What Happens When You Start Washing Your Face With Water Only

In the pursuit of glowing skin, we might end up buying hundreds of skincare products. Cleansers, moisturizers, masks, oils — so many opportunities to look young and fresh. Yet, we get so disappointed when a cream we were pinning so many hopes on completely ruins our skin. Believe it or not, a neglected friend has been within reach this whole time — good old-fashioned water.

Bright Side explains why more beauty products don’t always lead to radiant skin.

1. You get smooth skin.

Cleansers can be the cause of stripped skin. They literally stripe your skin of its natural oils, making your skin dry and itchy. If you notice that your skin feels tight or looks reddish, you might want to put your cleanser aside for a while and stick to just water.

2. You get fewer pimples.

You might think cleansers help you reduce the oil on your face, interestingly it actually does exactly the opposite. When your skin is dehydrated, it automatically produces more oil. As a consequence, your skin breaks out and your pores enlarge. In contrast, cold water is said to reduce sebum (oil) production and even reduce inflammation.

3. Your skin will look younger.

Cold water tones your skin and slows down the aging process. Make sure you don’t use hot water as it can damage your skin and cause more problems. Soaps and cleansers that are generally alkaline (pH between 9-11) erode your skin and lead to the loss of elasticity. In the end, you end up with wrinkles.

4. You don’t get allergic reactions.

It might be a real challenge to find a proper cleanser for sensitive and allergy-prone skin. Unfortunately, there’s only one way to find out if it suits you — test it on your skin. Some cleansers can cause chemical burns and allergic reactions, and you might not develop a reaction immediately — it might happen over time.

5. Your skin gets a break.

Makeup and other beauty products can have a negative impact on your skin and aggravate any existing conditions. When you switch to water, you allow your skin to take a break and do its job without any external help from creams or moisturizers.

Bonus: What happens if you stop washing your face altogether?

The outcome depends on your skin type. If it’s dry, then you will notice that it becomes duller. However, if your skin is oily, your pores will clog, and more acne breakouts will happen due to the buildup of oil.

What’s your skincare routine like? What was the biggest mistake you made in terms of skincare?