like a magnet, which is why it’s so effective and gentle as a first step.

Many bottles say “no rinse”, but more and more dermatologists now recommend rinsing or following with a cleanser, especially if you have sensitive or acne‑prone skin.
The reason is simple: micellar formulas still leave surfactants and dissolved makeup on the skin if you don’t wash them off.

Over time, that residue can interfere with your treatments and may cause dryness or irritation in some people.

So my rule is:
• MAC wipes + micellar = step zero, to break everything down.
• Gel cleanser = step one, to really wash the skin and rinse away the micelles, pigments and pollution.
If you stop at the wipe, the face looks clean in the mirror, but the skin is still wearing the day.

Good Skin Starts Here.

We’ve covered the “why”. Now let’s look at the “how”.

Below is a basic morning and evening grid that shows where face wash, exfoliation and wipes fit in a good‑habit routine.

Showed you mine, now show me yours…

In the end, good skin is less about the next trend and more about what you repeat every single day. For me, a real cleanse, a bit of polish and smart hydration are non‑negotiable.

What about you? How often do you wash your face, and which products do you trust enough to use every day?

Share your routine (and your hero cleansers or wipes) with me – I’m always looking for real‑life habits and favourites from fellow beauty insiders to test and learn from.