Why I Stopped Washing My Face (and Other Skincare Revelations for 40+ Skin)
The skincare reset that transformed my skin from itchy, blotchy, and sensitive to normal—and dare I say, pretty good?
I spent most of my twenties—and much of my thirties—feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious about my skin. I wouldn’t have dreamed of leaving the house without makeup and spent far too much money on skincare and makeup products, all in the hope of fixing the problem.
I didn’t have acne, but my skin had its own set of challenges: thin, sensitive, and constantly blotchy. My cheeks were often so dry they felt rough and flaky, yet somehow my skin was also oily—so oily that no amount of blotting paper could keep the shine under control. I tried everything: cleansers, exfoliators, and foaming face washes to combat the oil, followed by heavy creams to soothe the dryness that always seemed to follow. The importance of “proper” cleansing had been drilled into me by endless magazine articles that promised flawless skin.
The result? My skin always looked irritated, as if it was permanently cross with me. I was stuck in a vicious cycle of scrubbing, stripping, and slathering on products to fix the very issues my routine was probably causing.
Before I go any further, I want to say this: what I’m about to share is simply what worked for me. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, and I know plenty of people whose skin loves a thorough double cleanse. But if you’re battling thin, sensitive, or reactive skin, this might just help.
The Turning Point
In my early thirties, I decided to stop. I stopped washing my face with harsh cleansers—stopped washing it altogether, actually. My evening routine became incredibly simple: I’d use oil (whatever was in the kitchen—olive oil, coconut oil; this was before fancy oil cleansers were a thing) to remove my makeup, wiping it off with a damp face towel. Then, I’d apply a bit more oil as a night-time moisturiser.
That was it. No foaming cleansers, no toners, no exfoliators. In the morning, I didn’t cleanse at all—just added moisturiser before makeup and that was it.
At first, it felt counterintuitive. Wasn’t I going to clog my pores? Would my skin break out or look even worse? But to my surprise, it didn’t. Instead, my skin began to feel calmer. Despite all the oil I was slathering on, it actually became less oily. The dry patches vanished. And my makeup, which used to slide off by lunchtime, stayed put all day.
Looking back, I think my skin had been in overdrive, trying to compensate for all the washing. Once I stopped stripping it of its natural oils, it finally had a chance to rebalance itself
Fifteen Years Later
It’s been over fifteen years since I stopped washing my face with traditional cleansers, and my skin has never been better. It’s not perfect—it’s still naturally thin—but it’s no longer blotchy, itchy, or irritated. Now in my late forties, I feel far more comfortable in my skin than I ever did in my twenties.
Why (over)washing Can Harm Your Skin
Thankfully, there’s so much more information available these days about protecting the skin barrier, along with a wider range of cleansers tailored to different skin types. Back in the ‘90s, the advice was often a one-size-fits-all “cleanse thoroughly,” which wasn’t great news for people like me.
The skin is your body’s largest organ, made up of three layers:
The epidermis: The outer layer, including the stratum corneum (the skin barrier).
The dermis: The thicker middle layer that contains collagen, elastin, and blood vessels.
The subcutaneous layer: The fatty base layer that provides cushioning and insulation.
The stratum corneum, the outermost part of the epidermis, is your skin’s first line of defence. It’s made up of dead skin cells held together by a lipid matrix (a mix of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids). This barrier keeps water in and harmful bacteria, irritants, and pollutants out.
Overwashing, particularly with harsh cleansers, strips away these natural lipids. When the barrier is compromised, the skin becomes more vulnerable to dryness, irritation, and inflammation. It’s a bit like removing the protective mortar from between bricks—things start to crumble.
The Great Face Wash Boycott: Why It Worked
In this post, I’m sharing my current skincare routine (olive oil stays in the kitchen these days) that works well for my skin, the makeup I swear by, and why less is more when it comes to 40+ skin. I like trying out new products, and I also get send new PR samples to try out, so I’m often trying out new products - last year I overhauled my skincare completely as the new products I had tested turned out to be better than my old ones. (contains affiliate links)
These days, my cleansing routine consists of:
Oil cleanser followed by Micellar water and Eye makeup remover in the evenings - my face does not like being washed with water. Sometimes I also use this Goat milk cleanser from Kate Somerville as it’s super gentle.
Nothing in the morning—I just apply moisturiser.
Moisturisers:
Here are my current staples for winter skin:
Serum: I love this serum - it’s light and makes my skin feel plump and hydrated. I’m also convinced that it reduces redness and makes my skin feel extra calm.
Retinol: This one is perfect for sensitive skin but still powerful.
Moisturiser: I have a couple I’m using at the moment, depending how my skin is feeling: A rich but non-greasy cream for daytime. I adore this night cream, it feels like a cashmere blanket for my face. This one I use under makeup most days.
SPF: Every single day, rain or shine, throughout the year. My go-to is this one, which doesn’t leave a ghostly white cast and works perfectly under makeup too.
A good face oil: I still love using face oils in the night time- most often on top of moisturiser these days. This one and this one are both great.
Makeup for 40+ Skin: Dewy, Not Cake-y
Let’s talk makeup. For years, I layered on full-coverage foundations to hide my blotchiness, which—spoiler alert—only made me look like I was wearing a mask. These days, I’ve embraced a lighter, glowier look that works with my skin rather than against it.
In this video I shared my quick & glowy winter makeup:
You can find all the products I used here, or listed below for ease.
Erborian BB cream in shade Clair (this is SO good!)
Charlotte Tilbury bronzer/contour light/medium
Armani beauty blush rosy peach (the prettiest shade of fresh and soft pink!)
l’Oreal mascara in black (this is my new favourite!)
Armani Beauty lip gloss (non sticky!)
Final Thoughts: Trust Your Skin
The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Your skin knows what it’s doing. Sometimes, we just need to get out of its way.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your routine or stuck in a cycle of trial and error, I encourage you to take a step back. Simplify. Trust that your skin can thrive with less.
Now, I’d love to hear from you. What’s your skincare philosophy? Have you ever tried ditching cleansers or paring back your routine? Let me know in the comments—I’m always curious to hear your stories.
I’ve also played with oils and love the NAIAD from here, www.thepotionmasters.com.
Canadian owned and ingredient sourced. Thanks for sharing, as less is often more☺️
After reading your article I bought the Eborium bb cream and their green cream to help even out redness. My daughter was home from uni at the weekend and told me my skin was “flawless”. I had cystic acne as a teenager and lots of redness so this, coming from someone lucky enough to have naturally flawless skin, was the best compliment I could have 😌 Thank you for sharing.
I use Raven Botanicals face products and they have made such a difference to my skin condition - it’s a local company to me run by two sisters. I’ve tried other products but always go back to them.