Should You Wash Your Face In The Shower?

Washing your face in the shower can be enticing given our frequently limited time and the myths purporting multi-tasking as the quickest way to simultaneously complete several items on our to-do lists. As the saying goes, though, faster isn't always better. This truth holds for washing your face during your regular showers. 

Countless skincare myths exist, markedly pertaining to face washing and effective products, but, in reality, the methods which lead to optimal results are straightforward and easy to incorporate. The hurdle is that proper methods are only effective if you are aware of them. Knowing proper care for sensitive facial skin, notably around your eyes, is step one in protecting your face while showering.

The steam from the shower can open pores, creating conditions for products to penetrate deep into your skin, but proper conditions need to be upheld for positive results. Prominent rules to follow while cleansing your face in the shower include washing your face last to ensure traces of other products, including shampoo residue, are eliminated from your face. Also, as a general rule, never wash your face more than twice per day unless additional washes are required due to significant sweating, the need to remove makeup, or guidance from your dermatologist.

Washing your face in the shower has benefits and drawbacks. It all comes down to the technique and habits you incorporate. It can be safe to wash your face in the shower if you follow dermatologist-recommended guidelines, starting with stopping the use of any products that cause pain, burning, or prickling sensations on your skin. This is your body signaling a threat of irritants. Many believe that tingling from facial products is indicative of effectiveness, but this is untrue. If any item you use on your face in or out of the shower results in discomfort, stop using it immediately.

Additionally, avoid using washcloths and mechanical cleansing tools to wash and dry your face, as the rough materials can cause microscopic skin damage, tears, and excess oil production from over-exfoliated skin. Instead, apply facial cleanser with clean hands by squirting cleanser onto your palms and rubbing together to create a foamy lather. While showering, apply cleanser by moving your hands in intentionally annular motions from your forehead down to your chin. By gently massaging cleanser onto skin while staggering focus on each area, you'll mitigate damage.

Whether you wash your face in the shower comes down to your personal preference. The shower may be easier for your routine, or maybe you like to wash over the sink for a more targeted cleanse. In the end, it's more important how you wash your face rather than where you do it.

Hot showers can be extremely relaxing, especially after a long day or strenuous workout, but the consideration to keep in mind is that taking long, hot showers can have adverse effects on your skin, particularly the skin on your face, especially if you're prone to dryness, oiliness, acne, or other outbreaks you otherwise aim to control. By indulging in hot showers regularly, you may be unknowingly undoing any positive impacts from your regular skincare routine.  

If your skin feels itchy or dry after showering, this may be directly related to the water temperature. If you're irking for lotion immediately after showering, try turning the water temperature down a bit and you'll likely see quick improvements. Similarly, even if you don't experience instantaneous sensations or reactions on your face post-shower, the water temperature of your regular shower can still impact your skin over time and lead to irritation, dry skin that may flake or peel, redness of skin which appears in either splotches or all over your face, and even symptoms akin to those from a damaging sunburn.

When in doubt, turn the water temperature down. On occasion, a few minutes of warmer water can provide some beneficial relaxation, but, to protect your skin, remember to turn the water temperature down for the remainder of your shower.  

Washing your face in the shower typically isn't detrimental for sensitive facial skin, but the caveat is that washing your face in the shower is only beneficial if certain actions are avoided. In addition to avoiding long, hot showers, which can cause excessive facial dryness, you should be selective with the products you use for washing your face in or out of the shower, eliminating the use of body wash and soap on your face.

Since many body washes are marketed as being all-in-one products for head-to-toe cleansing during showers, it may not be widely known that you shouldn't use these products on your face. Body washes and soaps typically contain harsh ingredients that may be helpful for cleansing your body, but your face will thrive best with cleansers curated specifically for the sensitivity and complexity of facial skin.

Some of the best facial cleansers for every budget and skin type are available over-the-counter and are far more affordable than influencer-sponsored products or trendy brand options. Simply put, you want to find a facial cleanser labeled as gentle. Cetaphil, CeraVe, and Neutrogena are brands recommended by dermatologists for their gentle ingredients that won't strip the skin of natural oil or add excessive oil. Expect to try a few cleansers before finding the gentle one that's best for your face.

Rushing out the door can make showering a hectic experience, making it easier to grab a single bath towel to quickly dry off after you've finished. Unfortunately, this practice isn't healthy for the skin on your face because of the ease by which bacteria can spread, particularly if you use the same towel across multiple showers. 

Instead, try investing in an antimicrobial facial towel. Otherwise, substitute by having a hand towel or separate bath towel at the ready when you get out of the shower. This way, you'll have one towel for drying your body and a separate towel for your face. If you set the two towels out the night before a busy morning or regularly check for two fresh towels at the ready in your bathroom, you can make establishing this practice a seamless habit to incorporate and adopt long term.

Additionally, when drying your face post-shower or even after rinsing in the sink, avoid air drying, as water that naturally dissipates from your face pulls natural moisture from your skin with it. To properly dry your face without spreading bacteria or risking stripping your skin of natural hydration, use your face-specific towel to gently pat your face dry rather than rubbing the towel across your face. Choose a starting place on your face, and then gently pat skin dry until you've made it around your entire face.