I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve done it before: reached for the pump of liquid soap and proceeded to lather up my face.
It was only after I researched online to find out whether hand soap was appropriate for my skin that I realized what a rookie mistake I’d just made.
It can be tempting to reach for the hand soap to wash your face when you don’t have access to the right cleanser.
But is it really a good idea?
Find out what dermatologist, Ally Wheeler, has to say about it before you soap up.
Can you wash your face with hand soap?
You can wash your face with hand soap. However, you shouldn’t.
Many hand soaps contain strong ingredients that are not meant to be used on the face and can irritate your skin.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “the problem with washing your face with hand soap is that it can be very harsh on the skin. It will cause your skin to dry out, and your face will feel tight and irritated.
Also, the antibacterial ingredient in hand soap, triclosan, can cause increased redness and irritation on some skin types””.
It’s best to use a gentle facial cleanser on your face instead of running the risk of damaging your skin.
What happens if you wash your face with hand soap?
As I mentioned earlier, using hand soap as a facial cleanser can cause your skin to dry out and become irritated.
If you tend to have dry or sensitive skin, hand soap can be too harsh on your face.
As dermatologist Wheeler says, “If you wash your face with hand soap, it will strip your skin of the natural oils that are protecting your face. This can lead to dryness and irritation.
If you have sensitive skin, hand soap can irritate your face to the point where it becomes red and blotchy“.
Also, if you tend to suffer from acne, the ingredients in hand soap could be too irritating for your skin, resulting in an acne flare-up.
Can you wash your face with body soap?
You can wash your face with body wash, but we recommend you don’t unless you’re using it to wash your beard or facial hair.
Body soap is often oil-based and can clog your pores, leaving you vulnerable to breakouts.
You can use body soap on your beard because your beard helps protect your skin from the effects of oil-based body soap. However, it’s always best to use products specially formulated for beards if you want to take care of your facial hair.
For all of you none bearded people out there, stick to facial cleansers in liquid or gel form when washing your face.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “body soap tends to contain fragrances that are meant to be used on the body. The skin on your face is much more sensitive than the skin on your body, so it’s important to use a gentle cleanser meant for the face. When these fragrances are applied to the face, they can cause irritation”.
What happens if you wash your face with body soap?
As dermatologist Wheeler says, “body soap is meant to be used on your body. It’s not formulated for your face and can irritate.
If you wash your face with body soap, it can clog your pores. This can lead to breakouts, skin congestion, and even blackheads.
If you have sensitive skin, body soap will likely be too harsh and cause redness and irritation”.
If you want to continue using body soap, we recommend using it on your beard and not on your face.
Final thoughts
Although you can wash your face with hand soap, it’s best you don’t. Hand soap is meant for your hands and not your face.
It can strip the natural oils from your skin, cause dryness and irritation, and even lead to acne.
The key to successful face washing is finding the right cleanser for your skin type.
If you have sensitive skin, look for a gentle cleanser that won’t dry out your skin.
If you’re looking for a facial soap to clear up acne, look for one that contains salicylic acid.
If you have dry skin, look for a creamy facial cleanser to moisturize your skin.
We hope this article helps answer your question, “Can You Wash Your Face With Hand Soap?”
