Washing your face twice a day — once when you wake up and once before bed — is the single most useful skincare habit for men. The morning wash clears away overnight oil so products absorb cleanly; the night wash removes the day's sweat, dirt, and grime. It takes about 60 seconds each time, and it works for every skin type.
TL;DR
Clean your face in the morning and again at night with a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser like Tiege Hanley's WASH. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing twice a day, plus after heavy sweating. Follow each wash with a moisturizer — AM with SPF 20 in the morning, PM at night. That's the whole habit. Everything else is a bonus.
Why should you wash your face in the morning?
Washing in the morning removes the oil and sweat your skin produces overnight and gives you a clean base for the rest of your routine. While you sleep, your skin keeps producing sebum, and your pillowcase transfers back oil, dead skin, and bacteria. A quick wash resets your face so a moisturizer or SPF can actually do its job instead of sitting on top of a greasy layer.
It also wakes you up. Thirty seconds of lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser is a small, repeatable win that sets the tone for the day — it's the way you face the day.
Why should you wash your face at night?
Washing at night clears off everything your face collected during the day: sweat, sunscreen, pollution, dust, and oil. If you skip it, that buildup sits on your skin for eight hours and can clog pores, which is a common trigger for breakouts. Night washing is the step dermatologists are least willing to let you skip.
A nighttime cleanse also preps your skin to absorb whatever comes next. A clean, dry face lets an evening moisturizer work while you sleep — the hours when skin does most of its repair.
How do you wash your face the right way?
Use lukewarm water, your fingertips, and a gentle cleanser — then pat dry. According to the American Academy of Dermatology's face-washing guidance, you should skip washcloths and scrubbing (both irritate skin), limit washing to twice a day plus after sweating, and avoid cleansers with alcohol.
Here's the 30-second version:
- Wet your face with lukewarm water — not hot.
- Work a nickel-sized amount of WASH into your damp face with your fingertips for about 10 seconds. It's sulfate-free and safe for sensitive skin, so it cleans without leaving your face tight or stripped.
- Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
Want the full breakdown? See our step-by-step guide to washing your face for men.
What should you do right after washing?
Moisturize — every time, morning and night. Washing removes oil and some of your skin's natural lipids, so rehydrating right after is what keeps your face comfortable instead of dry and flaky. The product you reach for depends on the time of day.
In the morning, apply AM, a moisturizer with SPF 20 that hydrates and helps protect against everyday UV exposure. It's recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation and is the easiest way to add sun protection without adding a step. At night, use PM, a richer evening moisturizer that locks in hydration while you sleep.
Is washing your face really enough on its own?
Washing twice a day is the foundation, but pairing it with a moisturizer is what turns a good habit into a real routine. Cleansing clears the canvas; moisturizing protects it. Those two moves — morning and night — already cover most of what men's skin needs day to day.
If you want the simplest complete version, Tiege Hanley's Level 1 Essential Routine packages four products — WASH, SCRUB, AM, and PM — into a single 30-day supply. One box tells you exactly what to use and when, so there's nothing to overthink. Start by washing your face. The rest follows.
FAQ
How many times a day should men wash their face? Twice — once in the morning and once at night — plus after heavy sweating, per the American Academy of Dermatology. Washing more than that can dry out and irritate your skin.
Can I just use bar soap or body wash on my face? It's not ideal. Bar soap and body wash have a higher pH than facial skin likes and can leave your face feeling tight and stripped. A gentle facial cleanser like WASH cleans without over-drying.
Should I wash my face in the shower? Yes, that's fine — just use lukewarm water rather than hot, which can be drying.
Do I still need to wash my face if I didn't go outside? Yes. Your skin produces oil and sweat overnight and all day, and your pillowcase transfers buildup back onto your face, so washing still helps even on indoor days.
What if I have sensitive skin? Choose a fragrance-free, sulfate-free cleanser. WASH is formulated to be gentle and is well suited to all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Does it matter what order I do things in? Wash first, then moisturize. In the morning that's WASH then AM; at night it's WASH then PM.
