A survey revealed that a whopping 38% of Americans wash their face with the same soap they use for their bodies.
Cleanliness has come a long way since the days of washing your clothes in the local bog and painting your face with a lead-lined foundation. Still, some people are behind on the latest advice from doctors, dermatologists, and skincare experts.
Are you one of the 38%?
In a survey back in 2021 about the skincare habits of the average American, YouGov found that 38% of participants washed their faces using a body wash. In contrast, 45% cleaned their faces with a dedicated and recommended face wash.
Some trashed products entirely, with 15% admitting to using only water and 1% not washing their faces at all.
In the same survey, it was also revealed that the majority of Americans (38%) don’t moisturize their faces.
Why you shouldn’t wash your face with body wash
Though noting is logistically stopping you from using body wash on your face, dermatologists have long argued that it could spark issues further down the line.
Most body washes contain surfactants that can better scrub away and dissolve mucky buildup on your body. Unfortunately, these chemicals can simply be too harsh for your face.
“Some body washes are designed to eliminate stubborn dirt, debris, and excess oil, and as a result can be too harsh for the face and lead to redness, dryness, and irritation,” Marisa Garshick, MD, told Byrdie. “That said, there are various body washes that can also be used on the face, providing they are gentle enough.”
Though there are clearly options out there for a dual-purpose wash, you could be cutting back on benefits by trying to combine their uses. A similar argument could be made for 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner.
Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, added: “Using body wash to cleanse the face can cause irritation, raise the skin’s pH levels, and disrupt its natural sebum (oil) production, leading to unwanted side effects including dryness, redness, sensitivity, and acne breakouts.”
What to wash your face with
That might lead to the inevitable question of which face washes you should use, after all, just about every beauty brand out there is pushing its own version of clean. Unfortunately, it’s another one of those moments where some research is needed to better identify your unique skin needs.
The good news is, there are enough options out there to suit your needs perfectly. You need not splash out massive amounts of cash, or order something from across the globe.
In their yearly awards, Glamour named the Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm as their top balm cleanser. This was followed by the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser.
