We’ve all been there – in the shower or bath, lathered up with body wash and scrubbing away at every inch of skin that we can reach… except for our face.
Why?
If it smells good and cleans our skin, why wouldn’t we use it on our face, too?
Is body wash bad for your face?
We spoke to dermatologist Ally Wheeler, who told us there are some very good reasons why you should not wash your face with body wash.
Is body wash bad for your face?
Yes, body wash is bad for your face.
This is because the skin on the face is more sensitive than the rest of your body, so it’s more easily irritated and damaged by the harsh chemicals in most body washes.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler explains, “the skin on our face is thinner and has fewer protective oils than the other parts of our body. Body wash contains harsh, drying chemicals that can strip your face of these natural oils and leave it overly dry and irritated.”
It’s always best to stick to using a gentle, fragrance-free facial cleanser on your face.
Can I use body wash on my face?
You can use body wash on your face. However, if you do, you run the risk of irritating your face.
Dermatologist Wheeler says, “the skin on your face is much more sensitive than the rest of your body. Body wash often contains fragrances that can irritate the skin on your face and leave it red, dry, or flaky.
It can also strip oils that are naturally produced by the sebaceous glands in your face, which will leave the skin dry and irritated.”
“I recommend that my patients only use fragrance-free cleansers on their faces.”
If you’re tempted to use body wash on your face just because it smells good, there are plenty of great facial cleansers out there that smell just as good – if not better – than body wash.
Is it OK to use body wash on your face?
It’s not OK to use body wash on your face because you risk irritating your face.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “if you use body wash on your face, you may irritate the skin. This irritation can include dryness, redness, and flaking.”
“The skin on your face is thinner than the rest of your body, and it is more sensitive, so it needs to be treated with a gentle cleanser.”
If you decide to use body wash on your face, make sure you’re using fragrance-free body wash and don’t use it more than once.
Does body wash clean your face?
Body wash does clean your face. However, it can also strip oils that are naturally produced by the sebaceous glands in your face.
Ally Wheeler, a dermatologist, says, “body wash cleanses the skin by removing dirt, oil, and bacteria. However, body wash can also strip oils naturally produced by the sebaceous glands in your face. This will leave the skin dry and irritated.
What happens if you use body wash on your face?
If you use body wash on your face, you may irritate the skin.
This irritation can include dryness, redness, and flaking. Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “body wash contains harsh, drying chemicals that can strip your face of its natural oils and leave it overly dry and irritated.
If you have sensitive skin, there’s even more of a chance that using body wash on your face can cause irritation such as tightness, burning, stinging, itching, and peeling.
If you have acne, using body wash on your face can make acne worse and lead to breakouts.”
Is body wash bad for your skin?
Body wash is not bad for your skin unless you are using it on your face or using a too harsh product for your skin.
Ally Wheeler, a dermatologist, says, “body wash is not bad for your skin. The only time body wash becomes problematic for the skin is if it is used on the face or if it contains harsh chemicals that are too strong for your skin type.”
Fragrance-free body wash is usually best for people with sensitive skin because it doesn’t contain perfumes or dyes.
Those with dry skin should consider using a body wash that contains moisturizing ingredients.
If you have acne-prone skin, it’s best to use a body wash that contains salicylic acid.
Final thoughts
It’s best not to use body wash on your face as it can cause irritation and dryness.
Instead, stick to body wash on your body and opt for using a gentle, fragrance-free facial cleanser.
We hope this helps!
