Beauty & Style
can your wash your face with soap
Q: Is Washing Your Face With Soap Bad?
A: Yes, there are times when you feel really lazy and don't want to reach for your face wash or times when you simply don't have any on hand. But no, washing your facial skin with regular soap such as hand soap isn't a very good idea.
Bar soap (that isn't intended to be used on your face) will make your skin feel really tight and dry. The purpose of washing your face is to remove dirt and make up, unclogging your pores. Also, you need to remove excess oils from your skin. But using regular soap may be way to harsh for your face and strip it completely – hence that tight feeling resulting in dry skin.
So, what about when you simply don't have any facial cleanser and you don't want to go to sleep with make up and dirty skin? Rather create your own cream cleanser: use lukewarm water (really hot water shocks your skin and could even burst capillaries leaving red marks around your nose and cheeks) and a plain aqueous-type cream to wash your face with. Start at your forehead and work your way towards your nose. Then move outwards to your cheeks and down your face towards your neck. Gently massage with cleanser into your skin and remove (very gently) with a washcloth and clean water.
And don't forget to rinse your hairline, sides of your nose and neck so that no cleanser is left on your skin.
About this blog

Hello beauty junkies, I’m Helen, a contributing editor for WH and a beauty journalist – a dream job that I’ve had for the past five years. While I’ve always been make-up obsessed, I’m a naturalist; I love make-up that’s completely wearable rather than make-up that completely wears you. I love to share and will be sharing my best new beauty finds and user-friendly tips with you.








I see they advertise using Dove Beauty Bar on your face - is this really okay? I can't see anywhere on the packaging that it is soap free.
Some soaps have been created for use on your face and many women like to use a soap to wash their face with. So choose a facial soap such as Dove which is meant for this purpose. But if you have an existing skin condition please consult your dermatologist.
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