Should You Wash Your Face If You're Not Leaving The House Or Wearing Makeup? We Asked The Experts

It's day who-knows-what of self-isolation, and you haven't put on a pair of jeans in ages, let alone a swipe of mascara. You're extending time in between shampoos because the people in your home are the only ones who will bear witness to a greasy mane anyway. But skin care becomes a little tricky: Should you stick to your nightly routine if you're not leaving the house or wearing makeup?

Even if you aren't leaving the house or wearing makeup, you still run the risk of oil and grime building up on your skin. As much as we're told not to touch our face, sometimes we can't help but to scratch an itchy nose or rub our eyes during a busy workday. Not to mention the surfaces that touch our face on a regular basis: Items like our cellphones and throw pillows can transfer dirt and bacteria onto the skin, even if you wash your hands religiously (as you should). Finally, indoor pollution1 is a thing—so you're still exposing yourself to particulate matter that damages skin health2.

"You still need to remove dirt, oils, residues of past skin care products, and air pollutants that may clog pores, cause irritation, and contain free radicals that lead to oxidative damage of the skin cells," says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. Washing daily can help remove that buildup, even if you can't physically see the debris running down the drain (like you might when you see mascara melt off your lashes).   

If you are going to forgo a twice-a-day cleanse (say, in the hopes of rationing a favorite product or you just don't feel like it), skip the morning wash.