For years, I thought clean skin meant healthy skin.

When I was battling acne in my teens and twenties, I became obsessed with washing my face. If my skin looked oily, I cleansed it. If I spotted another breakout, I scrubbed harder. I bought stronger products, used more exfoliators and convinced myself that if I could just remove enough oil, my skin would finally become smooth.

It never did.

Ironically, the harder I tried, the worse my skin became.

It wasn't until I discovered Traditional Persian Medicine through my own family heritage that I completely changed how I looked after my skin. What surprised me most was that many of the principles I'd learned hundreds of years ago are now echoed by modern dermatologists.

Sometimes, less really is more.

Why washing your face every day isn't always necessary

Before anyone panics, let me make one thing clear.

If you've been wearing make-up, SPF, exercising heavily or you've been exposed to pollution, you absolutely should cleanse your skin properly.

Likewise, everyone's skin is different. What works beautifully for me won't necessarily be right for you.

But if you've spent a quiet day working from home with no make-up on, your skin may not always need another deep cleanse.

Our skin naturally produces oils called sebum. These oils aren't the enemy. They're part of your skin's protective barrier, helping to keep moisture in while protecting against irritation, bacteria and environmental damage.

Every time we aggressively cleanse or over-scrub, we remove some of that protection.

For many people, the skin simply responds by producing even more oil.

It's a frustrating cycle.

What Traditional Persian Medicine taught me

Traditional Persian Medicine doesn't believe the answer is simply to strip the skin clean.

Instead, the aim is balance.

Healthy skin isn't about removing every trace of oil. It's about supporting the skin so it can function properly.

When I stopped attacking my skin every day, something changed.

My face felt calmer.

Less tight.

Less irritated.

And gradually, healthier.

Interestingly, many dermatologists now agree that over-cleansing can damage the skin barrier, increasing dryness, irritation and inflammation rather than improving acne.

Why over-scrubbing can actually make acne worse

When your skin barrier becomes damaged, several things can happen.

• Water escapes more easily, leaving skin dehydrated.
• Irritation increases.
• Redness becomes more noticeable.
• Skin often produces even more oil to compensate.
• Active ingredients become harder to tolerate.

It's one of the reasons why using harsh scrubs every day rarely delivers the glowing skin people hope for.

Gentle, consistent care almost always wins.

What I use instead

Rather than scrubbing my skin every day, I gently exfoliate around twice each week using my own Sefidab® FACE Skin Detox – Rice & Rose.

Unlike harsh facial scrubs, it's a powder-to-foam exfoliator inspired by the traditional Persian hammam ritual.

The finely milled rice, rose and Persian Blue Salt work together to gently lift away dead skin cells without leaving my skin feeling stripped.

Using it twice a week helps to:

• Smooth rough skin.
• Brighten dull complexions.
• Remove dead skin cells.
• Create a fresher surface for my skincare.
• Help my serums and moisturisers absorb more effectively.

It's the one product in my routine that gives my skin that freshly polished feeling without irritation.

You can explore the Sefidab® Skin Detox Collection from The East to West Lifestyle Co© if you're looking for a gentle natural face exfoliator inspired by centuries of Persian beauty rituals.

My everyday skincare routine

On the days I'm not exfoliating, I keep things very simple.

Sometimes I don't wash my face at all in the morning.

Instead, I gently refresh my skin with REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, which lightly exfoliates and helps brighten my complexion without the need for harsh cleansing.

In the morning I then apply Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate Vitamin C Serum, which has become one of my favourite products for supporting brighter-looking skin.

In the evening I finish with Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Botanical Night Cream, which leaves my skin feeling nourished overnight.

One day I'd love to create my own vitamin C serum and botanical night cream inspired by Traditional Persian Medicine.

There are so many incredible Persian botanicals with a long history of supporting healthy skin, and I'd love to combine that traditional knowledge with modern cosmetic science.

For now though, I'm genuinely happy using these products alongside my own skincare ritual.

You don't have to do more to get better skin

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that healthy skin isn't about having the longest skincare routine.

It's about understanding what your skin actually needs.

Sometimes that's cleansing.

Sometimes that's exfoliating.

Sometimes it's simply leaving your skin alone.

After years of acne, that's probably the hardest lesson I had to learn.

But it was also the one that made the biggest difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is washing your face every day bad?

Not necessarily. It depends on your skin type, lifestyle and whether you've been wearing make-up or SPF. Many people benefit from gentle cleansing once daily rather than repeatedly washing throughout the day.

How many times should I wash my face if I have oily skin?

Most dermatologists recommend cleansing twice daily with a gentle cleanser if you have oily skin. Over-cleansing can sometimes trigger even more oil production.

Should I wash my face every morning?

Not always. If your skin is clean when you wake up and you haven't used heavy overnight products, some people simply rinse with water or use a gentle toner before applying their morning skincare.

How often should I exfoliate?

For most people, gentle exfoliation one to three times per week is enough. I personally use Sefidab® FACE Skin Detox twice a week.

Can exfoliating help other skincare products work better?

Yes. Removing dead skin cells can help create a smoother surface, allowing serums and moisturisers to spread more evenly across the skin.

Sources

• Avicenna. Canon of Medicine.
• Aghili Khorasani. Makhzan al-Advia.
• Jurjani. Zakhireye Khwarazmshahi.
• NHS Skin Health Guidance.
• American Academy of Dermatology Association. Cleansing and Exfoliation Guidance.
• Kiehl's UK Product Information.
• REN Clean Skincare Product Information.