While no one can argue that washing your face regularly is the key to clearing all the impurities that might be lingering between and inside your pores, paying some attention to the temperature of the water you’re washing with is equally important. This often begs the question – is washing your face with cold water better than with hot water?
Fortunately, we’re here to shed light on the science behind the hot versus cold water debate. Read on to learn all you need to know for your best skin-washing experience.
Table of Contents:
- The Benefits of Washing Your Face with Cold Water
- The Disadvantages of Cold Water
- Is Warm Water Any Good?
- What Water Temperature is Best?
- Control The Temperature, Revive Your Skin
The Benefits of Washing Your Face with Cold Water
You might have already heard a few times that washing your skin with cold water is beneficial, regardless of your skin type, but have you ever wondered exactly how beneficial it is and why?
One of the ways through which cold water impacts our skin positively is by preventing acne. Hot water strips the skin of its oils – which inadvertently might cause acne – but by doing that, it makes the sebaceous glands produce even more oil than necessary.
Cold water, on the other hand, can regulate oil levels. Aside from that, it generally calms both oily skin and dry skin, unlike hot water, which causes the blood vessels to dilate and give you a red color, signaling irritation.
If you want to de-puff your face, make this little change in your skincare routine and stay away from hot water, as it opens up the pores. Cold water closes the pores, therefore reducing their annoying appearance.
More than that, it seems that cold showers also improve circulation. Because the water’s temperature is so much colder than our body’s, the blood has to circulate faster to maintain a regular body temperature. If taken regularly, cold showers might even improve the circulatory system overall, with the possibility of making your skin looking better too. Athletes often take cold showers to improve their circulation, speed up the process of healing and even boost performance.
Another advantage of cold water is increased metabolism. You might have heard of white fat, or the fat that people associate with being overweight (though its role is to store energy), and brown fat, the one that causes out bodies to burn more calories in order to stay worm. Some studies have even shown that cold showers might help turn white fat into brown fat.
If these reasons were not enough, cold water has been shown to increase endorphins (happy hormones) by sending tiny electrical impulses to your brain, making it alert, bringing clarity and energy. Cold showers may help relieve depressions symptoms, but there are not enough studies for that, and they should not be taken as a replacement for seeking professional help.
The Disadvantages of Cold Water
While it’s good that cold water can tighten up the pores, if not washed and properly cleansed beforehand, the pores may trap bacteria and dirt. So wash your face first with lukewarm water and a good cleanser or face wash, depending on your skin’s needs, and then rinse everything out with colder water to prevent clogged pores.
Owing to its pore-refining properties, the WOW Aloe Vera face wash is a gentle cleanser that that can be added to your skincare routine for a rejuvenating face-washing experience, given that it prevents dryness through its moisture-activating formula.
Naturally, the same piece of advice applies to the rest of your body. Picking the appropriate body wash is just as important as choosing the right products to wash your face. Consider investing in WOW Skin Science foaming Orange & Ginger body wash to benefit from essential oil formula that soothes the surface of your skin, granting it a dewy morning glow and satin-like smoothness.
Finally, cold water doesn’t effectively wash the excess oils off the face, so it may not be ideal for people with combination or oily skin. Again, the previously mentioned piece of information can be applied here, too: first washing your face (and body) properly with lukewarm water and then dropping the temperature a bit to give it a cold rinse.
Is Warm Water Any Good?
After reading so many good things about washing your face and body with clean water, it almost seems like hot or warm water turned into an enemy, but that is certainly not the case.
For several reasons, mainly medical ones, some people cannot use cold water. And the warm counterpart is not that bad. After all, it does have its own advantages.
For one, the steam forming from the hot water can relieve cold symptoms by opening up the airways, clearing the nasal passages, and help get rid of excess phlegm. Moreover, it also relieves muscle tension. Hot showers are usually recommended after straining the muscles during an intense workout.
What Water Temperature Is Best?
We know, things might have gotten a little confusing – hot water may have its advantages, but cold water can outweigh them, so how can you determine which temperature is optimal for washing your face and body?
The middle ground should be the best way to go for anyone’s skin type: lukewarm water. We’ve already mentioned it a couple of times now, and that is because lukewarm water should agree with virtually anyone.
As it's neither too cold nor too hot, it helps maintain your skin's natural state of calm. Washing your face with warm water will both clean the excess oil, dirt, bacteria and protect the skin's natural oils. Lukewarm water also closes the pores in a similar style to cold water.
Of course, people can alternate between using cold and hot water by using the latter for short bursts during their face-washing/showering routine and then finishing everything off with cold water. Use what you find is better for your skin, and if possible, follow your dermatologist’s instructions.
Control The Temperature, Revive Your Skin
So there you have it. The answer to the cold-water problem is solved just as simple as any other skincare issue – by listening to your body's needs. Experiment with water temperatures, see how your body responds, and control them accordingly to ensure that no damage is done to it.
Beyond finding the ideal temperature and regulating it when needed, using the appropriate face and body wash products can also help tremendously. With the right skincare products, dryness is prevented, moisture is maintained, and your body is receiving all the organic resources it needs to function healthily.
Next time you’re in the shower, keep all of these in mind, and by the time you’re out of there, you will feel reborn in your own skin!
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