Is Cold Water Good for Your Skin?

Is cold water good for your skin? This is a dilemma that is riddled with a myriad of myths and misconceptions to the extent of being confusing to the average skincare enthusiast. Here's the thing, as much as you may have a rigorous skincare routine littered with the most expensive of cosmetic inputs, the water temperature that is used during ablution plays a massive role in the overall effectiveness of your daily regimen. Actually, this ties along with the frequency at which you usually wash your face, which is also another factor that you have to put into consideration. Keep reading to get more insight on how water temperature affects your overall complexion and learn about some of the most practical ingredients that you can incorporate into your skincare regimen to improve its overall effectiveness.

What Does Cold Water Do to Your Face?

Now that you are aware that water temperature has a role to play in keeping your complexion in admirable shape, the next thing one would naturally wonder is; what does cold water do to your face? Well, you probably have already noticed that your face tends to look a little puffy or swollen at dawn after rising from your overnight slumber. Experts believe that our skin cells usually regenerate consequently expanding the adjacent pores overnight. The aftermath is, of course, a little puffiness that can be fixed with a splash of cold water. But exactly what does cold water do to your face? Let's find out.

Does Cold Water Open Pores?

So, does cold water open pores? Or rather what exactly is the explanation behind the seemingly magical effects that cold water tends to have on your skin, particularly in the morning?

• For starters, due to the lower ambient temperature of cold water, dousing your face with it appears to have anti-wrinkle effects. In other words, it tones it making it look younger and fresher especially in direct comparison to hot water. If anything, using cold water on your face is believed to slow down the overall aging process thereby banishing fine lines and wrinkles that could be making you look older than you really are.
• Secondly, cold water aids in getting rid of the injurious effects of the sun's rays as the lower temperature tightens and shields the skin pores that would otherwise get opened when you go out in the sun. And as you would expect, the tightening up of pores can also aid in helping your make-up stay on longer.

Does Cold Water Close Your Pores?

Now that you are aware of the numerous benefits of washing your face with water that is below room temperature, does cold water close your pores? Indeed, yes it does. In fact, cold water does not just shut down your pores but also helps shrink them while also revving up your metabolism. In addition, it can also go a long way in banishing puffy eyes by soothing the delicate skin underneath them.

Is Cold or Hot Water Better for Acne?

There are several reasons dermatologists would usually frown upon using steaming hot water on your face. But, does hot water open your pores? Yes, it does. And that's why it is advisable to splash ice cold water on your face after stepping out of a hot shower. You see, while a steaming face washing session feels therapeutic and relaxing, it really does not do your skin any favors. First, the hot water can heighten your skin's sensitivity, stripping it of essential sebum and oil which ultimately dries it out. As you can imagine, this can be quite detrimental for acne-prone skin.

So, is cold or hot water better for acne? By all intents and purposes, cold water is miles better than hot or warm water for your skincare routine, especially in the morning. Not only does it jostle you awake but also acts as an accompaniment astringent when paired with an acne spot treatment solution such as AENO's Organic Face Salve for Acne, Pimples and Scars.

The Disadvantages of Washing Face with Cold Water

As much as hot water does not open your pores there are a few disadvantages of washing face with cold water as there are upsides. Most of this, however, has to do with the fact that cold water can potentially make it easier for debris and dirt to be trapped in your skin as it is not as effective as warm water in clearing out debris and dirt. And this is one of the many reasons it is advisable to follow up your cold water face-washing sessions with a mild exfoliation stint just to make sure that old skin cells and dirt are not left behind after hanging up your towel. After this, slap on one of Aeno's Hyaluronic Acid Patches For Acne to infuse a combination of tea tree and arnica oil which speeds up the healing acne scars, bruising or redness that you may have incurred while exfoliating.

In Closing

So, is hot or cold water better for acne? Which one should one use to keep breakouts at bay? Arguably, the best thing that you can do for your skin is using lukewarm water to get rid of dirt and debris (in the company of a mild/non-abrasive cleanser) and then follow it up with a generous splash of cold water. This ensures that you don't run the risk of stripping your important natural oils while also guaranteeing a complete and thorough removal of unwanted debris then later closing up those precious skin pores.