Have no fear – we’ve done our share of research, and the answer is clear: post-shower is definitely the way to go. Sure, washing your face in the shower saves time but it can also do more harm than good – like, clogging pores with other products (gross) or drying out skin with hot water (ouch).
Read on for all the clean details on why it’s best to wash, exfoliate, and do a mask after showering.
Should you wash your face in the shower?
It’s tempting to wash your face in the shower while you’re getting the rest of your body clean. Warning: Don’t, it’s actually bad for your skin!
Want to know why? For starters, it’s impossible to wash your hair without having some of the product run down your face, which can lead to clogged pores. Um, no thank you. Then there’s the hot water that feels great on your body but can strip your skin of essentials nutrients, drying it out.
For these reasons, it’s way better to wait until you step out of the shower to wash your face. Right now St. Ives Cleansing Sticks are at the top of our face cleansing list. If you haven’t tried them, they’re basically solid, 100% natural coconut oil sticks that hydrate skin while they cleanse. Talk about a 2-for-1! These travel-ready cleansers come in all of these irresistible ingredient combos like the glow-getting Apricot & Manuka Honey, the skin-detoxing Matcha Green Tea & Ginger, the mega-hydrating Cactus Water & Hibiscus, and the shine-controlling Rose Water & Bamboo.
Should you wash your face with hot or cold water? Ok, so we know that using hot water is a no-no for skin, but did you know cold water can be just as harmful? While really warm water can dry out your face, really cold water can shock it and leave you with a blotchy red complexion.
So what’s the ideal temp for washing your face? Not too hot, not too cold, but just right (aka lukewarm).
Should you exfoliate before or after shower? Same rules apply here as they do for washing your face. It’s way better to exfoliate after you’ve finished using haircare or other shower products and when you can use cool water.
One of our favorite exfoliators to use post-shower is blended with the trendy redness-reducing ingredient, green tea. St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea Scrub also has salicylic acid to help unclog pores, leaving your skin smooth and glowing!
Another big question: use a face mask before or after shower? After, for sure. Masks work best when they’re applied to clean, dry skin and since you’re washing your face after the shower, that’s also the time to apply a mask.
This is even more true for masks that don’t need to be rinsed off, like the St. Ives Sheet Masks. Inspired by Korean beauty trends, these mess-free masks are made to give your skin whatever it craves. Choose from Revitalizing Acai, Blueberry & Chia Seed Oil for intense hydration, Soothing Oatmeal for calming hydration, Glowing Apricot for glowing hydration, or Hydrating Cactus Water & Hibiscus for fresh hydration.