Quick points:

• Morning cleansing can make a big difference for all skin types (including sensitive and dry)
• Overnight, skin produces oil, sweat, and sheds dead cells, which gets mixed with with dust, pillow fibres, and bacteria— all things you’ll want to wash off in the morning.
• A gentle AM cleanse preps your skin for hydration, serums, and SPF, making them more effective, and reduces pilling.
• Summer heat, stress, and lifestyle changes (like travel) can make morning cleansing even more important.
• You don’t always need a foaming cleanser! Water, micellar waters, sprays, milky cleansers, and no-rinse options can all work.

Is morning cleansing really necessary? Do we actually need to add one more step to our skincare routine? 

For me, the answer is a huge yes— but I don’t take asking you to add another step to your routine lightly. I want to give you plenty of options for what will work for your routine and lifestyle. 

I’ve also asked James Vivian, Dermal Therapist and skincare superstar to weigh in to help us out from a skin health perspective. 

Let’s jump in.

Why I Cleanse in The Morning

Cleansing in the morning has saved my sensitive skin, especially when it’s been extra fussy lately. 

Recently I moved house, and had a short holiday. With the travel and stress, I noticed my skin feeling more irritated, and with that came extra congestion when I wasn’t on top of my usual routine (especially through my T-zone that gets oily). 

Summer is also quickly arriving in Australia, so warmer nights have also left me waking up with more gunk to wash away in the morning.

Our skin naturally changes throughout the year, and with that comes some natural tweaking to your skincare lineup— and in my humble skincare enthusiast opinion, that includes AM cleansing.

Why Morning Cleansing Really Matters For Happy Skin

Overnight, your skin doesn’t stop working or press pause— quite the opposite! 

At night, when you’re resting, cell turnover and regeneration peak, collagen production is higher, and blood flow to the skin increases.

Oil and sebum production doesn’t shut down either. Sweat, dust, fibres from your pillowcase, dead skin cells, and bacteria, are also thrown into the mix, and hopefully we’re starting to quickly understand why a morning cleanse is a good idea.

It’s not to say your morning skin is “dirty”— it’s not— but a gentle reset each morning with a cleanse not only helps your skin be ready to absorb serums, moisturisers, and layer your steps effectively, it also helps disrupt bacteria formation that naturally happens, especially when you’re acne-prone. 

“Bad” bacteria on the skin doesn’t just contribute to break outs, it can also lead to skin sensitivity and increased flare ups.

We put a lot of effort into our routines, so it makes sense to start the day with a fresh canvas.

The Role of AM vs. PM Cleansing

There is a difference between morning and night time cleansing. It helps to think about the purpose of each routine. 

At a glance:

• AM Cleansing focuses on gently removing sweat and debris from the night, and should be restorative for the skin, with prepping for the next skincare steps in mind, and a foaming cleanser isn’t essential.
• PM Cleansing is usually a two step process, focuses on breaking up the film from sunscreen and possibly makeup from the day, and deeply cleanses the skin, typically with a foaming cleanser.

Read: Here’s AM And PM Cleansing Made Simple

James Vivian, Dermal Therapist Weighs in

With skin health front of mind, I asked James Vivian, founder of James Vivian clinic and cosmeceutical skincare brand Viviology Skin his thoughts. James shared:

“Whilst I know some brands advocate skipping your morning cleanse, or that some people prefer a watery splash in the AM as a sufficient wash, I strongly disagree.

Keeping the skin clean and getting our products into our skin is hard enough (thanks waterproof barrier!) without the added difficulty of having to fight their way through last nights skincare routine and whatever else your skin secreted overnight.

Starting off with a clean canvas to apply your skin is not only a lovely way to apply your skincare to your skin but also, in my opinion, enhances the effectiveness of everything that comes next.”

Read: Here’s 8 Things to Know to Find a Good Skincare Clinic With Dermal Therapist James Vivian

But What if Your Skin is Dry or Sensitive? AM Cleansing For Different Skin Types

• Prone to acne and congestion? Cleansing can help break the cycle of bacteria on the skin. It’s also fantastic to use a gentle antibacterial cleanser in the AM if you’re breakout prone (my favourites are listed below).
• Have sensitive, reactive skin? Cleansing in the morning can feel the scariest when every time you cleanse your skin gets upset. There are gentle options that can work to calm your skin, but more importantly, the dust and sebum that builds up overnight can contribute to your irritation, so removing it can calm your skin and limit flare ups.
• Super dry skin? I hear this one the most. A hydrating cleanse that isn’t foaming or stripping in the morning prepares your skin to absorb the hydration layers you’re working hard to layer up, and can actually leave your skin more hydrated. 

Different Ways to Cleanse in the Morning, With Product Recommendations

You don’t need a long list of products to make AM cleansing work. Here are some of my go-to options:

Just Use Water (as a Start)!

Even splashing your face with water gives your skin a reset if you’re feeling overwhelmed at the idea of another step, or even if you’re in a rush. It’s not going to do lots to remove the film on your skin, but it can help get off crusties and give you a nice reset.

Using Your Night Time Cleanser

You can use your PM Cleanser in the AM if it’s not stripping. How do you know if your cleanser is stripping your skin? Dryness, tightness, and excess redness are all signs that your cleanser is stripping your skin.

Here’s some tips:

• Try cleansing for a shorter amount of time (like 15 seconds, rather than the 60s we aim for in the PM).
• Lather your cleanser more gently by adding more water, or using less cleanser.

I love: Viviology Lipid Cleanser, $48.00 from Adore Beauty (great for both AM & PM)

Read: Cleansing Your Face and How to Do it Right

Micellar Cleansing Water 

Micellar water is an affordable and easy on the go option, and helps lift off everything. It can also be used to remove your makeup or sunscreen in the PM, so yay for double use products!

I love:

• Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, $12.49 from Amazon Australia 
• BIODERMA Sensibio H2O Micellar Water, $24.69 from Amazon Australia

Hypochlorous Acid Spray

This is one of my favourites for acne-prone or sensitive skin. It resets the skin and helps reduce bacteria without irritation. It isn’t a cleanse, but works as a good first step if you’re not able to do a cleansing step. Again, won’t do anything for the waterproof film on your skin.

I love:

• Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray, from $21.00 for 30ml at MECCA Beauty
• Skin Happy Hypochlorous Acid Face & Body Spray, from $20.00 for 60ml at skinhappy.com.au

Learn more: Hypochlorous Acid is The New Gen Z Ingredient For Stressed Skin

Hydrating Milky Cleanser

Soft, non-stripping cleansers that don’t lather helps leave skin feeling smooth and hydrated. These are crowd favourites for a good reason.

I love:

• Thayers Hydrating Milky Cleanser, $14.99 from Chemist Warehouse
• CeraVe Hydrating Hydrating Cleanser, $14.39 from Chemist Warehouse

Use a No-Rinse Cleanser

No-rinse cleansers don’t need to be washed off the skin. They usually have calming and hydrating ingredients which do extra to restore the skin as they aren’t rinsed away.

A huge shout out to the SAMI Hydrating Cream Cleanser, as it’s one i’ve been using a lot recently. Centella Asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid works to calm the skin and feels like a serum and moisturiser in one. Perfect for when you want to keep things really simple, and works great at night, too.

I love:

• SAMI Hydrating Cream Cleanser, $48.00 from SAMI
• Avene Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser, $22.99 from Chemist Warehouse

What to Avoid in AM Cleansing

While a good morning cleanse is beneficial, not all products are suitable daily.

• Active cleansers with exfoliating ingredients can be too harsh for everyday use. I recommend saving those for specific skin needs, not as a default step in your AM routine. If you’re feeling congested or have a big makeup day ahead, a once-off exfoliating cleanse might be great!
• Scrubs aren’t ideal for your morning routine either. Once in a blue moon might be ok, but proceed with caution, as above.
• There’s no need to double cleanse in the morning. Double cleansing is to take off makeup, sunscreen or films that have formed on the skin— so in the morning, there’s no need to use a double cleanse.
• Don’t let your skin dry out! The second you introduce water, Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) starts the clock ticking. Start your next steps quickly to trap in the water. Your skin shouldn’t feel tight or uncomfortable.

FAQ Summary Because I know You’re Nervous And That’s Okay!

If i’ve missed any, comment them below. Here are the ones I hear often:

Will cleansing in the morning dry out my skin, or make it more sensitive? No. Not with the right cleanser, and correct technique. Morning cleansing should be shorter (there isn’t gunk from the day like makeup and sunscreen to cleanse off), and use more gentle formulas.

What cleansers can I use in the morning? Lots! Look for non foaming or gentle foaming cleansers that don’t contain exfoliants or actives.

Can I use my night time cleanser in the morning? Yes. You can use your night time cleanser in the morning, but try cleansing for less time, or diluting the foam a bit more to make it less stripping.

Do you need to wash off your night time routine in the morning? Although there’s no need to get actives like Vitamin A or Acids off your skin from use the night before, thicker leftover night creams or heavier products can interfere with your morning steps, and even contribute to pilling (products balling up) the next morning.

Final Thoughts

Morning cleansing doesn’t need to be complicated. The goal is to find what works best for your skin and lifestyle.

Most importantly, skincare should never get in the way of living your life. If cleansing in the morning feels like too much, just pop on sunscreen and get your coffee.

But if you can, introducing AM cleansing is one of the simplest ways to make your routine more effective.

If you try adding a morning cleanse, let me know how your skin feels. And if you disagree, share your routine— skincare is different for everyone and i’d love to know what works for you.

Feeling like watching something short? Check out my latest YouTube video: