Wait—It's Bad to Wash Your Face in the Shower??
Sorta. (Don't hate me.)

TBH, I didn't know there were people who didn't wash their faces in the shower. (Do you get out and use the sink after? Isn't it cold? And slippery?) But while conducting some super-scientific research on exfoliation and how doing it too often/too little is not optimal for your skin, I came across some intriguing comment-section discussions re: the aforementioned topic. "Don't most derms say not to wash your face in the shower?" one commenter wrote. "Because the high pressure and temperature can break capillaries?"
Huh. To set the record straight, we asked board-certified dermatologists Dr. Hadley King and Dr. Rachel Nazarian at Schweiger Dermatology Group for their expert opinions. Do you want the good news first or the bad news? Too late—I already chose.
Internet Commenter Quoted Above kind of knew what she was talking about. "Hot water and temperatures will dilate blood vessels and capillaries," Dr. Nazarian says. "That can leave skin red and aggravate conditions like rosacea, which ultimately leads to broken and permanently dilated vessels."
Another concern is moisture loss, Dr. King says. "Facial skin, like all skin, can become too dry if there is too much contact with water. Therefore, a general rule of thumb for showering is make it not too long, not too hot, and not too frequent. If the warmth is limited to lukewarm, then risk of dilating capillaries is minimized."
But...if you stick to those guidelines, in-shower face-washing is actually perfectly safe. (Burst your bubble, Internet Commenter Quoted Above 😈) "In fact, the hydration and warmth make the skin particularly amenable to gentle exfoliation and thorough cleansing," Dr. King says. Dr. Nazarian adds you're also more likely to wash your entire face and rinse thoroughly, which has a valuable upside: fewer breakouts along the hairline.
Just make sure you save your money-maker (no, the other one) for last, Dr. Nazarian says. Shampoo—are you still really using that, though?—and conditioner can leave blemish-producing residue, but that's nothing some mild cleanser and warm-ish water can't take care of.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at Marie Claire. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.
-
The Most Iconic TV Romances That We'll Ship Forever
These will-they-won't-theys had us hooked from season 1.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
13 Outfit Formulas Defining Hailey Bieber's Laidback Personal Style
Copy and paste to your closet.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
Dakota Johnson's Black Manicure Is Beauty Foreshadowing at Its Finest
The actor's nails offers a telling look inside Colleen Hoover's 'Verity' book-to-movie adaptation.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
The 11 Best Spring Makeup Trends Are Sexy, Sensual, and Perfectly Luminous
It's dew or die time.
By Jamie Wilson Published
-
Simone Ashley’s Indie Sleaze Glam Is a Cool-Toned Dream
The actor was spotted in New York City looking like the epitome of cool-toned beauty.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
The 10 Best Hair Growth Shampoos of 2025, Tested by Editors
Expensive and healthy-looking hair on lock.
By Marisa Petrarca Published
-
New York Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter 2025 Best Beauty Moments Are a Lesson in Juxtaposition
The week's best beauty looks were a maximalism master class.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
Nécessaire's Extra-Strength Deodorant Outlasts an Editor's Sweatiest Test: Fashion Week
Even with my hectic schedule, I've never smelled better.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Lily-Rose Depp’s Cool-Toned Makeup Is So ‘90s Coded
Clean girl meets grunge.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
The 13 Best Foundations for Mature Skin, Tested by Women Over 50
It's perfect for mature complexions.
By Siena Gagliano Published
-
Gray Hair Was the Hottest Accessory at the 2025 Golden Globes
Gray hair is chic, period.
By Hannah Baxter Published