Morning skincare secrets: Why French women skip face wash

Among French women, a common practice is not washing their faces in the morning. This might seem almost absurd to us, as we typically cleanse our facial skin almost immediately after waking up. However, French women skip this step not out of laziness or neglect but rather the opposite.

French women say washing the face after a night's rest, especially with strong products, can disrupt the skin's protective layer. The sebum produced during sleep forms a protective filter against dirt and bacteria. They argue that many cleansing gels or foams have a strong and aggressive composition that strips away lipids. Their rule is the fewer steps in skincare, the better.

Instead, they often opt for very gentle cleansing. Most use thermal or micellar water, lightly spraying it on their face and then using a towel or tissues to pat away excess moisture. This routine refreshes the face without stripping away the protective barrier. They then move directly to the next steps in their skincare and makeup routines. French women also avoid scrubs, as heavy exfoliation can lead to irritation.

A common issue in skincare is the incorrect order of facial cleansing or improperly adapting products to one's skin type. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to this. The first step is washing your hands. Touching your face with unwashed hands can spread bacteria, reduce the effectiveness of skin care products, and, over time, lead to various skin imperfections.

Next, removing makeup helps attract impurities and makeup like a magnet. You can use micellar water or cleansing milk, then rinse your face with water. After this, choose a product that allows washing and cleansing to remove all residue. The final step is applying a toner to balance the pH level. Now, your skin is ready for cream or serum application.