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Why Washing Your Face in Cold Water Has Benefits

Woah – this is hard to write.  Let me say, right at the start of this – I HATE cold water! When it hits the small of my back, or worse yet, my shoulders, I gotta say, “That’s all! I’m not hot anymore!” and I back right out of that lake.  

Google, "The Benefits of Cold Water Swimming"

I’ve known some of the benefits of swimming in cold water but hadn’t ever taken the time to look them all up. So for those of you who haven’t backed right out of reading this, here you go!

When you Google, “The Benefits of Cold Water Swimming” it gives you 111,000,000 results. That’s a lot of damn results.  So apparently, there’s got to be some truth to the rumor.

According to New Zealand Ocean Swim, there are eight of them:

  • It boosts your immune system
  • It gives you a natural high
  • It improves your circulation
  • It revs up your metabolism
  • It increases your libido
  • It burns calories
  • It reduces stress
  • It’s a great way to make new friends (polar bears not included)

What About Washing Your Face in Cold Water?

But what about the benefits of cold water on your skin?  We all know the most important thing you can do for your face is to wash it daily. That’s skincare 101. Well, let’s discover those cold-water benefits, shall we?

Washing your face removes impurities such as dirt, debris, and bacteria and leaves the skin clean and refreshed. But how do you know how many times you should wash your face each day, what products to use, or even what temperature the water should be during cleansing.  And for this article, we are going to use any water temperature under 70 degrees as cold.

Acne

One simple tool in your toolbox to fight acne is to use cold water. Hot water tends to strip the oils, which may trigger your skin to producing even more oil. Cold water does a great job of regulating oil levels and helping you manage your acne flare-ups.  Using Epionce’s Purifying Spot Gel and Purifying Wash are also great ways to treat your acne.

Rosacea

Rosacea appears on the face as small, visible blood vessels. Hot water causes blood vessels to dilate more than cold water, which will make your skin appear redder.

Dry Skin

Cold water can be beneficial for dry skin. If you have chronically dry skin, hot water can strip your sebum levels (oil) and make the dry skin worse making cold water a good alternative.

Circulation

Circulation will be improved when you wash your face with either cool or cold water. When you put cold water on your face, it constricts circulation on the surface, causing blood in your deeper tissues to circulate at a faster rate in order to maintain body temperature. You’ll achieve a healthy glow with cooler water as well.

Disadvantages of Washing With Cold Water

Wait. What? There are disadvantages?

Since cold water tightens pores, it can be difficult to remove the bacteria and debris from your skin. Cold water cleansing may leave your face not as clean since excess oils may not dissolve in cold water. This can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.

So, what’s the ideal water temperature for cleansing my face then?

Dermatologists and other experts seem to agree that lukewarm water is ideal for washing your face, followed by a cold-water splash to finish. What is lukewarm? When you run warm water on your wrist and it feels slightly warmer than  your body temperature (but not hot), then that’s pretty close to being lukewarm. The scientific number of lukewarm is 98 degrees F to 115 degrees F.

How Often Should You Wash Your Face?

The general rule of thumb is to wash your face twice per day – morning and night. Washing more often can actually dry out your face and cause irritation and other problems.

Your pillowcase contains an alarming amount of bacteria (helloooo drool), so a quick cleanse in the morning is important.  It also helps reduce the usual early morning puffiness we often have.

The nighttime wash is essential for removing makeup, dirt, and debris that’s collected on your skin during the day. Grinding all of that into your face with your pillowcase at night can cause mini-tears in your skin, irritation and breakouts.

How to Help Keep Your Skin Clean

Be Gentle – use your fingertips to wash your face and pat it dry with a soft towel.

Wash Away Sweat – since sweat clogs pores, it’s best to wash your face after a workout.

Stay Hydrated – keeping your skin hydrated by drinking enough water every day is worth writing about. Aim for at least eight 8-ounce glasses per day.

Use Products Wisely – use gentle products to cleanse your skin, like Epionce’s Lytic Gel Cleanser.  Then follow up with serums and lotions with the active ingredients that you need.

The Final Word

If you still have questions and concerns about cleansing your face and what products work best for you, then contact us to determine what’s best for your individual needs.