At some point, you have to think of the oils, minerals and salts on your face as a lubricant for a machine. Without these, the machine may not function too well; your face may be dry and have a harder time trying to heal problematic acne or scars.

As long as you 'lubricate' with a moisturiser after you've stripped your face of the possible dirty oils and such, it should be fine.

I would be weary about irritating your face while washing and causing unwanted friction and therefore redness or more pimples.

Be as gentle as possible, moisturise after every wash and try to avoid washing with the chemicals you may use in the morning or night. Just use an antibacterial soap for 'in the day' washes so you don't burn your face or get peeling.

Don't let your face dry out!

I would recommend avoiding washing your face during the day, but i know this may be impossible after sweating etc. Best thing is perhaps splash water on face when you get home and then press very gently with a tissue to absorb excess oil and shine. If your makeup is noncomedogenic then there shouldn't be any problems with breakouts if you leave it on. However, less is usually more when approaching the regime and unfortunately washing your face three times or more is asking for limited effectiveness and unwanted irritation. With all that said however, over time you will be able to start reducing the amount of BP used on your face, and eventually less restricted by the regime, as in you will be able sweat, shower during the day without over irritation. This is a goal that most people reach on the regime, however before you can get there you have to put in the ground work and 'ride it out' in the beginning stages of the regime.

Trust me i know this can be frustrating when you sweat etc during the day, however once your skin begins to clear over time your skin will more less susceptible to irritation, and become more tolerating when detouring from the normal regime.

Yeah I was thinking that as long as I'm gentle and moisturise after, it shouldn't be that much of a problem. But I'm still in my second week of the regimen so I'm trying to follow it exactly - and that would mean cleansing only twice a day... but I always want to remove my makeup ASAP. Wonder if regimen users have any thoughts on this?

I face this issue almost everyday especially when I go to the gym. I still cleanse my face with water after taking a shower at the gym and applying moisturizer afterwards. But I don't use two pumps of BP anymore since I'm already clear (cleared by week 4-5).

I face this issue almost everyday especially when I go to the gym. I still cleanse my face with water after taking a shower at the gym and applying moisturizer afterwards. But I don't use two pumps of BP anymore since I'm already clear (cleared by week 4-5).

Congrats on such quick results! That's awesome

I'm coming to the end of my second week and have seen some clearing but it's early days still so I'm expecting more breakouts but I'm also hoping there won't be any. I've already had a few occasions where I've had to cleanse more than twice a day (always moisturise after) and it's been ok so far... I guess it might have caused more dryness but I'm mainly worried about weather it's going to cause more / enough irritation to cause breakouts.

I guess I'll just see what happens.

I think trying to avoid washing your face more than twice per day is ideal, but I know that I used to do it more than twice when I first started the regimen. If I exercised at lunch time I would have a shower and wash my face but mainly it would be if I went out somewhere after work. I would wash my face, apply moisturiser and then apply (or reapply) my makeup. When I got home I would then wash my face again and then apply my BP application etc.

I would try and avoid doing this as much as possible but the occasional extra wash didn't seem to have any adverse effects for me. I know what you mean about wanting to take your makeup off as soon as possible when you get home, but I would suggest that the irritation caused by additional cleansing would far out weigh the benefit of removing makeup.

Your second week on the regimen and you still sound positive....thats great. You still have a bit to get through (my 2nd and 3rd week was complete hell) but we are all here with you

Wonder if regimen users have any thoughts on this?

You should try not to overwash your face. But I perfectly understand what you mean when you say "I want to wash my makeup off as soon as I get home"

In fact, I admit that it happens I wash my face more than twice a day. It helps me to feel fresh, after a day of work for instance, before to go to have a drink with friends.

To be honest, I often wash my face more than twice a day. I know it sounds bad, but it does not seem to have any big consequences on me. It may irritates my skin more than it should (and maybe looks more oily, then: awesooooome), but I sincerely do not think it causes breakouts to me. Indeed, I've never noticed some difference when I overwash it and when I do not.

You should do like AyeAye said: "I think trying to avoid washing your face more than twice per day is ideal".

But do not let the existential question: to wash or not to wash drive you crazy. And the "10-12 hours" of Dan's Regimen must not dictate your life.

I would recommend avoiding washing your face during the day, but i know this may be impossible after sweating etc. Best thing is perhaps splash water on face when you get home and then press very gently with a tissue to absorb excess oil and shine. If your makeup is noncomedogenic then there shouldn't be any problems with breakouts if you leave it on. However, less is usually more when approaching the regime and unfortunately washing your face three times or more is asking for limited effectiveness and unwanted irritation. With all that said however, over time you will be able to start reducing the amount of BP used on your face, and eventually less restricted by the regime, as in you will be able sweat, shower during the day without over irritation. This is a goal that most people reach on the regime, however before you can get there you have to put in the ground work and 'ride it out' in the beginning stages of the regime.

Trust me i know this can be frustrating when you sweat etc during the day, however once your skin begins to clear over time your skin will more less susceptible to irritation, and become more tolerating when detouring from the normal regime.

I don't know how but I completely missed reading your reply earlier!

I don't wear much makeup normally- and because my skin is so dry and still getting used to the BP, it's hard to put on makeup at all now. So hopefully when I do end up leaving it on, it won't cause much of an issue because there isn't much makeup on to begin with. I do have a non-comedogenic makeup that I can wear so I'll try and use that one on days I wear makeup.

Thanks for the reply and advice

I think trying to avoid washing your face more than twice per day is ideal, but I know that I used to do it more than twice when I first started the regimen. If I exercised at lunch time I would have a shower and wash my face but mainly it would be if I went out somewhere after work. I would wash my face, apply moisturiser and then apply (or reapply) my makeup. When I got home I would then wash my face again and then apply my BP application etc.

I would try and avoid doing this as much as possible but the occasional extra wash didn't seem to have any adverse effects for me. I know what you mean about wanting to take your makeup off as soon as possible when you get home, but I would suggest that the irritation caused by additional cleansing would far out weigh the benefit of removing makeup.

Your second week on the regimen and you still sound positive....thats great. You still have a bit to get through (my 2nd and 3rd week was complete hell) but we are all here with you

I think there will be times where I do just have to wash my face more than twice a day, but like you said, I'll try and avoid doing this as much as possible.

I've just started my third week now and I think this week will be quite tough... I had a lot of burning for a few days in week 1 and 2 and now the dryness and flakes are the things bothering me the most (though the burning feeling after moisturiser is back too). I have to keep reminding myself to look past all the 'side-effects' and realise that I am seeing improvement in my skin in terms of acne - which is why I started the regimen in the first place (of course).

Thank you for the reply and encouragement

Wonder if regimen users have any thoughts on this?

You should try not to overwash your face. But I perfectly understand what you mean when you say "I want to wash my makeup off as soon as I get home"

In fact, I admit that it happens I wash my face more than twice a day. It helps me to feel fresh, after a day of work for instance, before to go to have a drink with friends.

To be honest, I often wash my face more than twice a day. I know it sounds bad, but it does not seem to have any big consequences on me. It may irritates my skin more than it should (and maybe looks more oily, then: awesooooome), but I sincerely do not think it causes breakouts to me. Indeed, I've never noticed some difference when I overwash it and when I do not.

You should do like AyeAye said: "I think trying to avoid washing your face more than twice per day is ideal".

But do not let the existential question: to wash or not to wash drive you crazy. And the "10-12 hours" of Dan's Regimen must not dictate your life.

Yeah I hate having makeup on longer than I 'have to' wear it! But I'll try and keep occasions where I wash my face more than twice a day to a minimum.

I am trying to keep at least 10 hours between applications - I just like knowing that I've had the BP on my skin at least that long. But again, there might be occasions where I can't fit that time frame... the important thing there (to me anyway) is to still make sure I apply the regimen and BP twice a day with a fair amount of time in between.

Thanks for the reply

Yeah I hate having makeup on longer than I 'have to' wear it!

Haha, I don't wear makeup (except for mascara), but I do understand so much what you mean!

I am trying to keep at least 10 hours between applications - I just like knowing that I've had the BP on my skin at least that long. But again, there might be occasions where I can't fit that time frame... the important thing there (to me anyway) is to still make sure I apply the regimen and BP twice a day with a fair amount of time in between.

Yeah, I think it's the most important.

But sincerely, I adjust to my skin. If my skin is dry and red, I won't let BP 12 hours to make my skin look worse and more irritated.

And it's the same thing if it's normally time for a moisturizer, and that I feel that my skin is preparing a spot party (you know, when you feel pimples grow up, and it starts to begin red and inflamed and sexy?), I apply BP as soon as possible, or something to limit the damage.

I run into this dilemma every damn day!! I normally wake up like 7-9 am wash my face,bp,moisturize. Then hit the gym around 11-12 get out around 2 & shower & wash my face again.. Then at night 10pm-11 . I don't know wether just to not wash my face when I wake up & do the process after I shower or just wake up & wash/moisturize then after I shower do the REG. and right now I'm flaking so bad it gets on my clothes!

I drench my face with dans moisturizer tho- good stuff. So I guess I run into your problem as well. I did bout 2 weeks regimine with over the counter products & going on week 2 1/2 - 3 with dans products. But at the moment I had a minor breakout cuz I decided to scrub the shit out my safe cuz of the flakes so I feel I'm starting over just FYI . Don't scrub

I run into this dilemma every damn day!! I normally wake up like 7-9 am wash my face,bp,moisturize. Then hit the gym around 11-12 get out around 2 & shower & wash my face again.. Then at night 10pm-11 . I don't know wether just to not wash my face when I wake up & do the process after I shower or just wake up & wash/moisturize then after I shower do the REG. and right now I'm flaking so bad it gets on my clothes!

I drench my face with dans moisturizer tho- good stuff. So I guess I run into your problem as well. I did bout 2 weeks regimine with over the counter products & going on week 2 1/2 - 3 with dans products. But at the moment I had a minor breakout cuz I decided to scrub the shit out my safe cuz of the flakes so I feel I'm starting over just FYI . Don't scrub

Yeah it can be hard to deal with times when you need to cleanse more than twice a day.

Hope the breakout you're going through now heals quickly! Hang in there