Is it better to wash your face with cold water or hot water? What is the most suitable water temperature for washing your face?

Many people have their own opinions on whether it is better to wash your face with cold water or hot water. So which one is better? I have analyzed it for you below, let’s learn together!

Is it better to wash your face with cold water or hot water?

Every time I write about the order of skin care, cleansing is always the first and most important step, and I can also talk a lot about cleansing time and product selection. But it seems that the issue of the temperature of the water for washing face has not been addressed yet. Is it hot water or cold water or are there other temperature requirements? =Too hot or too cold is not good, warm water is best!

When it comes to washing your face, there are two main arguments: One group believes that of course you should use hot water, as the high temperature can open the pores and help clean deep-seated dirt. The other group argues: cold water is better, washing your face with cold water is good for beauty and health!

But in fact, both of them have their own disadvantages. Although too cold water temperature (below 20℃) has an astringent effect on the skin and can make people more energetic, long-term use of too cold water may cause skin blood vessels to contract and skin elasticity to deteriorate. Another disadvantage is that the shrinkage of pores makes it impossible to clean the grease, dust and other dirt on the face. Over time, it can easily cause skin diseases such as acne.

Washing your face with cold water is not good, so is hot water better? Not really. Although overheated water (above 38°C) has an expansion effect, it can also easily degrease the skin, making the face very dry after washing.

So what is the most suitable water temperature? It is around 34℃, slightly higher than the average skin temperature (33.5℃). If you try it with your hand, you will feel a little warm, but not hot. Water at this temperature is gentle and non-irritating, and washes more cleanly.

Of course, in addition to this, some people advocate alternating hot and cold water, that is, washing once with warm water and then washing again with cold water. The principle is that the alternation of hot and cold water temperature can help the superficial blood vessels of the skin to dilate and contract, thereby promoting blood circulation in the face.

If you don't mind the hassle, this is OK (but not necessary). However, I still do not recommend this for people with sensitive or dry skin, because the skin is sensitive to begin with and this will make it more likely to be irritated, and the blood vessels may also be damaged due to excessive dilation, which will ultimately be counterproductive.