Is It Better to Wash Your Face With Hot or Cold Water Before Putting Makeup On?

By: Sophie Southern

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Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to wash your face before putting on makeup. Many women are guilty of over-cleansing, which can cause dryness and irritation. If you thoroughly washed off your makeup the night before, splashing your face with water should suffice. If you absolutely have to wash your face before applying makeup, however, opt for tepid water over hot or cold.

Niether Hot Nor Cold

Hot water is for softening the skin, cold water is for reducing puffiness, and in general you shouldn’t be doing either one regularly. Hot water strips the natural oils from your face and opens pores, which just increases the likelihood makeup will seep into them. Cold water also dries out your skin and can increase flareups of rosacea or redness. Tepid water is the best way to go, especially during the winter when skin is already prone to dryness.