Wash your face with warm or cold water, which one is better?

To keep skin clean, your face must be cleaned regularly. In addition to the choice of cleaning products that are suitable for skin conditions, the water temperature for washing the face also needs to be considered as its effect on the skin. So, between cold water and warm water, which one is better for washing your face?

Wash your face with warm or cold water?

Every day, the skin is exposed to various bacteria, dirt, sweat and pollutants. If not cleaned properly, you can get skin problems. Starting from clogging pores, causing acne, skin irritation, to accelerating aging.

That is the reason you need to clean your face regularly. Cleaning products can effectively remove dirt and sebum (oil) from the skin. However, the wrong cleanser can irritate the outer layer of skin.

Apart from the choice of cleaning products, the water temperature for rinsing must also be considered. The reason is, the temperature of the water can affect the condition of the skin. So, which one is best, wash your face with warm or cold water?

"Cold water is very good for the skin," said Kay Greveson, a health and beauty practitioner at Regents Park Aesthetics, as quoted from the Women's Health Magazine page.

Exposure to cold water on the skin can increase blood circulation, thus making the skin glow. In addition, cold water also helps constrict capillaries to get rid of redness caused by inflammation.

Dr. Michael Barnish, aesthetic doctor at Dr. Jonquille Chantrey Clinic, adds, "Cold water can lock in core temperature, shrink pores, and help improve skin texture and appearance."

Meanwhile, washing your face with warm water also has its own benefits. Washing your face with warm water can improve blood circulation in the face. This allows blood and nutrients to be properly circulated throughout the skin cells and keeps the skin healthy.

In addition, exposure to warm water also relaxes the muscles around the face and helps to dilate skin pores making it easier to clean.

So, which one is better?

Both of them provide benefits for your skin. However, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing your face with warm water.

The benefits of cold water that have been mentioned earlier will be more effective if you do it for 15 seconds by running cold water on your face.

Sometimes, being exposed to cold water during this time can cause skin numbness even though it feels fresh.

Cold water may be more suitable for washing your face when you are sleepy. The cool sensation of the water can make your face and eyes fresher.

Most importantly, you should avoid hot water to wash your face. Hot water can remove fatty substances (keratin), which functions to hold water. As a result, keratin will break down and fail to lock in moisture in the outermost layer of skin and cause dry skin.

Tips for washing your face properly

Now, you know that washing your face with warm water is considered better. Even so, you still have to clean your face the right way too.

Some steps to wash your face properly, apart from using warm water, include:

Choose a facial cleanser that doesn't contain alcohol. Alcohol dries out the skin.
Wet your face with warm water while gently massaging your face.
Use an appropriate amount of facial cleanser, about the size of a pea if it is solid.
Rub the cleanser first with your palms and then wipe your face.
Don't rub it, massage it gently and slowly.
Rinse again with lukewarm water, then dry the facial skin with a soft towel.
Follow up by applying moisturizer to keep the skin from drying out.