It’s tempting to feel like using your facial cleansing product for a longer amount of time or with more ferocity will wash your face more effectively. But in reality, the length of time you spend lathering does not correlate to how well you cleansed your face. Keep it simple: Try to go for 20 to 30 seconds of washing, or until the product lathers up on your face, because doing more than that could be too much for your skin. Washing too aggressively or for too long—especially if your cleanser contains any exfoliating ingredients—can quickly lead to red, irritated, angry skin.
To property wash your face, start with wetting your face with lukewarm—not hot—water and using your fingertips to apply cleanser in a circular motion. Make sure to wash the T-zone and U-zone (around the jawline), these are areas where people tend to forget. Once you’ve built up a nice lather, rinse and carefully pat dry with a soft, clean towel.
And about that water temperature: Using hot water in the shower or to wash your face might feel really pleasant, but it can actually be damaging to the delicate skin on your face.
Extreme temperatures, such as hot, steamy showers or hot water, can cause dilation of blood vessels and breakage of delicate sensitive. Hot water naturally strips skin of the necessary oil barrier that helps maintain skin integrity. This means your skin will dry out faster and may become more itchy and flaky over time.
This is especially an issue for those with dry or sensitive skin to be aware of because their skin is already more vulnerable to drying out or reacting badly to extremes. Also, heat can be a trigger for rosacea, a skin condition that causes redness and acne-like bumps. So, it’s important to use lukewarm water to wash your face.
Udora Body Care