Those with very dry skin or eczema will find that water-cleansing helps to retain the skin's natural moisture. However, persons with oily, acne-prone, or combination skin might need soap or liquid cleanser to dissolve excess oil which often clogs pores and causes breakouts.
It's not necessary to wash your face with a cleanser every morning. Rinsing with lukewarm water will likely be sufficient. However, depending on your skin condition and your nighttime skincare routine, it can be beneficial to wash it with a suitable cleanser.
Cleansing Alone Isn't Enough for Acne
It can help to keep your pores from being plugged up. Still, water and a simple soap or face wash aren't enough to clear up acne. Think of your twice-daily cleansing as a first step in treating your acne. Step two should be the routine use of an acne treatment product.
Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics, says water isn't enough to get clean. 'Unfortunately, just using water for washing won't remove dirt, bacteria and germs from our skin,' he explains.
If you work out first thing in the morning, washing is a must (after your workout of course, not before). If, however, you don't, then washing your face in the morning is completely a personal preference. Just be sure to at least rinse your face with water in the morning if you choose to forgo a full cleanse.
Skin Type. Water-cleansing might be suitable for those with more dry and sensitive skin types, or skin conditions. This is because those with sensitive skin might be irritated by the combination of ingredients found in soaps or liquid cleansers.
Gram Flour: Gram flour mixed with water not only makes a great cleanser but also scrubs off dead skin cells. This mixture is a great cleanser and is a great equivalent to a bar of soap. 2. Oats: Oats, especially when mixed with milk can be used as a facial cleanser.
“Water is excellent at washing off sweat and dust and the normal lint that we pick up around us every day, [while] soap is really good at pulling oils out of the skin,” Dr. Greiling says.
Pretty much everyone should opt for a fragrance- and alcohol-free gentle cleanser to wash their face, Lipner said. Dermatologists may also recommend that people who have acne or other skin conditions use medicated face washes, like those containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, experts said previously.
"Life happens sometimes, so going a day without washing your face will not totally ruin your skin—but making a bad habit of not doing so most days leads to a cascade of poor outcomes in your skin health," Dr. Adeline Kikam, DO, MSc, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Brown Skin Derm, says.
Yes, you can wash your face with cold water everyday. Just make sure to wash with lukewarm water first to remove makeup, oil and dirt.
Lukewarm water is advisable to wash your face with, but cold water has its benefits, too. Cold water tightens the appearance of your skin, so it may make you look renewed and refreshed. It also helps boost your circulation, which can help give your skin a healthier appearance, albeit temporarily.
The foaming agents strip your skin and leave it dry and irritated, as soap is designed to remove bacteria and dirt. Answering your question “Should I wash my face with soap or just water?”: You should NOT be washing your face with soap, and you should definitely not be washing it with soap every day.
Dr. Anderson says, “Your skin feels tight and dry from the surfactants, which make the lather, or the alkaline base, which helps remove the oils from the skin.” Bathing with only water balanced out my skin's essential oils. It felt healthier and smoother without the use of harsh chemicals typically found in cleansers.
In this case, skin fasting cannot hurt. But those with conditions like eczema or flaky skin should refrain. For those with acne-prone skin, skipping exfoliation and topical treatments can lead to flare-ups, so a complete skin fast may not be recommended.
Have no fear – we've done our share of research, and the answer is clear: post-shower is definitely the way to go. Sure, washing your face in the shower saves time but it can also do more harm than good – like, clogging pores with other products (gross) or drying out skin with hot water (ouch).