Leslie Key FNP-C, Skin Clique

Wash your face twice a day with cleanser…Myth or fact?

Believe it or not, the answer is it depends.

The better question is — what are you trying to remove?

If you wore sunscreen, makeup, spent the day outside, or have oil on your skin, a gentle cleanser is the right choice.

If you woke up with dry, sensitive skin and slept in a clean bed? No acne or sebum? Water in the morning may be completely fine.

Most people are going to need to use a cleanser twice daily to treat acne, dead cell buildup, and pigment.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find research on washing with just water vs. using cleanser.
Interestingly, there’s a 2024 study that water did just as well as cleanser for patients with controlled eczema.
Another study found more acne improvement with using a gentle cleanser twice daily over once daily.

The takeaway…Skincare is about what’s right for your skin and giving it what it actually needs.

Follow along for more skincare.



Choi JM, Lew VK, Kimball AB. A single-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluating the effect of face washing on acne vulgaris. Pediatr Dermatol. 2006 Sep-Oct;23(5):421-7.
Katoh Y, Natsume O, Yasuoka R, Hayano S, Okada E, Ito Y, Sakai A, Monna Y, Takayanagi F, Inuzuka Y, Sakakura Y. Skin care by washing with water is not inferior to washing with a cleanser in children with atopic dermatitis in remission in summer: WASH study. Allergol Int. 2024 Jul;73(3):428-435.

In April, Nashville received a F for ozone (smog) from the American Lung Association.

Summer is Nashville’s worst season for ozone because heat and sun combine with vehicle emissions to create smog.

When we’re swimming on a hot day or sitting in traffic, our skin is exposed to pollution that creates free radicals— these are like sparks on our skin that break down collagen and cause dark spots and wrinkles.

Here are the 3 steps I recommend to prevent skin damage from Nashville pollution:

1. Protect:
Colorescience Flex forms a protective mineral shield that blocks the sparks and prevents free radicals.

2. Remove:
Use a cleanser to remove lingering sparks at the end of the day. Hydrinity Prelude Cleanser is great because it draws out micro-pollutants.

3. Repair & Defend:
Antioxidants are the fire extinguishers putting out sparks. Skinbetter Alto defends in daytime and supports the skin repair process at night.

Follow along for more Nashville skin tips. DM “smog” for product links.

Skin Clique

A few weeks ago my friend Morgan from Morgan Mizell asked for my skincare advice…and I couldn’t wait to work with her and her gorgeous skin!

We both love working with brides to make them feel confident on their big day, so we want to give you a peek inside the skincare consult.

Morgan went over her concerns about pigment, redness, oiliness, dark circles, and preventing lines.

She brought in her current beauty products, and they were fine, but they weren’t working together to keep her skin barrier functioning well.

So we simplified and went back to basics. Then we added in a couple of products to address her top concerns.

For brides especially, a skincare plan can make all the difference for glowing, gorgeous skin before their big day.

Send this to a bride who wants her best skin before the wedding.

Skin Clique

Sharing a little of my why and why I love aesthetics so much! Skin Clique

Would love to hear in comments if you’re comfortable sharing — Have you ever felt how you feel inside doesn’t match how you look on outside? I’ve definitely been there!