Do You Wash Your Face?

Updated on March 29, 2012
J.M. asks from Doylestown, PA
31 answers

OK odd question and you might think I'm a dirtball after this (but heck you guys no more than any person in real life does about M.=) ) but everyone is always talking about facial scrubs and cleansing lotion. When I was younger my cousin has pimples and I remember her telling M. her doctor said J. water no soap on the face and her face improoved. I've never used soap on my face. Is that odd? I take 2-3 showers a day sometimes if I can squeeze it in and let the water hit my face but still don't use soap. I always get comments on my skin and noone tells M. my skin looks dirty, but now I'm wondering if I should be using soap or a lotion? What are your ritual in regards to keeping your skin look good? what are your rituals for cleaning your face?

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So What Happened?

Bug enlighten M. on this US water shortage. I really am not aware. I am aware in other countires there is a water shortage but not here, but then again I don't have cable or tv J. netfllix, so I may be out of the loop. There are far worst ways to destroy the enviorment that we are doing and I'm not concerned that my water usage will hurt anyone. Also I make up for it by being behind on laundry so I save water there=)
Luna, every morning before work and before waking my daughter up I shower, and then the 2nd one at night if my back hurt very bad after she goes to sleep, if I get 3 the third is to rinse off after somethnig very dirty...sure I waste a tiny bit of water, but beats being in pain from arthritis and other things, better than being on pain pills at 29=) and i like showering. I don't get it is there a water shortage. I'm sure there are plentry worse things to do than use extra water.--btw that wasnt meant to be snarky but an actual question=) reading back it seeme snarky

Featured Answers

☼.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I don't use soap per se, but face wash. I use Kiss My Face Start Up Exfoliating Fash Wash in the morning and in the evening I use it again w/ the Olay microdermabrasion home kit to slough off dead skin and keep the blackheads and zits at bay (I have oily skin). I totally swear by this home kit, it's done wonders for my skin:

http://www.drugstore.com/olay-professional-pro-x-advanced...

2 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

My face is SO sensitive. I wash it in the shower with super mild soap maybe every third day. If I'm feeling gross, I'll wipe my face down with a baby wipe. I never put anything on my face except baby sun screen!

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I have to wash my face.
When I was a teen my face was extremely oily.
If I didn't get the oil off I'd have blackheads everywhere and pimples were not far behind.
Clearasil was my best friend.
Now that I'm older (50), I'm not as oily as when I was a teen, but I'm still very oily compared to most.
My Mom and I have always had the very oily skin, BUT - we don't wrinkle very much.
I guess it's a trade off.
It feels good to scrub off some dead skin cells once in awhile with a mild soap and some scrubby gloves.
I don't usually break out, but sometimes the fluctuating hormones (pre-menopause) will cause a flair up from time to time.
Everyone's skin is different, so they have different cleaning needs.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

M.L.

answers from Houston on

It depends if you wear make-up or not. If you don't wear make-up, then water is okay so long as you are getting the oil /dirt off. Following up with witch-hazel on a cotton ball is a good alternative to no soap.

Also, your cousin may have been told not to use soap because she has very sensitive skin, and the soap may have been counteracting with any meds he had her on. People with dry, oily or combo skin may have different needs. I finally found a soap that works well with my combo skin that is gentle and a great cleaner that I love. I absolutely must use soap, otherwise my face feels like an oil slick. I also use a very, very light moisturizer and a mineral foundation with sunscreen.

However, 2-3 showers a day isn't good for your skin OR your hair... (or the environment/water bill), but I digress :)

5 moms found this helpful
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L..

answers from Roanoke on

In the morning, I shower. Sometimes I use Nancy Boy face wash (all natural, very good stuff), and about once or twice a week I use St. Ives apricot scrub to exfoliate. Then, moisturizer with SPF before I put on makeup.

At night, I wash my make up off with Purpose face wash, and use makeup remover on a little cotton pad to get the rest. During the winter, I moisturize at night as well.

And how the heck do you take 2 or 3 showers a day? I only take one, and occasionally a rinse off quick if I worked out too hard. But I'd feel bad using that much water.

4 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I have that little spinny thing from Oil of Olay and the cleanser that goes with it. I only use it in the evening to get all my makeup off.

Last month my older daughter was starring at my face. You have great skin, thanks. You never wore sunscreen did you, no. Bet ya didn't clean the heck out of your face as a teen, nope. Facials, nope. You didn't work out either did you, nope. She said I am either very lucky or completely screwed. :p She does all that and sees no difference in our completions.

My skin does not like to be roughed up and abused, it has pointed this out by giving M. some major rashes when I got facials. Nope, I do mostly natural yet I am very clean.

I don't think I have put straight up soap on my face since I was six.

Oh, I use sun screen now, J. as a child into early adult it was not a big deal and I lived to tell.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

2-3 showers a day is not "a tiny bit" of water. If you want to waste water, fine...I can't stop you...but don't claim you aren't being a complete water hog, and furthering the depletion of our most important natural resource. Seriously, J. use the water and stop fooling yourself. Also, is there a water shortage? Are you J. being silly, because the answer to that is...yes, of course. People use too much water. What do you think is happening?? OK...off soap box...got a little carried away.

I don't use "soap," but I use a gentle facial cleanser. Nothing heavy, no chemicals in it. I also use a scrub once a week, and always use face lotion. This isn't so much for my face now, but in the future. If you don't take care of your skin now, I really think most people regret it as they start to age.

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F.W.

answers from Cumberland on

I use Cetaphil but am considering going with olive oil of all things--heard it works well!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from New York on

i was always under the impression that regular soap was not good for your face u should either use facewash or J. water... for M. it proactive twice a day everyday.. iv tried everything its the only thing that keeps my face clear

1 mom found this helpful

N.N.

answers from Detroit on

I wash my face with water only. when i was younger I used noxema but I am going with the less chemicals ect... the better.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from San Antonio on

I wash my face twice a day. I have extremely oily skin, so if I don't I wind up with major break-outs. I have used Noxzema since I was 10 years old. The dermatologist recommended it to M. due to my oily skin, and it works better than anything else I have ever tried. I use a light moisturizer from Clinique every morning after washing.

1 mom found this helpful

M.A.

answers from Detroit on

always.....

Night time: Noxzema, warm water, Olay night cream and Vaseline on my wrinkles.

Morning: L’Oreal face scrub, Aveeno and L’Oreal moisturizer/sunscreen.

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J.R.

answers from Miami on

Cetaphil gentle cleanser (soapless) -- once or twice a day. Since I was 10. I am now 45. In the winter I sometimes skip washing in the morning so that the serum I use at nite stays on....

for my 3 year old. we were told by the dermatologist that we only need to use cetaphil once a day in the evening and to only wash with water as needed -- if at all -- during the day.

Jilly

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Bangor on

I don't use a soap on my face. I have chronic dry skin to the point of it flaking off if I don't moisturize. To date, I have not found any traditional cleanser that does not add to the dryness. I do, however, have a natural oatmeal exfoliating scrub (that I found at a local store) I like to use every-other day to help rid my face of the dry, dead cells, and a moisturizer that I use morning and night. My makeup is usually limited to mascara and lipstick, both of which can be removed with water only so I can avoid any extra products to clean away makeup.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Do you wear make up? I'm guessing no.

I use Aveeno positively Radiant Facial Cleanser every night.
I don't re-wash my face in the morning. I use aveeno Moisturizer in the a.m. before I put on my make up. That's the ritual for M..

My son? I have NEVER used (maybe 5 times) soap on his face. He's 9.
I'm guessing that might change as he hits puberty.

1 mom found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Nashville on

I wipe my face with baby wipes to remove the make up, but other than that, I don't do anything special for it.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

I don't wear a lot of make up but when I did I had to all the time but usually I J. use kids soap. It's nice and light and if it get's in my eyes it does not hurt. My eyes are very sensitive!

1 mom found this helpful

I.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

yes. Face soap and exfoliate with an occasional glycolic acid wash (takes off the dead layer of skin). Sometimes I J. use warm water and a wash cloth if I have not worn makeup. I find my skin is dull if I do not exfoliate. My sister was told to use special soaps, but not to exfoliate when she struggled with acne. Her skin was always so dull because of this regime.

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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

You don't have to use soap, but lotion with SPF is a must. I always use soap to wash my face in the shower, and Noxema to get off my makeup at night. I never leave the house without sunscreen on my face. No one wants age spots!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I use Purity by Philosophy daily and the Microderm Scub once a week. I also use a lotion with SPF in the morning before applying make up.

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L.L.

answers from Orlando on

I only use water on my face. In the shower, I use a daily moisturizer.... and I'm a clean person too :) I take showers every day. Every time I had tried a face wash I broke out with a pimple or two. I RARELY ever get pimples.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Once in the shower with Mary Kay Cleanser and once before bed, again with Mary Kay. I haven't used soap on my face since I was 8 or 9, well whenever mom stopped washing my face.

A.G.

answers from Houston on

If I'm in the shower only warm water, if I don't have the time and want to wash my face I use witch hazel. Always have done this and I have great skin.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

If what you are doing works for you then don't try to change anything!!

Yes, I wash my face twice daily at least, morning and night. I use Noxema and Cliniique products. Daughter (17) and I have a very rigid face routine morning and night. We use Clinique products, drink a lot of water, use sunscreen and moisturize. Thanks to good genes, my skin still looks very young with no wrinkling. I am 49 and pass for mid 30's.

I have used Clinique since I was about 11.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

When I take a shower I wash my face with the same bar of soap I use on the rest of my body. I don't put moisturizer my face.

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

I dont wear make up.

I dont hardly think about washing it. I do not like getting my face wet(sensory thing I guess).

I will every so often give her a mask, scrub and wash....but that is J. to get the dead skin off.....cause I notice it after a week or so.......

I leave it alone for the most part. I get only a few hormonal pimples during the month. I am comfortable in my skin though and dont let them bother M..

I take 2 to 3(ok so more like three....and a arm pit rag in the morning when I dont) showers a week! I had a giggle at that. No, I dont smell either.....I J. live in a house with six people. One bath room...and a toddler that has HFA..so stepping away for 10 minutes to shower every morning is impossible...as it is I have to wait until 12:30pm to get them in.....He goes to school!!

Lord:) sometimes I should J. stop and Post:)

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K.B.

answers from Detroit on

I like the cleansing and moisturizing face/skin products from DHC. I use the olive soap to wash my face in the morning (does not dry it out at all!) and the deep cleansing oil at night, plus moisturizer.

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B.R.

answers from York on

I J. use water on a washcloth unless I'm wearing mascara. Then I need soap to get it off. My skin is super dry, so I use Oil of Olay lotion at night and each morning after washing my face. That's it!

When I was a teenager, I wanted to be like all my friends, so I used this stuff for getting rid of my non-existant pimples. My face got so dry and red I had to put vaseline all over it for most of that winter :)

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S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

I use soap and water. The soap is homemade and sometimes I use one on my face with oatmeal (daugher loves them) and rinse. I have a body cream that is light that I use as a moisturizer before makeup ad that's it.

My face is even skin tone, brighter,softer and smoother now than it has ever been. I did quite a bit of research and made a soap batch with pineapple, papaya, strawberry juice and pulp in it. Many people don't think I am my age because there is a brightness and youthful glow.

As for the showers I take about three a week and do the wash ups daily. No extra BO that way.

The other S.

⊱.H.

answers from Spokane on

Water and washcloth, no soap or cleanser. I use Oil of Olay at night to moisturize.
Oh, and I do wear make-up daily.

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B.R.

answers from Madison on

I don't wear makeup and I do not wash my face with soap. Unless necessary. But I think I am one of lucky few who do not deal with oily skin, pimples or anything of the sort.

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