This is why you shouldn’t be washing your face in the shower

We’re all for beauty shortcuts. And actually, now that we think about it, if we’re able to knock off a beauty step in the shower it’s way more likely to get done.

Shout out to in-shower body moisturisers and gradual tans, you guys are great.

But recently, we discovered an in shower no-no they’ve we’ve been doing since, well, forever. As it turns out, cleansing your face while under the steamy hot comfort of running water is less than ideal.

At least that’s what scientist and skin care lover, Hannah English, revealed in a recent ‘Ask Me Anything’ segment on Instagram.  She explained that the water we use to wash ourselves in the shower is most likely too hot of a temperature for our delicate faces and that cool to lukewarm water is best (and more easily controlled by the sink).

And after a bit of further research, it seems most dermatologists agree with Hannah too… 

Why shouldn’t we be washing our faces in the shower?

Essentially, the hotter your water is, the more drying it is.

“If you’re heating oils in the skin it’s likely you’re emulsifying, dissolving and literally washing them away,”  consultant dermatologist, Dr. Justine Hextall, told Women’s Health.  “These oils play an important role in protecting your face against external aggressors via the skin barrier.”

She also mentions that by washing your face in the shower, you could unknowingly be subjecting it to harsher ingredients as well as a hot temp, and that’s not an ideal combo. Think: the residue from your shampoo causing irritation, redness and flaking.

@ms_hannah_e

How should we be washing our faces?

Instead of the shower, Hannah prefers to use a lukewarm muslin cloth to cleanse her face. In fact, you can catch her entire routine via our Sunday Skin Diaries. 

However, if you don’t want to give up your in-shower face cleanse, consciously turning down the temperature when you get to this step will help. Dr. Hextell also recommends facing away from the shower head (to save your complexion from the harsh water pressure) and letting the water run gently over your face from behind instead. 

Is it better to wash your face before or after your shower?

If you are considering making the switch to the sink, it’s a good idea to shower first and then complete your face cleanse. This way the steam from your shower will open your pores and prepare it for the following skin care.

One last tip: Regardless of whether you wash your face at the shower or sink, it’s a good idea to store your cleanser outside of the shower to preserve the quality of the ingredients. “Anything containing active ingredients will degrade under the bright lights and warm, damp conditions in the shower,” says Dr. Hextall. So if you’re a big fan of AHAs and BHAs in your face wash, get it outta there.

5 face washes we’re loving right now:

1. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser
2. La Mav® Hydra-Calm Cleansing Crème
3. Billie Goat Soap Gentle Cream Face Cleanser
4. em&mary Coastal Naturals Facial Cleanser
5. Amarānté Cleanse

Do you cleanse your face in the shower or at the sink?