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When you're showering, it might be tempting to just slather the same suds on your face that you use for your body. After all, they smell good, and they're gentle on your skin, right? Wrong. When it comes to your face, soap needs to be even gentler, and it might need to target specific skin conditions you're dealing with.
The Basics
Soaps can be very harsh on your delicate facial skin. Skin around the eyes is especially thin and prone to damage. A good cleanser -- one that's made for the face -- moisturizes the skin and is more gentle than soap. Some cleansers remove makeup more effectively than soap, too. With the wrong cleansing routine, you could have makeup residue lingering on your skin when you go to bed, clogging your pores, which can cause acne flare-ups.
Wrinkling
Over time, using soap can make your face look older faster. By zapping the skin of oils, it makes the skin dry and prone to wrinkling. Skin might feel tight and young after washing, but this is just a short-term effect. Slight wrinkles that are already there, like light laugh lines, will look deeper on dry skin, and they'll keep getting more noticeable if skin stays dry. Think of a damp cloth -- you can't wrinkle it, though a dry cloth will pick up wrinkles easily.
Oil Production
Soap is not a good way to get rid of oil since it can cause even more oil production. When you deplete your skin of oil with drying soap, your oil glands go into overdrive to try and replenish the moisture. Plus you need some of that natural oil to keep your face moisturized. Avoid astringents, too, since they can harm your skin like soap.
Lack of Nutrients
Soap usually doesn't have the nutrients your face needs. A cleanser with antioxidants and vitamins to build skin health will make your skin glow when you use it regularly, John D. Russell says in "A Woman's Guide to Better Health and Beauty."
Alternatives
Opt for a creamy cleanser if you've got dry skin, or go oil-free if your face gets greasy. You can also make your own super gentle cleanser with all-natural ingredients. Mix 2 tbsp. of lotion base with two drops of eyebright tincture (found at many herbal supply stores) and 1 tbsp. of steeped chamomile tea, suggests Gill Farrer-Halls in "Natural Beauty Recipe Book." Some women don't even use water to wash their face -- and more power to 'em. Cleansing creams, meant for applying without water and then wiping off with a clean cloth, work wonders for lots of ladies. Try one if your skin gets dry and flaky really easily.
