Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Wash Your Face with Bar Soap
Almost every household in America has at least one in its bathroom, but could using a bar soap actually be bad for your face?
A lot of estheticians and skin experts today claim that it could be.
Here’s why:
Modern Bar Soaps are Better, but Still Not Perfect for Your Skin
According to professional skincare experts, even though most bar soaps we use these days are gentler on the skin than the ones we would be forced to use 30 or so years ago and, the fact is that many of them will still dry out your skin or often dehydrate it, causing flaking or a tightening feeling.
The problem here is not the formula that is being used in modern soaps. That, as far as estheticians are concerned, is just fine. The main culprits are the binders that hold the soap together. Unlike the formula itself, which has a lower PH value, the binders have a higher PH and will often have a drying effect on your skin.
Add to this that most bar soaps contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which is listed by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Review as causing: ‘possible mutations and cancer’. Not exactly something you want around your skin.
Is Warm Water Enough for it to Remain Clean?
It’s quite enough to simply wash your face with warm water once in the morning and once in the evening and to lightly pat it dry with a cloth or paper towel.
Washing your face with nothing but water for a day or two can work if your skin is oily, as some moisturizers and cleansers can aggravate this problem, but if you have naturally dry skin, a good moisturizer is a life-saver.